Join us for a day of learning, growing and community

Saturday, April 11th

9am - 2 pm

George Elliot Secondary School, Lake Country BC

$30 per person

REGISTER MARCH 13th

Simple Gardening Tips

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Garden Maintenance 101

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Spring Garden Primer

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Vegetable Gardening 101

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Container Gardening

Simple Gardening Tips ✳︎ Garden Maintenance 101 ✳︎ Spring Garden Primer ✳︎ Vegetable Gardening 101 ✳︎ Container Gardening

Dig into a full day of inspiration at Love of Gardening, a day of gardening seminars hosted by the Lake Country Garden Club. Designed for gardeners of all experience levels, this event brings together local experts to share modern, climate-smart gardening techniques that truly work in the Okanagan — and to rekindle the simple joy of growing things.

Join us on April 11, 2026 at George Elliot Secondary School for engaging talks, practical breakout sessions and plenty of time to connect with others who share your interest in gardening. Our keynote speaker, Ken Salvail, kicks off the day with a Spring Garden Primer, followed by a wide range of sessions on topics like vegetable gardening, container gardening, garden design, seed-starting methods, growing trees and shrubs, and gardening in the Okanagan climate. 

Between sessions, explore the vendor area to learn more about FireSmart, composting, and discover local garden-related goods. You’ll also have a chance to meet members of the Lake Country Garden Club and learn about the many benefits of membership — from discounts and shared knowledge to camaraderie and social connection. And all presenters will be on hand to help answer your gardening questions.

Attendees are encouraged to register early to claim a spot. Those registered will receive communications from the Lake Country Garden Club before the event to choose which sessions they’d prefer to attend. Registration gets you into the keynote presentation, two breakout sessions of your choice and access to the vendors area.
Session topics may be updated or changed ahead of April 11.

Come for the knowledge.
Stay for the community. Leave inspired to grow.

Here’s just a sample of what to expect:

Sessions

Keynote: Spring Garden Primer

Presented by Ken Salvail

To get ready for the growing season, we will explore the top 10 things you need to know to have success in the garden, starting with the basics of how plants grow and the requirements for key elements through to the essentials for strong disease-free existence. Presented by a local gardening legend, this talk is geared to open the doors to gardening for beginners and invoke curiosity in seasoned gardeners. 

Seed Snails, Soil Blocks, Paper Pots

Co-presented by Penny Smith, Janet Stein and Laura Geen

This multi-component session will provide an opportunity to learn a variety of ways to start seeds for spring with simple items you have around the home. Attendees will see how easy it is to produce seed snails, pots from paper and soil blocks, all with a minimum of materials, resulting in saved time, space and costs.

Vegetable Gardening 101

Presented by Leslie O’Shea and Carolyn Lane

Explore the basics of vegetable gardening from seasoned growers. Learn when to start your garden, how to prepare your soil, when to plant outside, how to deal with bugs and how to harvest the most successful and luscious veggie garden grown in our Okanagan climate. Have questions about growing your own vegetables? Bring them!

Simple Garden Design Tips

Presented by Samantha Ulasy

An award-winning landscape designer will share some of her go-to design tips for creating a stunning garden — whether you’re starting from scratch or giving an existing space a fresh new look. The session will explore different combination plantings, cover key design elements to keep in mind during the process, and the presenter will even share a few of her own designs to inspire you.

Meet the Presenters

  • Ken Salvail

    Keynote Speaker

    With over 45 years in the horticulture and landscape industries, Ken Salvail has developed a diverse and widely respected range of experience in the green industries from garden centre management and grower production to landscape designing, teaching, installing and maintaining. His passion for all things growing shows every time he speaks. He is known for his over 2000 Garden Show appearances and wide range of plant knowledge. Ken’s advice will be sure to solve your every gardening dilemma. 

  • Sigrie Kendrick

    Executive Director, OXA

    I have been a Master Gardener for over a decade and I am the executive director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. I have a well-documented plant addiction and am passionate about sharing my enthusiasm for water conservation. I write a bi-monthly column for Castanet and Black Press titled Gardening with Nature and regularly present to homeowners, stratas, community organizations and municipalities.

  • Laverne DeYeagher

    Master Gardener

    Growing up on a farm on the prairies, I always had a passion for plants and animals and have been growing things for as long as I can remember. After moving to a half-acre property in Lake Country in 1999, I set out to create my own little oasis. I have been a member of the Lake Country Garden Club for over 20 years and a Master Gardener for 15 years.

  • Penny Smith

    Garden Club Member

    I love gardening! I worked in a local greenhouse for 19 years and have maintained an acre of perennial gardens for 18 years. Growing stuff is a passion!