Gardening for Gold
Speakers - Lunch - Silent Auction
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Speakers - Lunch - Silent Auction 〰️
Saturday, November 7, 2026
8:15 am - 3:30 pm
Horicon Marsh Education Center
N7725 Highway 28, Horicon WI 53032
Public Welcome
Pre-Registration Required
Limited Seating
Speakers
Talkin' Plants: Plant Communication
Amy Freidig
9:00 am - 10:15 am
This talk tackles the fascinating question, "Do plants talk to each other?" Join Amy as we walk through some of the research studies that answer that question (spoiler: yes, they do!). We'll wrap by exploring how plant "talk" could be used in the future to help farmers grow crops better and how gardeners can appreciate this phenomenon.
Amy Freidig is a Statewide Horticulture Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. Amy creates educational content for the Horticulture and Master Gardener Programs and manages online courses like Foundations in Gardening. Her favorite part of her job is joyfully researching and answering the public's gardening questions.
Year-Round Gardening
Johanna Oosterwyk
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Summer in Wisconsin is never long enough. Greenhouses and other structures can extend your growing season and keep your green thumb active all year long. Learn about a variety of techniques and technologies that can help you keep plants thriving even in winter and discuss which ones can work for you.
Johanna Oosterwyk is the manager of the DC Smith Instructional Greenhouse at UW Madison. She teaches classes in greenhouse management and plant care for the UW Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences.
Oaks Under Pressure
Maddy Jahnke
10:30 am - 11:45 am
Changing climate is increasing pest and disease pressures on oaks — a vital keystone species in our ecosystem. This talk covers major threats facing oaks in our area and how to properly care for them.
Maddy is a consulting arborist with Tree Health Management in Madison. Tree Health Management is a private arboriculture firm that specializes in tree preservation and health care. Before deciding that trees are her calling, she worked as a horticulturist in Seattle for 5 years, She has been back in her home state of Wisconsin for 2.5 years and loves to spread her tree knowledge.
The Extraordinary Caterpillar
Documentary
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Peek into the world of nature’s tiniest superheroes
We’re hosting a special screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems.
From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways to make a difference.
Along the way, you’ll see the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park.
Sponsors
