2024 BVGC TV Program

The January 2024 Program is hosted by JB Portillo and the guests are Dory Hammeke, President of the Bella Vista Garden Club, and Joanne York, President of the Benton County Master Gardeners.  The topic of the show is the Bella Vista Garden Club and the Benton County Master Gardeners and a brief description of what each organization does in the community.  Both are very involved in the beautification of NW Arkansas with the programs they oversee.  Also the effort to share gardening knowledge is very important to each organization.   Some of the planned TV programs for the upcoming year were discussed and there will be more involvement with members of each group. 

The February 2024 Program is hosted by Geri Hoerner and the guests are Steve and Cathy Marak, members of the Orchid Society of the Ozarks.  The topic of the show is Orchids - To Repot or Not and several orchids are evaluated to see if repotting would be advisable based on how the root system looks and how the potting medium is degrading and holding excessive water.  One was repotted in a larger pot to accommodate the large root system.  The most common and easiest to grow of the 30,000 species are Phalaenopsis or moth orchids and Paphiopedilum or slipper orchids.  Several blooming orchids were displayed and discussed.  An Orchid Show and Sale will be held by the society at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks on March 1st through the 3rd and is a great place to see a large variety and purchase orchids. 

The March 2024 Program is hosted by JB Portillo and the guest is Susan Esche a Benton County Master Gardener and volunteer at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.  The topic of the show is Ready-Set-Go and steps to follow to get ready for the new gardening season are discussed from perennial beds to vegetable gardens beds.  Seed planting is a good way to start or plants can be purchased later in the month.  A list of things to do and not to do in March are discussed in addition to taking a soil test to the Benton County Extension Office which is a free service.  Hints as to how to best incorporate compost into your beds are given.

The April 2024 Program is hosted by Dory Hammeke and the guests are John Dyas, Clay Studio Administrator and Louise Wilson,  Bella Vista Garden Club's Garden Therapy Chair.  The topic of the show is May Day Pots & Plant Sale which is a cooperative effort between the Clay Studio and the Bella Vista Garden Club.  The students at the studio are making pots of various sizes and colors so each one is unique and the garden club will be having programs at Concordia and Brookfield where the residents can choose a pot or use their own pot and the garden club will fill them with flowers.  Some will be annuals and others will be houseplants or perennials.  This will be a May Day event or  a Mother's Day event.  Also discussed was the various plant sales coming up hosted by the Bella Vista Garden Club and the Benton County Master Gardeners.

The May 2024 Program is hosted by Geri Hoerner and the guest is Joanne York,  President of the Benton County Master Gardeners.  The topic of the show is Benton County Master Gardeners Plant Sale and Expo which has been held for over 10 years and is a great way to buy wonderful plants that you know will grow in this area because they come from the Master Gardeners' gardens.  They have perennials, trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, house plants and many unusual plants that you may not find anywhere else.   There will be a both that will have Master Gardeners giving small 15 minute educational exhibits on various garden subjects.  Other projects that the Master Gardeners are involved with are also discussed. 

The June 2024 Program is hosted by Geri Hoerner and the guest is Ginny Vance, member of the Bella Vista Garden Club and a Benton County Master Gardener.  The topic of the show is Roses You Don't Spray that are very disease resistant produced in Germany by Kordes and in France by Meilland.  Pictures of some of these roses are shown which include Hybrid Teas, Climbers, a Miniature and  Floribunda.  While these roses may be hard to find to purchase there are several nurseries mentioned in the US that carry them.  They may be a little more expensive than other growers but the savings on fungicides and other chemicals you will not need will make up for the price not to mention the time you save in your garden.  General care for roses is discussed.   

The July 2024 Program is hosted by Joanne York, President of the Benton County Master Gardeners and the guest is Terry Weiderhaft, a Benton County Master Gardener and Team Leader of the Helping Hands Pantry Garden.  The topic of the show is Meet Us In The Garden and the history of the Helping Hands Pantry Garden from 2016 when the Master Gardeners became involved is discussed along with the many improvements completed in the garden over the years.  The volume of produce that has been given to the food pantry is over 11 tons and now is averaging around 2 tons a year.  Pictures of the garden is shown of the hoop house, the blue barn and the pavilion that has been added.