Master Gardeners and friends enjoy Fall Workshop

Gardeners from around the Ozarks gathered at New Testament Christian Church in Reeds Spring on Saturday, September 12, for “Fall in Love with Gardening,” the fall workshop of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks. The annual fall and spring workshops, presented by Master Gardeners of the Ozarks/Stone and Taney counties, the University of Missouri Extension Councils, and the Taney and Stone County commissions, provide a wonderful time of learning and fellowship. 

The workshop opened with continental breakfast and opportunities to browse the MGO Marketplace, garden-themed vendors and silent auction items. Kathryn Kufahl then welcomed those present and introduced the opening speaker, Anne Wildeboor, horticulture supervisor at the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens of Overland Park, Kansas. Ms. Wildeboor’s presentation, “Right Plant, Right Place,” was accompanied by beautiful slides of suggested plants appropriate for different sun and shade conditions, moisture conditions and variations of texture and color. 

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Left to right: Speaker Anne Wildeboor; great turnout of attendees; local products, plants, and garden-themed art are always highlights in the vendor area and silent auction (Photos by Cynthia J. Thomas)

The next speaker was Benjamin Price, Meteorologist with the Springfield office of the National Weather Service, sharing about “Climate and Weather Patterns that Influence Conditions in the Ozarks.” His presentation showed how air movements across the oceans and the continent interact with topographical conditions such as the Ozarks Plateau and the White River Valley chain of lakes, with explanations of how and why storms happen, how garden zones are determined and much more. Although weather surprises come with living in the Ozarks, many attendees said his presentation will help them make sense of the weather maps shown on local news stations as they plan work days in the garden, crop selection and more.  

Lillee’s Catering of Nixa provided a delicious lunch, and the main dish and sides were all Alpha-Gal-friendly, an appropriate introduction for the day’s third speaker, nutrition and health specialist Eden Stuart with the Newton County MU Extension. Her presentation, “Alpha-Gal Syndrome: An Overview on Tick-Bite Prevention,” described conditions in the Ozarks that make it one of the country’s higher concentrations of Alpha-Gal. She shared resources for prevention of tick bites and managing the wildlife that may bring ticks to yards and gardens. She also offered guidelines for managing the condition, including food precautions that may not seem obvious, such as mammal-derived gelatins and fats used in prep even if the food itself would not be problematic. 

Micah Humphreys, Assoc. Professor of Agriculture at the College of the Ozarks, wrapped up the day’s learning sessions with “Tomatoes Past and Present,” a fascinating overview, complete with historical drawings, of centuries of twists and turns in the development of what is now one of the most popular garden vegetables grown in America—and, yes, the Supreme Court actually ruled, for export tax reasons, that a tomato is a vegetable! The more recent aspects of the presentation shared newer developments such as hy-looms, which combine desirable characteristics of both hybrid and heirloom varieties. 

he workshop concluded with a reminder to follow the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks website, https://mgozarks.org, for updates on monthly seminars hosted by area libraries and plans for the Spring Workshop next March. Learn more about the Master Gardeners in Missouri by visiting https://extension.missouri.edu.