Andrews was one of those who conducted seminars during “Farm, Home and Family Night” at Breathitt High School back on Thursday, April 17th. Some 13 persons attended the first of her two seminars that evening on “Tips for the Home Landscape-Using New and Old Favorites”. And after the frosty weather we had earlier last week, there was some concern about those plants. No worry, said Andrews. “I didn’t have much out, and I haven’t heard about any damages. Fortunately with the (National) Weather Service here in Jackson, people who are concerned about frost and forecasts can now get first-hand information quickly.”

As the seminar began, Mary asked the crowd what was the biggest mistake people make at this time of year in the garden. “Being afraid of trying something. It’s your yard. And if a plant should die, no big deal. Replace it. Experiment. Use your instincts, and pay attention to your plants.” Adding that “plants have been coming in left and right to the store lately,” Andrews reminded listeners that despite her years of experience, she still learns something new every day. “I’ve been in the landscape business for over 20 years. The plant world is huge, and I’m finding new things out there, too. Just like you.”

Quoting them the old saying “Less is More”, Mary showed them a few tools that do the trick in the garden. “They’re basically simple tools you’d use everyday.” And she also showed other tricks about mulching, having a compost pile available, using tarps, and also using knee pads, “especially if you’re on the sidewalks and on the rocks.” Wrapping up that portion of her talk, Andrews pointed out one other conveinent tool that’s been around recently. “It’s my power blower. I use it around the beds, and the plants to clear things off them, and to keep areas free of debris. I use it in the Winter, the Summer, the Spring and the Fall.”

The talk morphed into another area of what people came to the seminar for - plants. “This year, people are looking for smaller plants and easy-care plants. Overall, they want more manageable plants,” noted Mary as she picked up a few of the sample plants she brought to the meeting. “People like to plant Evergreens and Decicuous plants. They love their shrubs. But there’s three things you need to remember.”

Andrews paused and continued. “First, you always want to have an Evergreen in the plant bed, because they’ll be some greenery year-round. Second, read your tags on the plants. Most of them will have information on sun exposure and heartiness, which will tell you how much cold temperatures they can take. And third, remember about the difference between Perennials and Annuals. Perennials are plants that come back every year, while Annuals are the plants you put out every year.”

She then picked up one of the new plants available this year - a beautiful red Encore Azalea - which was met with “oohs” and “aahhs” from the crowd. It whetted their appetite to learn more at the “Farm, Home and Family Night’, and to get out there and grow something. “I’m asked what gets me out in the garden,” said Cathy Hayes, who lives on Panbowl Road. “It’s simple. Flowers. And I really have bad soil, so it’s a struggle with me…I love being outside. Just as soon as the weather breaks, I look at the plants.”

“I just enjoy the fruits of it. I like the growing, and the eating, too,” added Eugene Cundiff of Haddix. His wife Mary picked up where he left off. “We’ve been married 40 years, and I can’t imagine not having a garden. The food just tastes better, and the scenery is breathtaking.”

For Marcia Swartzentruber of Carpenter’s Branch, the time down in the dirt is a cure for the common blahs. “It’s therapeutic. I love it. I love the Lillies of the Valley, and the Perennials. It makes me forget about everything else, and best of all, you can see the results.”

Mary’s seminar was just one of several at the event, which was sponsored by the Breathitt County Extension Service. Other seminars included Home Vegetable Gardening, Beekeeping, a Nutrition Update, Starting a Greenhouse, and Home Fruit Production. A total of 16 organizations set up exhibits in the hallways of the school, and the hundreds who attended were treated to a meal of barbecue, fresh fruits and vegetables, and desserts.