ESCANABA — Gardening enthusiasts will have the opportunity to view three video presentations sponsored by the Bay de Noc Gardening Conference. The 2021 annual in-person conference has been canceled due to the pandemic. An in-person conference is tentative planned on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Anyone interested in gardening is invited to view the three video presentations this spring. The first presentation will be on small fruits.

In March, Jim Isleib, MSU Extension Upper Peninsula Crop Production educator from Munising will discuss growing small fruits. Small fruits can be fun and rewarding, picked fresh for delicious and beautiful display on the table, or processed into jams, jellies, pies, smoothies, etc. Learn some basics about growing the small fruits ‘most likely to succeed’ in the U.P. — raspberries, strawberries and hardy blueberries. He will also touch on trickier and less common small fruits.

The April subject is invaders in the garden. It will cover invasive insects, and how some non-native garden plantings may boost other pesky critters. Elise Desjarlais, coordinator for the Lake to Lake Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, will focus on some alternative planting options and what types of beneficial wildlife they attract.

The May topic is planting a future for birds with Joe Kaplan, director of Common Coast Research and Conservation. Participants will learn how to enhance habitat in their yards for birds through the use of native landscaping, the control of invasive species, and proper nest box design for attracting cavity nesting species. In addition, the importance of “stop-over” habitat and the rich dynamic of bird migration in our region will be explored.

There is no charge to see the videos. These videos qualify for half hour each of Michigan Extension Master Gardener educational credit. They have been organized and coordinated by Michigan Extension Master Gardeners. Links to the programs may be found on Facebook at either Bay de Noc Gardening Conference or at Delta County Master Gardener Association.