Garden and art fair includes how-to classes

PALMER — Lectures and demonstrations are planned at the Palmer Public Library Meeting Room, and in the gardens at the Palmer Museum of History and Art during the Midsummer Garden and Air Faire in Palmer July 11.

Classes offered are:

Palmer Public Library meeting room

• 11-11:45 Julie Cascio: Tapping birch trees

Cooperative Extension Service specialist Julie Cascio will demonstrate how to tap birch trees for sap, care of the trees and how to make birch syrup in this informational class.

• 12-12:45 Hazel Koppenberg: Floral design from your garden and nature

Master Gardener Hazel Koppenberg will demonstrate how to create artistic floral centerpieces with unusual materials found right in your gardens.

• 1-1:45 Jaime Rodriguez: Plant propagation techniques — with and without the sex

Learn techniques to propagate from cuttings to seeding from the master at Alpine Nursery.

• 2-2:45 Deb Blaylock: Growing Alaska-hardy garlic successfully

Having grown garlic successfully here in the Mat-Su Valley for about 10 years, Deb Blaylock will share the secret of what it takes to take grow garlic in Alaska.

• 3-3:45 Charles Stillman: Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes!

Learn tips and tricks from the tomato master from Adina’s Acres on how to never be left with green tomatoes again. Learn what varieties are best for our local conditions and how to feed and groom your tomatoes into a burst of summer flavor.

In the gardens

10:30-11:15 Greg Gusse: Photography in the gardens

Cruise the museum gardens with veteran artist and photographer Greg Gusse, and develop a good eye for composing your perfect pictures.

11-11:45 Jaime Rodriguez:

A walking tour history of the Mat-Su Agricultural Showcase Garden.

12-12:45 Jodie Anderson: Compost: Add some spice to your dirt!

Composting is 10 percent science and 90 percent art! Jodie will give you just enough of the science to help you become dangerous and even successful by looking at composting from the biological and chemical perspective.

1-1:45 Alice Greene: Designing fabulous colorful containers

Learn how Palmer’s Agricultural Showcase Gardens containers get their fabulous look from head gardener Alicia Greene of Greene’s Garden Services.