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Speakers Bureau Catalog

 
Given the diverse interests and specialties of our Master Gardener speakers, the Speakers Bureau Catalog list of topics is quite extensive.

The following categories are featured in this catalog.  By clicking on a category below, you will jump to descriptions of the programs that we offer in that category.  Scroll through the category in which you are interested to see specific presentations with brief descriptions.
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  • Annuals
  • Basic Gardening
  • Bulbs
  • Butterfly Gardening
  • Container Gardening
  • Edibles
  • Floral Design
  • Flowering Shrubs & Trees
  • Garden Art
  • Garden Design
  • Gardening with Children
  • Historical Plants and Landscapes
  • Houseplants
  • Insects and Diseases
  • ​Organic Gardening
  • Perennials
  • Poisonous Plants
  • Pollinator Gardening
  • Propagation
  • Pruning
  • Shade Gardening
  • Soil
  • Specialty Gardens
  • Sustainablilty
  • Vines and Groundcovers
  • Water-Wise Gardening
  • Weeds​
  • Wildlife

Programs by Category:

 
Annuals

Annuals—Cool Season
Annuals that thrive during the cool season before the heat sets in.

​Gardening with Annuals
Learn how to incorporate annuals into your landscape. Extend seasonal interest beyond just spring and summer. Learn how annuals can add color, form and texture. Planning, purchasing and maintenance are covered, as well.
 
Basic Gardening 

Composting 
The "how to's" and methods of composting and the many benefits to your garden.  Techniques provided will enable you to use kitchen and garden waste to yield rich garden compost.

The Fall Garden--Putting Your Beds to Bed 
Review of the six major issues that affect flower and vegetable growth through the fall and winter; soil-building: compost production and general preparation of gardens for next year's efforts; by-month (Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec.) review for both flower and vegetable gardens: what they are doing and what you should be doing for them.

​Gardening in Greenville County-Years of Lessons Learned (virtual only at this time)
A Master Gardener will share the information they have learned from years of gardening in the Upstate.  Topics may include dealing with red clay soil, how to grow vegetables, and the advantages of native plants.  This program is designed for newcomers to the area, but all gardeners can benefit from the experiences of others.​
 
Bulbs 

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Bulb Culture 
A bulb, the promise of a plant to come, is a complete package with a miniature plant inside, along with its food. Topics such as the bulb storage, site selection and preparation, planting, and maintenance are discussed in this presentation. Bulb "imposters" are also discussed.

A Bulb for All Seasons 
Identifies the common forms of bulbs as well as select bulbs that bloom in all four seasons in our planting zone.  Includes tips on planting and care of bulbs that will provide color throughout the year.

Forcing Amaryllis and Paperwhite Bulbs 
A step-by-step of when and "how to" plant and care for amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs; pictures from start to finish.

Spring Bulbs 
History of the most common bulbs for this area, definition and selection; selecting optimal site, planting and maintaining; methods of using bulbs, alone or in combination with plant materials, in containers.

Summer Bulbs
Add a splash of color to your summer garden by learning the "How, What and Where" of a variety of summer bulbs. 
 
Butterfly Gardening  

Beginning Butterfly Gardening 
Butterfly needs, top butterfly plants, butterflies of the Upstate.
 
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Container Gardening 

Contain Yourself - Creative Container Ideas for All Seasons
Learn to use a variety of materials to dress up existing containers as well as creating fresh new containers to dress up your porch, patio, or garden.

Floral Container Gardening--Fall/Winter
Site, light and soil requirements, selecting appropriate container and planting techniques; designing with seasonal plant materials and spring bulbs; emphasis on plant structure and foliage color for eight months of impact; maintenance: water, fertilization and grooming.

Floral Container Gardening--Spring/Summer
Site, light and soil requirements, selecting appropriate container and planting techniques; designing with plant materials: size, color, texture and scent; maintenance: water, fertilization and grooming.

Getting Ready for Fall from the Outside In 
Refreshes spring/summer containers with plants more adapted to cooler temperatures. When and how to bring plants that have been to summer camp back inside so they aren't too traumatized by lower light levels and lack of humidity. Also, how they should be cleaned, pruned and divided to fit into their winter homes. Speaker brings actual containers and changes out plants, if necessary, to illustrate the subject of the talk.

Getting Ready for Spring from the Inside Out
Cleaning up houseplants and preparing them for "summer camp;" includes brief remarks on propagation, pest removal, cultural requirements, and transition to stronger sunlight. Also includes suggestions for editing and adapting outdoor containers for the spring/summer season. Speaker brings actual containers and changes out plants, if necessary, to illustrate the subject of the talk.

Miniature/Fairy Gardens 
Basic principles for the two are the same--one involving fairies, the other involves other small items. Speaker brings containers, discusses scale, vegetation, how to maintain it, and how to make the finished product look like a tiny world.

Not Your Ordinary Container Garden 
Think of containers as garden beds made smaller and easier to manage. Types and sizes of containers, potting soil, plant combinations, plant cultural requirements, fertilization, and recognizing pests and diseases are all part of a successful container garden.

Uncontained: Unusual Solutions for Container Gardens
Some basic concepts, but using fun and unusual containers for the moment; centerpieces and other holiday arrangements. Suggestions on using non-traditional containers for indoor and outdoor planting.

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Vegetable Gardening in Containers 
Basic site requirements: light, temperature, appropriate container size/material, soil and support vehicles; best seeds and plants for containers; thorough season maintenance: controlling insects and disease, fertilization.
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Edibles 

Fall Vegetable Gardening 
Effects of soil temperature, change in position and intensity of sun and lowering temperatures on vegetable garden growth; cool season crops, both seeds and plants, planting dates and strategies for production of vegetables from fall to spring; maintaining and enhancing the garden through fertilization, control of weeds, insects and diseases, and tips on soil-building for the upcoming year. 

Growing Herbs 
Brief history and lore of our most commonly grown herbs; optimal site, sustenance, maintenance and propagation; methods of harvesting and preserving herbs.

Growing the Best Tomatoes . . . Ever! 
History of tomatoes, types available for this area and your garden's circumstances; growing healthy plants from birth to death; common disorders, insects and diseases: how to monitor and control.

How to Start a Community Vegetable Garden 
Cost, structure and operational comparison of Project Host Soup Kitchen Garden (a communal garden) to St. Francis Community Garden (a community garden); defining community's needs/selection of appropriate garden model (community or communal); location/site selection and "Vegetable Gardening 101" review of the basics.

Vegetable and Herb Gardening for Senior Citizens 
Emphasis on small, manageable container or in-ground gardens for seniors; basic site requirements: light, temperature, appropriate container size/material, soil and support vehicles; best seeds and plants for vegetable production.

Vegetable Gardening 
Optimal site: sun/temperature, soil, planting plan; vegetable selection for this area: seeds, plants, timing; maintenance: controlling weeds, insects and disease, fertilization and growing tips.

​Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds/Small Space Gardening 
Optimal choices for raised bed materials/size/construction and container size/material; vegetable selection for this area: seeds, plants, timing; seasonal efforts to prolong vegetable production.
 
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Floral Design (Most have a supply fee but product is left by presenter )

Seasonal Floral Design for Mailboxes and Doors 
Decorating for the different seasons as well as for holidays is an activity that many people enjoy. Whether you want to dress up your house for spring, summer, Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, or other holidays, remember to include your mailbox and front door. Placing decorations outside is a great way to spread a warm welcome and festive holiday cheer. This presentation will provide you with ideas for decorating, using simple yet celebratory themes that add to the joyful decorations of your home. No charge for demo only.  $15 material charge if floral piece stays with the organization.

101 Flower Pressing
A demo on how to use flower, leaves, and other organic things collected from your garden to create creative pieces of art.  We will learn the basic techniques for collecting, pressing and then using your found pieces. Class lasts about 35 minutes. No charge.

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Flowering Shrubs & Trees

​​Rhododendrons 
Rhododendrons for upstate South Carolina; natural habitats and preferred garden climates; types of rhododendrons; planting, care, propagation; examples of "good doers" for this area.
 
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Garden Art 

Concrete Leaf Casting 
A demonstration in which attendees will learn how to cast leaves in concrete. Requires a water source and an entrance to the facility where the presenter can move concrete, sand, and other materials easily. No charge for demonstration only.  $10 supply charge per student to make the casting.

Creating Hypertufa Containers 
Create a stone-like planter that looks like it would be at home nestled in the Victorian gardens of an old English estate. Hypertufa containers are lightweight and provide great drainage. Can be done as a demo (30 minutes) or class. Handout distributed. No charge for demonstration only.  $15 supply charge per person to make their own container.
 
Garden Design 

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Form, Texture, and Color in the Perennial Garden
Garden Design "101": what makes a great garden; exploration of plant material form, texture, and importance of bloom and (especially) foliage color; how to take a garden's "pulse" for form, texture, and color, and how to enact changes for a more successful year 'round garden.
 
Gardening with Children 

Linky Stone Children's Garden
Discover a hidden gem of downtown Greenville.  This 2.5 acre green space provides entertainment and education for "children" of all ages.

Miniature Gardens for Children 
The speaker brings illustrative containers and discusses how children might assemble those of their own, using some inexpensive, some "found" materials.

Pruning & Propagating with Children 
Developed to teach a combined 1st through 3rd grade class how to grow plants from cuttings. Provides a hands-on 3-class half-day session covering plant basics, pruning and propagating. A great way to supplement focus on plants. The author will tailor the session to the teacher's needs and background of the students. Grades 1 thru 5 recommended.  Thirty students or fewer.  Adult participation required.

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School Gardens 
What you need to know to create one, and how to keep it going once you've got it.
 
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Historical Plants & Landscapes 

A Biblical Garden--Where Do I Start?
Gardens play prominent roles in our lives and in history. This is an introduction to the requirements for a Biblical garden, the resources available to create something similar in our space, and where some are that we can enjoy.

Jessie Burnette--A Greenville Legacy Garden 
The plants found in a turn-of-the-century garden and the woman who was responsible for planting them.  A blend of history and plant information.

Medicinal Plants through the Ages 
Herbal medicine traces its roots back to the earliest civilizations.  Even with the amazing technological advances of current pharmacology, herbalism - the art and science of healing with plants - is becoming an alternative medicinal practice.  Learn how common herbs planted in gardens and readily available can be the best and most popular remedies for common ailments.
 
Houseplants 

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Houseplants 101 
A simple plan for the selection, planting, maintenance and care of various kinds of houseplants is the focus of this presentation. Following "the plan" will keep your houseplants thriving and surviving.
 
Insects and Diseases 

Protecting the Pollinators 
Scientists estimate that one out of three bites of food people eat exists because of pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds, bats, beetles and other insects. Many pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants. This presentation addresses what a person can do to help pollinators--especially solitary bees--thrive.
 
 
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Organic Gardening 

 
Perennials 

Gardening with Perennials
Learn how to incorporate perennials into your landscape. Extend seasonal interest beyond just spring and summer. Learn how perennials can add color, form and texture.  Planning, purchasing and maintenance are covered, as well.

Gardening with Perennials and Annuals
Learn how to incorporate annuals and perennials into your landscape. Extend seasonal interest beyond just spring and summer. Learn how perennials can add color, form and texture.
Planning, purchasing and maintenance are covered, as well.

​Perennials—Shade 
All I have is shade! What perennials can I grow?
 
Poisonous Plants

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Wicked Plants
This presentation is based on Amy Stewart's book, "Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities." Lots of interesting information and stories about many plants.
 
Pollinator Gardening

Pollinators in Jeopardy: Gardeners Can Help (One hour presentation)
A discussion of various pollinators and the risks they face. Describes strategies residential gardeners can undertake to preserve a thriving pollinator habitat.

​Pollinators in Jeopardy:  Gardeners Can Help  (Two hour presentation) 
A two-part presentation about pollinators in general, the risks they face and how residential gardeners can help them. Additionally, a detailed focus on butterflies; what they're all about and what garden plants they  find most attractive. 

Native Plants and Pollinators 
The Why, What and Where of South Carolina Native Plants.  Learn  how Native Plants  interact and protect  our southern pollinators.

Protecting the Pollinators 
Scientists estimate that one out of three bites of food people eat exists because of pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds, bats, beetles and other insects. Many pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants. This presentation addresses what a person can do to help pollinators--especially solitary bees--thrive.

 

Propagation 

Horizontal Propagation (formerly "Pot" Layering) 
Novice and experienced gardeners will love this popular new technique to easily produce mature plants. Through demonstration you will see it is easy to learn and readily adaptable to plants in your yard as well as in containers, while less work than most other techniques. This is an ideal technique for non-gardeners, or those who don’t want to wait years for their perennials to mature from cuttings, or people who have movement difficulty and still want the joy of easily propagating their plants.

Plant Propagation (Asexual)
Getting started, timing and selection of plant materials, selection of plant parts that will yield the most success in propagation; utilizing simple techniques and tools.  Plant propagation demo-time and space allowing.

Propagation--Seeds and Plants
Brief/humorous history of propagation, how to get started: selecting plants or seeds, simple/economical containers, tools, etc.; plant propagation (asexual): timing techniques, tools and methods; seed propagation (sexual): seed structure, types, viability and how to start.

Seed Propagation (on demand video)
A video features a Master Gardener discussing easy seeds for beginners, how to select seeds, when to start seed (including indoors), what containers and growing media to use, how to harden seedlings off, how to save your own seed for next year and links to other good reference materials, including the online Burpee's Growing Calendar.  Also includes a printed outline and references.

Success with Seeds 
Brief/humorous history of propagation; the structure, nature, protective strategies and dispersal of seeds; how to collect, preserve and prepare for planting; explanation of seed germination and step-by-step process of starting seeds up to planting them in-ground.

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2 for 1:  Propagating While Pruning 
Have more of the plants you love by combining propagation with pruning.  This demonstration covers basic pruning techniques with several methods of propagation, and shows techniques to easily combine them. Get many tips to improve your success.
 
Pruning 

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Shear Madness
This presentation shows proper techniques, tools and timing for pruning to promote healthy tree and shrub growth in the home landscape.

2 for 1: Propagating While Pruning 
Have more of the plants you love by combining propagation with pruning. This demonstration covers basic pruning techniques with several methods of propagation, and shows techniques to easily combine them. Get many tips to improve your success.
 
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Shade Gardening 

Ferns 
Not just to hang on your front porch any more.

Hostas 
Hosta Hit Parade--American Hosta Society's top 10 plants. Culture and nurture of hosta, comparing Greenville's climate to their ancestral climate.

Not Your Mother's Shade Garden 
Focuses on the less common plants that can be used in shade.

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Shade Gardening
The garden we will all eventually have--a shady one. Advantages of shade, types of shade, reducing or increasing shade, and some plants best suited to shade.
 
Soil

Improving Southern Soils
Southern soils' poor reputation is partially unwarranted. Typically highly fertile, they can be improved tremendously by using some easy and affordable strategies that will heighten the high clay content and make the nutrients available to plants.

Soil Health 
Improving southern soils through the use of mulch and compost.

Soil / Soil Testing 
History, components and properties of soil in this area and how to improve its fertility; simple soil tests for overall health, percolation and composition; the Clemson soil test: how to take, interpret and act on the results.

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Soils 101 
General information about soils, including testing benefits and procedures.
 
Specialty Gardens 

Carolina Fence Garden 
The Carolina Fence garden incorporates basic natural and cultural elements, which have been designated as symbols of our state. It is a landscape component that can be adapted to a variety of settings. Learn how to design your own Carolina Fence garden to showcase specimen and native plants.

Garden Color All Year Long 
How to have interest in your garden 12 months a year.

Golden Age Gardening 
Learn tips on how to adapt your gardening and container skills as gardeners age.

The Joys of Winter Gardens 
Ways to enjoy the fourth season. Pleasures found in the winter garden--structure, bark, and the plants which bloom during this season.

Native Plants and Pollinators 
The Why, What and Where of South Carolina Native Plants.  Learn  how Native Plants  interact and protect  our southern pollinators.

The Twilight Garden 
History of the Twilight Garden; emphasis on the five senses; selection of appropriate site and planning; hardscapes, lighting, embellishments; designing of garden space and plant selection.

Theme Gardens 
General overview of the requirements for a theme garden. Examples, such as: colors, children's garden, college garden. Being creative and personal.​
 
Sustainability

Everyday is Earth Day : Sustainable Gardening and Living Tips
Give a gift to our gardens and our planet! Learn sustainable gardening and living principles to do now to become good stewards of the environment.

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Vines and Groundcover 

Clematis 
Gardening upwards--vines to make your garden grow vertically.  Nurturing clematis and keeping their pruning needs straight.

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Ground Covers 
History, definition/types; why, where and how to successfully use for both function and to add beauty; selecting appropriate plants, site preparation, spacing/patterning, planting, mulching, and maintaining.
 
Water-Wise Gardening 
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Gardening, Growing, (and Surviving) in the Heat of Summer 
There are plants we can grow that will do fine with only water from Mother Nature. Join the discussion of what to plant--and how to plant--to best use our water supply. It is possible to have plants thrive year 'round without supplemental irrigation.

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Residential Rain Gardens: What, Why, and How 
This presentation will define rain gardens, illustrate their importance, explain their construction, as well as list and display some plants appropriate for a sunny rain garden. 
 
Weeds

Weed I.D. & Management
Discover how to identify weeds, how they spread, how they are managed, can they be managed? We explore the seasons, the leaves, the flowers and the roots. We also review methods of control.  A quick review with information to take home.

What is an Invasive Species? 
An invasive species is a species that is not native to a specific location, and that has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health. We will discuss common invasive species such as kudzu and others common to the SC landscape and strategies to control and manage these plantings.
 
Wildlife

Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
How to provide wildlife with the four basic needs: water, food, shelter, and a place to raise their young; seasonal efforts to attract wildlife in spring, summer, fall and winter; designing a simple backyard Wildlife Habitat from augmenting  existing landscape to  starting from scratch.


Gardening for Wildlife 
Everyone's yard, no matter how big or small, how rural or urban, can provide habitat for some kind of wildlife.  The landscaping practices offered during this presentation can help gardeners attract and sustain beneficial wildlife in their garden. 

Seeing Blues
How to attract Eastern bluebirds to your yard and enhance wildlife in your environment.
 
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  • Home
  • GGMG Info
    • About GGMG Association
    • Become a Master Gardener
    • Helpful Gardening Resources
    • Message from our President
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Gardens
    • Linky Stone Children's Garden
    • Butterfly Garden
    • Heritage Garden
    • Community Gardens
  • Events
    • Symposium
    • Plant Sale
    • Junior Master Gardener
  • Programs
    • Rent-a-Master Gardener
    • Community Grants
    • Ask-a-Master Gardener
  • Member Center
  • Contact Us
  • Symposium Registration