Find “greener” ideas for your lawn and garden at the Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo, and receive two free native plants, a tree seedling and chances to win a compost bin or rain barrel.
The free expo will be held Saturday, April 7 and will feature businesses and non-profit organizations that can help Johnson County and surrounding area residents become “greener” in their lawn and garden care.
The event will include:
- Two native plants from Johnson County Stormwater Management for the first 500 visitors
- Door prizes for compost bins and rain barrels
- A free tree seedling, courtesy of Overland Park, for the first 100 visitors
- Native plant sale with more than 1,000 locally grown and organic plants
- Expert advice on gardening and plant cultivation from Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners and local plant societies
- Information on city cost share programs for rain garden and rain barrels
- Informative speakers on topics such as native plants, pollinators, vegetable gardening and landscaping
- Educational activities for children, including the Stone Lion Puppets
The expo focuses on Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities (KHYC), a program developed by Kansas State University Research and Extension to help homeowners make better choices for environmentally friendly lawn and garden care techniques. Johnson County K-State Extension is teaming with Johnson County Stormwater Management and the cities of Lenexa, Overland Park and Shawnee to present the event.
Johnson County residents will be able to get a free soil test, provided by Johnson County Stormwater Management and Johnson County Extension. Visit the Johnson County Extension Office website (link http://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/soil-testing/free-soil-test.html) to learn how to take a soil sample to bring to the expo. There is a limit of one per Johnson County households.
This free event will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 7 at the Shawnee Civic Center, 13817 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS. Check the Healthy Yards Expo for more information.
Photo: Ron Frazier / CC