None of us home gardeners know all the answers. We sometimes have to rely on trial and error as we strive to create a workable and/or attractive garden, whether it is ornamental or geared to fruit and vegetable production. There are opportunities this fall to expand your knowledge base and enjoy the outdoors from programs offered in our community and nearby. Grab a friend or two and take advantage of one or more of these programs geared to improve your gardening skills.

• Thursday, Sept. 4, 12 p.m.; Warren County Extension Office Monthly Videoconference Floral Program by Lynette McDougald, MSU University Florist Free
• Friday Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7; Strawberry Plains Audubon Center Hummingbird Migration Celebration 9AM-5 PM , 285 Plains Road, Holly Springs, Miss. Activities include bird-banding, guided wagon rides, guided nature walks through the 2600-acre Nature Sanctuary, native plant sale, kid’s nature tent, vendors, crafts ,concessions and speakers including Sara Bright and Paulette Ogard, Southern Butterflies photographers & authors; Bob and Martha Sargent, banding hummingbirds; Doug Tallamy, native plant specialist, Rob Miles, bat conservation; Terry Vanderventer, snake expert; Fred Bassett, Southeastern hummer/bird study group; Kate Friedman, wildlife rehabilitation; Richard Buchholz, Studying Animal Behavior and J.H. Rigby of Delta Wind Birds on Shorebirds. A sustainable event: no bags available at vendors. Bring your own bags and sturdy re-useable water bottles. Most vendors do not accept credit cards. Admission: $15/adults, $10/seniors, $5/ children 5-12, under 5 free. Speakers schedule at www.strawberryplains.audubon.org/hummingbird-migration or 662-252-1155
• Saturday, Sept. 13 through Sept. 16; Annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies 9AM-5 PM Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds, Haynesville Louisiana (US Hwy 79 in Piney Woods near Arkansas border). Speakers, exhibits, crafts and rides for the kids, food, music and entertainment. Speakers: Charles Allen, PhD, University of Louisiana at Monroe and native plant expert. Jeff McMillan, Almost Eden mail order nursery “Butterfly Gardening”; Chris Weissinger “ Old Fashion Southern Bulbs”; Robin Bridges “Bees and Butterflies as Pollinators” Charles Allen & Mickey Lowe “Butterfly Tagging”. Adults: $4, Children 6-18 $1 . Singsong featuring country, bluegrass and gospel music after 6:30 PM. Sponsored by LSU Ag Center, Haynesville Chamber of Commerce and Haynesville Garden Club. Visit www.caliborneone.org for schedule
• Thursday, Sept. 18; Lunch and Learn Home Gardening Workshop with Dr. Wayne Porter, MSU Regional Horticulture Extension Specialist 12 p.m. Warren County Extension Office, Videoconference on Water Gardening Free
• Saturday, Sept. 20 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 4th Annual Mississippi Gourd Festival – Smith County Agriculture Complex, just off Hwy 35 on SCR 77-Oilfield Road) in Raleigh, Mississippi. 24 vendors with crafted and ready to craft gourds, tools, supplies, demonstrations, raffle, door prizes, music, food and classes in an indoor, air-conditioned complex. Admission $2, kids under 12 free, no charge for parking. Early bird classes Friday-Info (mississippigourdsociety.org), paulsgrubbs@gmail, 601-260-4230 or miketom1950@yahoo.com. 601-782-9444
• Thursday, Oct. 2 12 p.m.; Warren County Extension Office Monthly Videoconference Floral Program by Lynette McDougald, MSU University Florist Free
• Friday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 11; 26th Annual Southern Garden Symposium,
St Francisville, LA. Speakers include LSU AgCenter’s Dan Gill, New Orleans landscape architect Rene Fransen, authors Greg Grant and Bill Welch. Friday workshops/lunch $75, Saturday workshops/lunch $75, both days $130. Info /registration call 225-635-3738 or visit SouthernGardenSymposium.org
• Wednesday, Oct. 15; The 59th Edward C. Martin Jr. Landscape Design Symposium; Bost Extension Auditorium, MSU 9 a.m. to noon, sponsors: Department of Landscape Architecture, MSU and the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. Speakers: Eric Groft, FASLA Washington, DC “The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design”, John Mayronne, Covington, LA “Gardening with Nature” and Sadik Artunc, Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture at MSU “Garden Traditions in Japan”. To register, send $25 check payable to MS State University with name and address to Debbie Whitfield, Department of Landscape Architecture, MSU, Box 9725, Mississippi State, Miss. 39762 before October 1st. Online Registration available: www.lalc.msstate.edu/workshops/martin_symp/. $30 day of event.
• Thursday, Oct. 16; Lunch and Learn Home Gardening Workshop with Dr. Wayne Porter, MSU Regional Horticulture Extension Specialist 12 p.m. Warren County Extension Office, Videoconference on Rain Gardens Free
• Friday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 18; Fall Flower and Garden Fest 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Truck Crops Experiment Station, Crystal Springs, Miss. 2012. Speakers, educational exhibits, display gardens including the shade garden created by Warren County Master Gardeners, test gardens featuring new introductions of vegetables and ornamental plants, food and plant vendors. Let’s Go Mississippi, a one-mile fun-walk on Friday 9:30 AM. Info, directions and schedule of speakers at msucares.com/fallfest. Largest home-gardening show in southeast- 6,000 attended last year. No fee to attend or park
• Saturday Oct. 18 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 19 12 to 4 p.m.; Birmingham Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale featuring fall annuals, perennials, camellias, daylilies, herbs, iris, natives, trees & shrubs www.bbgardens.org for more information
• Thursday Nov. 6 noon Warren County Extension Office Monthly Videoconference Floral Program by Lynette McDougald, MSU University Florist Free
• Thursday, Nov. 20; Lunch and Learn Home Gardening Workshop with Dr. Wayne Porter, MSU Regional Horticulture Extension Specialist 12 Noon Warren County Extension Office, Videoconference on Backyard Fruit Production Free