A day of learning, growth, and community. Join the Lake Country Garden Club for a full day of gardening seminars designed to inspire gardeners of all experience levels. Local experts share practical, climate-smart techniques that work in the Okanagan, along with the simple joy of growing things. Enjoy engaging talks, breakout sessions, and time to connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts. The day begins with keynote speaker Ken Salvail and his Spring Garden Primer, followed by Breakout Sessions listed below:
Keynote: Spring Garden Primer (Presented by Ken Salvail)
Breakout Sessions:
- Simple Garden Design Tips (Presented by Samantha Ulasy)
- Garden Maintenance 101 (Presented by Samantha Ulasy)
- Seed Snails, Soil Blocks, Paper Pots (Co-presented by Penny Smith, Janet Stein and Geen)
- Weird, Wild and Wicked Plants (Presented by Ken Salvail)
- How to Plant and Grow Trees and Shrubs (Presented by Ken Salvail)
- Vegetable Gardening 101 (Presented by Leslie O'Shea and Carolyn Lane)
- Gardening with Nature (Presented by Sigrie Kendrick)
- Container Gardening: More than Geraniums in a Pot! (Presented by Laverne DeYaegher
Speaker Bios:
Ken Salvail
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.
Penny Smith
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!
Janet Stein
I’ve been a passionate trial-and-error gardener for most of my adult life, learning through curiosity and persistence. Over the past four seasons, I’ve run a small flower farm that has deepened my understanding of soil, seasons and sustainable growing. My work focuses on cultivating resilient blooms and sharing practical, real-world techniques that anyone can use in their own garden. I’m excited to help others grow with confidence, creativity and a willingness to experiment.
Laura Geen
I have lived in the Okanagan for over 35 years and have gardened in earnest the last 25. As my experience has grown so has my desire to go deeper into whys and hows of creating an enjoyable and sustainable garden. I am always on the alert for 'get arounds' of where commercial gardening might be leading us; I want to bring gardening back to basics and accessible for all.
Leslie O’Shea
I am a senior citizen who has grown a vegetable garden for most of my life. I start all my own plants from seeds and our family tries to be as self-sustainable as possible. I also grow chrysanthemums and irises. We have over 40 fruit trees and I process everything for the winter. I love to share my knowledge with people.
Samantha Ulasy
I am the proud owner and lead designer of Margaret Valley Landscaping, an all-female landscaping company based in Kelowna. With a deep love for plants and thoughtful outdoor design, I specialize in creating landscapes that are both beautiful and meaningful. I believe gardens should tell a story and reflect the people who live in them. I am passionate about helping others feel confident in their gardens and love sharing practical knowledge that inspires a deeper connection to gardening.
Carolyn Lane
After a career spent in health care in Alberta, Carolyn moved to the Okanagan to pursue her passion for gardening 12 years ago. She discovered the Lake Country Garden Club and was able to tap this resource to sculpt her garden of abundance while learning the secrets of how and what to grow in the valley.
Sigrie Kendrick
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
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.