About this Event
Welcome to Cabin Fever - Dreams to Reality! Get ready to bring your dreams to life at this exciting garden symposium presented by the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Cleveland County at The LeGrand Center on March 21, 2026. Join us for a day filled with inspiration, motivation, and practical steps to turn your dreams into reality. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and take the first step towards achieving your dream garden. See you there!
Agenda
🕑: 07:45 AM - 08:45 AM
Check-In
🕑: 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM
Welcome
Host: Holly Greene
Info: President, Extension Master Gardener Association of Cleveland County
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening Keynote
Host: Dr. Allan Armitage
Info: Chaos to Completion
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Break and Vendors
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Follow-Up
Host: Dr. Allan Armitage
Info: Common Sense Gardening
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch and Guest Speaker
Host: Debbie Clark - Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
Info: Overview of the Flowering Bridge from before Hurricane Helen to now.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Visit with Vendors
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Room A -Straw Bale Gardening - Craig LeHoullier
Host: Craig LeHoullier
Info: Straw Bale Gardening
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Room B - Environmentally Friendly Gardening - Steve Pettis
Host: Steve Pettis
Info: Steve will teach you techniques that you can implement this spring to make your garden a friendly place for wildlife, including pollinating insects. Steve believes that at least part of our landscapes should mimic nature as much as possible. Healthy urban and suburban environments can be achieved by reducing lawns, practicing holistic tree health care and protection, using biorational pest control methods, and increasing biodiversity through the use of native plants in naturally designed plantings.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Room C - ???? Vince Girdauskas
Host: Vince, Girdaukas - Bartlett Tree Experts
Info: ?
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
Break and Vendors
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Room A -"Funky and Fun - Creating a yard with year round interest"
Host: The Shady Ladies of Raymond's Garden Center
Info: ?
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Room B - The Thrill of Growing Dahlias in Zone 7b/8A - Cindy Briggs
Host: Cindy Briggs
Info: Many gardeners may read this seminar title with bewilderment, but dahlias are among the most rewarding perennials to grow. Common complaints include “way too much work,” “prone to diseases and pests,” “finicky about watering,” and “a pain to dig up at the end of each season.” Worry not.
In this seminar, you will learn tried-and-true methods for growing dahlias successfully in Zone 7b/8a. Participants will receive a step-by-step guide to the dahlia growing season, from unpacking tubers in the spring and caring for them as they grow into stunning blooms, to dividing and repacking them in the late fall.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Room C - Afternoon Session 2
Host: Carolina Native Nursery
Info: ?
🕑: 03:15 PM - 04:00 PM
Closing Session - Auditorium
Host: Craig LeHoullier
Info: The History of Gardening
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Closing Remarks
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The LeGrand Center, 1800 East Marion Street, Shelby, United States
USD 71.21 to USD 81.88
