 The following information comes from the Milwaukee Public Library. Get the latest updates for this program at www.melindamyers.com/articles/create-your-own-outdoor-paradise. Added April 24, 2025: We are excited to announce that "Create a Vertical Wall Planner," the activity for May from gardening expert Melinda Myers is ready! This new activity includes a downloadable activity guide, and video. You can find it on the “Create Your Own Outdoor Paradise Library Program” web page. Just scroll down to the Gardening How-To Videos & Activities section to find the activity. Direct links can be accessed here as well:
Your library is welcome to use the webinars and activities found on the program webpage with your patrons. It’s completely free for all Wisconsin Public Libraries. The June Gardening Activity will be added mid-May. Also, you can use promotional materials on the Electronic Press Kit. April, May and June social media posts with photos for your library to use on its social media platforms can be found via the links below. Feel free to share these posts on your library's social media platforms and include the hashtag #OutdoorParadise. Added March 24, 2025: The April Gardening Activity (downloadable guide & video) from gardening expert Melinda Myers is ready. You can find it on https://www.melindamyers.com/articles/create-your-own-outdoor-paradise (below the 3 gardening webinars, in the Gardening How-To Videos & Activities section). Your library is welcome to use any of the content (webinars and activities) found on that webpage with your patrons. It’s completely free for all Wisconsin public libraries. The May and June activities will be added at least 2 weeks prior to the first of each month. You can access resources for promoting the gardening webinars and activities via the Electronic Press Kit. Melinda just uploaded social media posts with photos to use on your library’s social media platforms during April. Download the April social media post copy and images here. If you have any questions, contact the program coordinator, Diana Paul at [email protected]. Added March 4, 2025: Here are some updates on the FREE Gardening Webinars and Activities from gardening expert Melinda Myers for Wisconsin Public Libraries to use from April – June. This program content is available to all Wisconsin public libraries, thanks to underwriting sponsor We Energies. The webinars will be presented by nationally known and Wisconsin-based author, columnist, and gardening expert Melinda Myers. Myers also created the 3 gardening activities and how-to videos. Here’s where your library can access the content and an Electronic Press Kit with promotional tools your library can use:
Added February 13, 2025: The 2025 WI Public Library Program Factsheet has information about the Free Gardening Activities and Videos for April, May, and June (in addition to the 3 Webinars) that Melinda Myers is providing for you to use and share with your patrons this spring and summer. All of the 2025 Program info (webinar info & registration links, videos, activities, and downloadable activity guides) will be available at https://www.melindamyers.com/articles/create-your-own-outdoor-paradise (the webinar info and registrations are up now and the videos & activities are coming soon).  We are pleased to share below some FREE Gardening Webinars and Activities from nationally known and Wisconsin-based gardening expert and author Melinda Myers for all Wisconsin Public Libraries to use in 2025. Melinda hopes you can incorporate any or all of the following programs into your 2025 Library programming calendars. If you have any questions, please contact Diana Paul at [email protected]. Your Library can host a watch party on the dates below or schedule it after the live webinar date and play the recording. If you host a live watch party on the dates below, your patrons will be able to submit questions live and get them answered by Melinda at the end of each webinar. You can also let your patrons know they can individually register for the webinars if they’d prefer to watch them at home. The webinar registration links are below and the accompanying graphics are downloadable. 3 GARDENING WEBINARS April webinar banner download April 2, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CT - Webinar: Container Gardens for Sun and Shade. Container gardens add color and seasonal interest to balconies, patios, decks, and even your front entrance. No matter where they’re placed, matching the plants to the available sunlight will help boost success. Gardening expert and author Melinda Myers will share container plant combinations for both sun-filled and shady locations. Plus, she’ll provide tips on the proper care to keep them looking good all season long. Register for this free April webinar.
 May webinar banner download May 7, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CT – Webinar: Vertical Gardening. Save space, screen bad views, and create privacy by growing vertically. We’ll discuss fun, affordable, and attractive ways to use this gardening technique to incorporate flowers and edibles into your landscape and container gardens. Gardening expert and author Melinda Myers will share ways vertical gardening can help reduce energy use by shading air conditioners, walls, and outdoor seating. Register for this free May webinar.
 June webinar banner download June 4, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CT – Webinar: Attracting Hummingbirds. Invite these beautiful pollinators to your landscape by growing a few of their favorite flowers. Add one or more feeders and don’t forget the water. Gardening expert and author Melinda Myers will cover a variety of hummingbird-favorite shrubs and flowers to include in your gardens and containers. Plus, we’ll discuss tips for filling, cleaning, and placing feeders in the landscape to support and keep them safe. Register for this free June webinar.
3 GARDENING PROJECTSMelinda Myers will provide a video and activity guide for each activity to our libraries that want to incorporate them into their 2025 programming. Consider hosting groups at your library to do these activities together. Your library can also use these activities for your summer reading programs (ie: activity guides can go in summer reading take-and-make kits, etc.) or your library can link to these activities where patrons can download the activity guides to do at home. A web page (created by Melinda Myers) will house the videos and activity guides which can be downloaded and printed or shared digitally.
About Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has over 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” radio program and The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series. Myers is a garden columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms and writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column. Before her current media work, Melinda hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio show on WTMJ 620 AM for over 20 years as well as seven seasons of “Great Lakes Gardener” on PBS. She has a master’s degree in horticulture and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. She was also recently inducted into the National Association for Garden Communicators Hall of Fame. Melinda’s website is www.MelindaMyers.com where you can find gardening videos, gardening tips and information, monthly garden checklists, and more. If you have any questions, please contact Diana Paul at [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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