LADYBUG SAYS ... GARDEN SYMPOSIUM TO ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS

Would you know which annuals to plant this spring? How to care for them for peak production? How to landscape your own property and care for your lawn? Which roses to choose for perfect performance for this locality? How to arrange flowers for all seasons? How to grow superior iris? What insecticides to use for insect control and how to control weeds in the garden?

All of these questions and more will be answered at the Jackson Men's Garden Club Gardening Symposium to be held Saturday (February 29) at the Cape Girardeau Vocational School, 301 North Clark Street, Cape Girardeau. The Symposium will begin at 8:45 a.m. and last until 4:25 p.m.

Registration is $10 in advance and $12 at the door and will apply for one program or all of the programs. Advanced registration is to be sent to Eldred Hargens, 875 Otto St., Jackson, 63755.

Moderator of the program will Ferd Sturm, and introductions will be made by Ben Kight, John Blue, Morton Estes, James R. McHaney and O.D. Niswonger, all members of the Men's Garden Club of Jackson. They will also serve refreshments during program breaks, and award door prizes.

"Annual Flowers" is the topic of the first program at 9 by Dr. Charles H. Korns, professor of horticulture at Southeast Missouri State University. An Iowan, Dr. Korns came to SEMO in 1970 and has developed a horticulture program which has grown steadily, and includes three modern greenhouses where students prepare new varieties of plants for use on the campus and sale to the public.

Dr. Korns studied horticulture at Arkansas A&M, Mississippi State, receiving his masters degree at Colorado State University and his doctorate at Mississippi University. Students who have graduated under his guidance have gone on to many outstanding positions with seed companies, botanical gardens and in other forms of horticulture.

One of the most outstanding honors was the designation of the University display garden as an All-America Garden in 1981. Here area residents have the opportunity to see the five or six new flowers and vegetables receiving this coveted honor each year.

At 10 Dr. Charles E. Knote, a registered professional entomologist, and a graduate of Purdue University, will speak on "Safe Insect and Weed Control for the Garden." A chemical engineer, he established Cape-Kil Pest Control Co. at 33 N. Frederick in 1949. The company is now owned and managed by his daughter Lizbe Knote, who is also a graduate of Purdue and an electrical engineer.

The last morning speaker (at 11) will be Harry Bertrand, horticulture instructor at Cape Vo-Tech school, who will talk on "Landscaping and Lawn Care." Mr. Bertrand, who has been a landscape horticulturist at the School for 12 years, gives the students experiences in all phases of horticulture, including turf management, growing foliage plants, indoor gardening, greenhouse management, and growing fruits and vegetables about every other year. He is also president and owner of Pioneer Nursery of Jackson.

At 1:30 the first afternoon session will be presented by Al Roderick, who is a floral designer for a wholesale florist in St. Louis, he will demonstrate "Flower Arranging for All Seasons". For 30 years Mr. Roderick had his own retail florist shop in Desloge he also is an iris grower.

In his demonstrations he will show how to use floral materials how to make the most of dried, silk and other artificial materials for winter, and how to incorporate fresh flowers into arrangements for spring and summer.

"Growing Special Iris" is the topic of Dave Niswonger, owner of Cape Iris Gardens where the very latest introductions in the iris world can be found. He is a nationally recognized iris hybridizer, and also grows gladiolus, narcissus, daylilies and other flowers which he cross pollenates to make new varieties.

Hybrid tea roses are the type most often purchased by consumers, according to national survey results announced by the All-America Rose Selections. Possibly Ben Kight of Advance will confirm this in his talk on "Starting Out Right With Roses," at 3:15 p.m. Mr. Kight, who has been growing less than 10 years, possibly has the largest garden in this area.

Mr. Kight also will discuss several types of roses including climbers, miniatures, floribundas, grandifloras, shrub, and hedge-type roses. Flower color and form are important to home gardeners, as well as price, winter hardiness, low maintenance and blooming periods.

Along with his wife, Millie, who is an arranger, they attend flower shows and enter in many places including Memphis and St. Louis. He is an American Rose Society horticultural judge and consulting Roasarian.

The Symposium will be concluded by 4:30 in the afternoon. Although refreshments will be served at mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks in the program, all are on their own for lunch.

Each of the men presenting these sessions is a specialist in his own field. Each period would be helpful to any gardener.