News release, May 8, 2000, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Note: This event occurred in 2000. Please see our news release section for upcoming events.

Annual NF Horticulture Field Day June 3

ARDMORE - Southern Oklahoma gardeners are faced with unique problems in growing healthy vegetables, fruit, flowers, and lawns, but many have learned they can turn to the Noble Foundation for much-needed advice on the newest horticulture technology and research.

This year is no different, as the Foundation offers its free annual horticulture field day Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the NF Horticulture Center east of Ardmore.

However, there are some changes, said program coordinator Steve Upson, Noble Foundation horticulturist. Several new topics that should be of interest to area landowners are being incorporated into the program, including fire ant control, soil testing, home garden irrigation, integrated pest management, and composting.

"Fire ants are becoming a major problem in this part of the country," said Upson of the new topics. "Soil testing is important for a number of reasons, including environmental impact. And almost everyone has pest problems in their gardens and lawns. Integrated pest control will show people how to combine monitoring, biological, cultural, and chemical methods to manage pests and be environmentally friendly at the same time. And composting is continuing to grow in popularity among gardeners."

Other topics included on the program include the selection and maintenance of turfgrass and orchard site selection and management. There also will be demonstrations and an update on the newest information on raised bed gardening and hoop houses. Participants also will receive information on current NF horticultural projects, including strawberry, vegetable and flower production.

"We will be more diversified this year" than in the past, Upson said. "We want to show more general gardening tips."

For another "first," the horticulture tour and demonstration will be held during the day, and on a weekend besides.

"This will allow people who work during the week and who live a distance away from the Foundation to attend," said Upson. "When we held them on a weekday evening, people living twenty or thirty miles away or further were unable to get here in time after work."

People can start viewing the NF Horticulture Center at 8 a.m. with programs starting at 9. Parking is limited to the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, 2610 Sam Noble Pkwy. Shuttles will run to the NF Horticulture Center and back on a regular basis.

Have any questions about the NF Horticulture Field Day? Call the Noble Foundation at (580) 223-5810.

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