Its Too Soon To Start The Garden, But These Chattanoogaarea Classes And Events Will Get You Ready

The first day of summer is one month away: March 20th. Last chance of frost is far away: April 17th.

So, yes, despite the occasional windy day, it's too early to start digging in the garden. Perhaps one of the following functions will help. Through press releases, websites and social media, it includes gardening classes, exhibitions and conservation projects leading up to Earth Day weekend in April.

(Read more: Horticulturists advise protecting frost-damaged plants)

Haley Treadway, Hamilton County Extension representative, will offer yard and garden tips and says you can pick up copies of the 2023 Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Calendar at the Extension office at 6183 Adamson Circle or nearby. . tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/W436.pdf.

All about trees

February 26 and March 18 : Plant a Tree Day in Tennessee. If you want to participate in the planting day on March 18, you must keep the tree seedlings until February 26. The Tennessee Environmental Council, a nonprofit organization, is offering residents in all 95 counties an upfront donation of $2 per tree to plant 95,000 native tree seedlings on your property. Seedlings are rooted and can grow from 1 foot to 4 feet tall depending on the species. Pickup will be available March 17-18 at various locations across the state, including five locations in Hamilton County. Types may vary by location and some options are often sold out. In the year As of 2017, the council has donated more than 800,000 indigenous trees with a goal of planting 1 million trees by 2025. tecn.org

› March 4 : Chattanooga Forest Day, 8 a.m. to noon at Shepherd Community Center, 2124 Shepherd Road. The Chattanooga Tree Commission is seeking volunteers to plant 34 trees, marking the event's 34th year. Boarding begins at 8 a.m. with children's activities. Chattanooga's U.S. Tree City recognition will take place at 11 a.m., followed by tree-cutting parades. Register: eventbrite.com

› March 4 : Daisy Tree Planting Day, 9 a.m. to noon at Veterans Park, 9000 Dayton Pike. Soddy-Daisy will plant 35 trees around the park for the second annual Keep It Beautiful. Students from Ivy Academy and Sodi-Daisy High School, local Boy Scouts and community organizations will participate, and we welcome other volunteers. For a gift of $100 or more, you can plant a tree in someone's honor or memory. cbaip.org/events

Lessons

Feb. 22 and March 28: Plan Your Spring Garden and Organic Pest Control: Attract Beneficial Insects to the Garden, 6-7:30 p.m. (Both) The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave. These courses are taught by "Gardenchick" Karen Creel. February's Spring Garden Planning section explains four easy steps to growing vegetables like carrots, lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens that can be planted four to six weeks after the last frost. Organic pest control kills good bugs. Study about pests and diseases and what to do about the pests and diseases that may appear in the garden in March. Each cost $25. thechattery.org

› Feb. 23 : Gardening 101, Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. "Gardenchick" Karen Creel examines the pros and cons of creating a garden in this episode. You will learn where to start a garden, how to create healthy soil to feed your plants, what to plant and how to make a planting plan. It costs $30. crabtreefarms.org/events

› February 23 or 25: Garden Series: Starter Seeds: Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. or Saturdays at 10 a.m. Urban Garden Culture Supply, 3009 Wood Ave. This beginner gardening tutorial covers how, when, and how to start from seed. Gardening experience is not required. The same information is presented in each section, so you don't need to follow both. The price is 10 dollars. facebook.com/UHSchattanooga

› Feb. 25: Fairy Garden, 11 a.m. Create a magical miniature world in the classroom at Signal Mountain Kindergarten, 1100 Hubbard Road, popular with children and adults. The price depends on the material used. signalmountainnursery.com

› March 4 : Go Wild in the Garden, 10 a.m. Learn how to grow miniature lawns for pollinators at Signal Mountain Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road. signalmountainnursery.com

› March 9-10: Green Express Short Course. Hosted by Chattanooga State College, this program provides gardeners with the latest research from experts from around the state. Cost is $80 for one day, $150 for two early bird registrations before February 27, $100 after that and $190. hamilton.tennessee.edu/green-express-short-course

› March 9 or 11 : Garden Series: Maintenance: Thursday 5:45 p.m. or Saturday 10 a.m. Urban Garden Supply, 3009 Wood Ave. Get advice on planting, pest control and general care as your garden grows. The price is 10 dollars. facebook.com/UHSchattanooga

› March 11 : Pruning tour, 10 a.m. at Seinberg Nursery, 1100 Hubbard Road. Learn how to prune trees, shrubs and perennials correctly and at the best time. signalmountainnursery.com

March 18 (and ongoing): Hamilton County Master Gardeners monthly class, third Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. This series of free educational courses, with a different topic each month, can be taken at the Hamilton County Clerk's Office, 6183 Adamson Circle, or via Zoom. You must register for both options. mgc.org/public-classes

› March 23 or 25 : Hydroponics 101, 5:45 p.m. Thursday or 10 a.m. Saturday, Urban Garden Supply, 3009 Wood Ave. Learn the basics of this method of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil. The price is 10 dollars. facebook.com/UHSchattanooga

March 25: Veggie Gardening 101, 11 a.m. Tips and tricks for beginners and experienced gardeners. free of charge. signalmountainnursery.com

› March 25 and April 1 : Introduction to Permaculture. This two-part series is hosted by the owner of Signal Mountain's Wild Purple Permaculture, which creates gardens, orchards, and native and edible landscapes. Permaculture is an engineered agricultural ecosystem that mimics a natural ecosystem. Both courses run from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Each cost $60. crabtreefarms.org/events

› April 2: Apple Picking, 1:30-4:00 pm at Historic General Bath, 82 Highway 225 North, Chatsworth, Georgia. Work with University of Georgia Extension agents to plant your own apple trees into this crop. Take the program from the age of 18. All supplies are included in the $40 price. explore.gueststateparks.org

› April 8 : Introduction to Beekeeping, 10 a.m.-noon, Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Instructor Randall Kennedy will introduce participants to the basics of beekeeping, including the basics of bee biology, equipment needed, honey production and costs, using one of the eight hives he maintains in the garden. It costs $30. crabtreefarms.org/events

› April 8: Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, 1 p.m. at Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Animals go with a plan to create a backyard wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation. It costs $25. crabtreefarms.org/events

Clean up

› Feb. 25 : Little Sody Creek Cleanup, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Keep Sodi-Desi Beautiful Little Sodi Creek hosts a volunteer beautification drive. Sign up: cbaip.org/little-soddy-creek-cleanup

› March 4 : Weeds, different times, different places. This nationwide volunteer effort helps save public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species, particularly by hand-removal of harmful trees, vines and flowering plants. Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center maintains a full list of volunteer positions. reflectionriding.org/weeds

Exhibitions, festivals

› 24.-26. February: Tri-State Home Show, Friday-Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Organized by the Greater Chattanooga Home Builders Association, this event features a number of vendors specializing in landscape design. Admission for adults is $10 during the day and $16 on weekends. Bring a donation box to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for $1 off. homeshowchattanooga.com

› Feb. 25 : Garden Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Avenue, East Ridge. Tennessee Garden Clubs, District III and the Tennessee Native Garden Association will be partners in this half-day event that will include workshops and a market. The theme is "Beyond beauty: the garden, as life depends on it". A $35 registration fee is required in advance. tngardenclubs.org

› March 4: Kindergarten opening ceremony. Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, is opening an indoor nursery for the season. The event coincides with EPB's ReLeaf program, which provides two free trees to all Hamilton County residents and/or EBB customers. reflectriding.org/buy-native-plants

› 17-18 March 25 : Botanical Symposium. The Tennessee Valley Wildlife Service is holding its annual event over two weekends. The first weekend of Nature Journals workshops will be held on March 17 from 12:00 to 16:00 and the symposium will begin on March 18 from 8:00 to 17:00 at the UTC University Center. Five experts will give presentations, including the keynote speaker, landscape architect Thomas Reiner. The second weekend will fill the First Horizon tent at 1826 Carter St. with the Native Plant Sale & Expo on March 25 at 9 p.m. until 3 o'clock in the evening. Tickets for the seminar are $125 and are limited to 20. Tickets for the symposium are $75 for non-members and $85 after March 13. tnvalleywildones.org

› April 1 : Bee Day. Free community preservation workshops and exhibits and Five Points at the Museum Center Lawn, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn., keepclevelandbradleycountybeautiful.org

› April 15-16: Plant Your Garden, Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. A staple of the spring calendar since 2013, the Hamilton County Master Gardeners event features vendors, exhibits, live demonstrations and expert talks. A $10 ticket is good for both days. mgc.org/garden-expo

› 21.-23. April: Spring Sale and Plant Festival, Friday-Saturday (full festival), 11am-3pm Sunday (plants only) Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Also cultivation of berry and fruit crops and direct sowing of vegetable seeds. Live music, arts and crafts vendors, food and children's activities round out the event. crabtreefarms.org

› April 21-23 : Trails and Trillium Festival in Beersheba Springs, Tennessee. The Friends of South Cumberland State Park hosts this three-day event, which includes hikes, workshops and a native plant sale. Registration is required for some programs that cover topics ranging from bird watching to wildflower and tree identification. An all-inclusive weekend pass is $150, which comes with a Saturday night Wine & Wildflower ticket ($35 separately). A weekend pass is $75 for all rides and shows, or choose a la carte for $15 per program. trailandtrilliums.org

Plants and seeds

› Feb. 25 : Seed Swap, 2 p.m. at Seed Theater, 6237 Vance Road Share your seeds, sprouts, unwanted containers, tools and soil at this Hope Community Fridge event. facebook.com/hopecommunityfridge

› March 4 : Spring Seed and Plant Swap, 1:30-4 p.m. at Urban Gardening Supply, 3009 Wood Ave. An event showcasing the benefits of the City of Chattanooga's Rain Smart Program. facebook.com/UHSchattanooga

› April 8 : Plant Giving, 8 a.m. at Daisy United Methodist Church, 9508 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy. The annual promotion offers flowers, vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants. The sale ends when the last plants are gone. "Last year we had 1,500 plants in three hours," said coordinator Bill Haley. indul8rbill@yahoo.com

Visits

› Feb. 25 : Nursery Tour, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Take a behind-the-scenes look at one of the region's best native plant nurseries at Reflection Row, 400 Garden Road. Explore the Hop House and Greenhouse to get an inside look at seed collection, propagation and gardening. Get a plant with free registration. reflectionriding.org/events

Know of an event not listed? Send details to Life@timesfreepress.com for inclusion in future features.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.