This year’s Spring Gardening Extravaganza, sponsored by theLincoln County Master Gardeners and the Lincoln County CooperativeExtension Service, is planned for April 28.

The extravaganza will involve two seminars inside the Chamber ofCommerce building, but also will showcase vendors and booths from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. in Railroad Park.

“It’s the springtime and it’s usually beautiful and it’s fun tobe at Railroad Park,” said Karen Sullivan, president of the LincolnCounty Master Gardeners. “We started off doing it at the tail endof Tour of Homes, but that moved to Christmas so we struck out onour own last year.”

Supertalk gardening personality “Garden Mama” Nellie Neal willbe a main attraction at the extravaganza and will be speaking onthe topic “The Great Crape Myrtle Mystery.” She will be followeddirectly by Mississippi State University’s horticulturist Dr. KerryJohnson, who will speak on “Growing More in Small Spaces.”

Neal will then relocate to her booth in the park where she willbe signing her books such as “Questions and Answers for Deep SouthGardeners,” “How to Get Started in Southern Gardening,” andothers.

Sullivan said in addition to the different vendors that will beset up, there will also be a booth from 10 a.m. to noon where kidscan learn to pot and care for their own plants.

“We call it ‘Kids Can.’ Each child will be able to pot a plantand carry it home free,” said Sullivan. “If they have any questionsabout gardening, we’ll try to answer them.”

The vendors run the gamut of gardening products, featuringeverything from shrubs to potting soil to pottery and ironwork.While some of the vendors are old faithfuls, some are new to theextravaganza this year.

“Some of them are from a list we’ve had over the years that wehave every year. Some attended last year at the extravaganza andthey asked us to send them the stuff, and some are from referrals,”said Vendors Chairman Cathy Ivy, who said they are pleased to havebooked all their booths this year.

Sullivan said having so many gardening experts in one place canbe a definite plus.

“Gardeners always have questions, and we’ll have a lot ofexperts on hand who can answer those questions,” she said. “It getsyou in the mood to get out there and plant and spiff up the yardfor spring.”

There will also be hamburgers on the grill and homemade icecream from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and proceeds go directly to theLincoln County Master Gardeners’ various programs.

“It pays for our speakers at our meetings and so forth and soon,” said Sullivan.

Ivy emphasized the extravaganza is for the entire family.

“It’s family friendly and we’ll have things for the kids to do,too,” she said. “We’ve got a big variety of vendors, so come outand enjoy it.”