Ohio State University Extension - Stark County Master Gardener Volunteers

09/07/2026

Autumn Discovery Day is coming and the plant list is here!

Get a sneak peek at everything we'll have for sale on October 3rd: trees and shrubs, rare and unique conifers and Japanese maples. Start your wish list now!

Full plant list & event details: https://www.friendsofsecrest.com/2026-fall-plant-sale

Saturday, October 3 | 9am–12pm
Secrest Welcome and Education Center
FSA members get 10% off!
See you in the garden

08/18/2026

Join us for the August edition of Garden Java!

Discover the beauty and purpose of Sensory Gardens: Nature's Calendar with Stark County Master Gardener Volunteer Tracey Michel. Explore how sights, sounds, scents, textures, and even tastes in the garden can help us connect more deeply with nature throughout the year.

Learn practical tips for designing sensory-rich garden spaces, find new ways to enjoy your landscape, and celebrate the unique beauty each season brings.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just beginning your gardening journey, you'll leave with fresh ideas and inspiration for creating meaningful outdoor spaces.

Bring your curiosity and enjoy a morning of gardening knowledge, conversation, and community!

07/20/2026

With a passion for plants and a gift for connecting people to nature, Dave Tomashefski brings both expertise and enthusiasm to the 2026 BOTANICA stage. 🌱

As co-founder of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery in Cleveland and a former researcher at The Ohio State University’s Soil, Water and Environmental Lab, Dave combines science, education, and a lifelong love of the outdoors—first sparked by birdwatching in Lakewood.

Making the Most of Your Tree with a Soft Landings Garden invites you to rethink the space beneath your trees—showing how thoughtful planting can transform these often-overlooked areas into vibrant ecosystems that support biodiversity, help butterflies and moths complete their life cycles and enhance the beauty and resilience of your landscape. 🦋 You'll be inspired to see your yard from the canopy down—and discover how even shaded spaces can become thriving habitats.

🌱 Bring the Learning Home!
Dave will also be bringing a curated selection of native plants—perfect for creating your own “soft landings” garden—available for purchase at the event. This is a great opportunity to get expert advice and take home the right plants to start building habitat right away!

Learn more about Dave and Meadow City Native Plant Nursery by visiting https://meadowcitynursery.com/ or following on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/meadow.city/

Small changes, big impact—learn how to turn the space under your trees into something extraordinary!

Learn more at go.osu.edu/2026botanicainfo
Register to attend at go.osu.edu/2026botanica

07/15/2026

Do you have a dahlia that's dazzling, zinnias that are stealing the show, or vegetables worthy of a blue ribbon? Now is the perfect time to learn how to share your gardening success with the community!

Join us for our upcoming July Garden Java session with Stark County Master Gardener Volunteer Rita Mullet. Rita will guide participants through the process of submitting horticultural entries to the Stark County Fair.
🌺 Learn what flowers, vegetables, herbs, and other horticultural exhibits can be entered
🌻 Discover how to select and prepare your best blooms and garden produce
🌷 Gain insight into judging criteria and presentation tips
🏵️ Build confidence for your first fair entry or improve your chances for blue ribbon success

Whether you're dreaming of ribbons or simply curious about the exhibit process, this session will be full of practical advice and floral inspiration.

Come celebrate the beauty, color, and abundance of the gardening season and discover how your garden treasures can shine at the Stark County Fair!

🌸 Every bloom tells a story. Let yours be part of the fair. 🌸

07/13/2026

Join us at BOTANICA 2026 as we welcome Lynn Vogel, for an engaging and practical session on creating landscapes that truly work with nature! 🌎✨

Lynn's session on Water Wise Landscaping💧 is all about exploring simple, sustainable strategies to improve soil health, manage stormwater runoff, support native plants, and create thriving habitat for wildlife, birds, and pollinators 🐦🐝—helping you build a healthier, more resilient landscape right at home .

An educator and administrator with the Portage County Soil and Water Conservation District, Lynn provides conservation and stormwater education throughout Portage County. From working with K-12 students to assisting landowners with soil health, stormwater retention, and native plantings, Lynn brings valuable, hands-on expertise to share.

🛠️ Bonus: Rain Barrel Demonstration & Raffle!
Don’t miss a special rain barrel assembly demonstration, where you’ll see step-by-step how to capture and reuse rainwater in your landscape. Plus, attendees will have the chance to enter a raffle to win a rain barrel to get started on water-wise gardening right away! 🌧️🌿

✨ Come learn how to make every drop count—and nurture nature in the process.

Learn more at go.osu.edu/2026botanicainfo
Register to attend at go.osu.edu/2026botanica

07/07/2026

07/06/2026

Get ready to see the natural world in a whole new way at BOTANICA 2026! Join us in welcoming Danae Wolfe—conservation photographer, writer, and educator—as she shares her inspiring talk: From Fear to Fascination: Rewilding the Mindscape

In a world often driven by environmental urgency, Danae invites us to shift our perspective—from fear to wonder, curiosity, and connection. Through her journey and stunning macro photography, she reveals the hidden beauty of backyard insects and spiders, helping us see these often-overlooked creatures not as pests, but as essential and fascinating parts of our ecosystems. 🐝🕷️

This program perfectly reflects our theme of Nurturing Nature—encouraging us to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the extraordinary in the everyday. With powerful storytelling and practical insights, Danae shows how changing what we value in nature can inspire meaningful, hopeful action right where we live.

📸 With more than 20 years behind the lens, Danae is the creator of Chasing Bugs, an initiative that empowers gardeners to support biodiversity through small, impactful changes. Her work has been featured by CNN, The American Gardener, and Nature Conservancy Magazine, and she was named Garden Communicators International’s 2022 Emergent Communicator.

Learn more about Danae and Chasing Bugs at https://www.chasingbugs.com/ or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chasingbugs

📖 Don’t miss the chance to learn from the author of Grass Isn’t Greener and discover how your own backyard can become a haven for wildlife.

✨ Come be inspired, shift your perspective, and join us in rewilding the way we see nature.

Learn more at go.osu.edu/2026botanicainfo
Register to attend at go.osu.edu/2026botanica



Photo Credit: Denice Hazlett

06/29/2026

This week, we’re excited to feature our 2026 BOTANICA Harvest Sponsor—Terra Depot! 🌎💚

Located right here in Stark County on a small farm near Navarre, Ohio, Terra Depot is a locally owned and operated nature specialty shop and native plant nursery dedicated to helping you nurture nature at home. 🌱

Owned by Megan Shoenfelt, Terra Depot was inspired by a lifelong love of the outdoors—hiking, birdwatching, gardening, and exploring nature. That passion grew into a career in environmental work and agriculture, and ultimately into the creation of Terra Depot as Megan’s perfect retirement venture.

🌼 What you’ll find at Terra Depot:
• A wide selection of native plants to support pollinators and local ecosystems
• A thoughtfully curated gift shop for nature lovers
• High-quality bird supplies, including premium seed, feeders, birdhouses, and accessories 🐦
• Locally grown favorites like homemade raspberry jams and jellies

Terra Depot is also known for its commitment to high-quality, “Made in America” products, including durable pole systems, shepherd hooks, and more to help you build and enjoy your backyard habitat.

💚 Their mission aligns perfectly with our theme of Nurturing Nature—making it easier for all of us to support biodiversity right in our own backyards.

📍 Visit them: 7404 Sheplar Church Ave SW, Navarre, Ohio
👉 Learn more: https://www.theterradepot.com/
👉 Follow on Facebook: Terra Depot

Please join us in thanking Terra Depot for their foundational support of this year’s BOTANICA event—and be sure to check them out! 🌿✨

For more information on BOTANICA 2026: Nurturing Nature visit go.osu.edu/2026botanicainfo

To register for the event visit go.osu.edu/2026botanica

06/23/2026

Ready to rock your landscape? Join us for tomorrow’s (June 24) Garden Java session featuring Stark County Master Gardener Volunteer Barb Karch, as she shares her expertise on rock gardens—designed with purpose.

Discover how to select plants suited for Ohio conditions and incorporate year-round color and texture all while keeping your landscape low-maintenance. Barb will share timely tips whether you’re starting from scratch or enhancing an existing space.

Register today at go.osu.edu/gardenjava .