Aiken Master Gardeners Launch Free 2026 Lunchbox Lecture Series on Horticulture Topics

The Aiken Master Gardeners will host a free monthly lecture series. Nine speakers will share insights on horticulture and wildlife. Sessions run from noon to 1 p.m. at Millbrook Baptist Church.

Peter Kleinhenz kicks off the series on Friday, Feb. 27. He serves as executive director of the Aiken Land Conservancy. His presentation, Managing Habitat for Wildlife, lands on the fourth Friday of February. Kleinhenz will discuss the land trust, a nonprofit that has protected thousands of acres across the county.

Laura del Vecchio presents A Pollinator Garden You Can Eat on Friday, March 10. She works as a senior horticulturist at Moore Farms Botanical Gardens.

Jenks Farmer addresses modern gardening myths on April 17. Andy Cabe, who directs horticulture at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, speaks on May 22. Brie Arthur delivers Wanderlust Chronicles on June 19.

Darren Sheriff covers citrus growing on July 17. Tom Bruce discusses deer-resistant gardening on Aug. 21. Olga Katic presents on fungi on Oct. 16, while Christi Bruner wraps up the series on Nov. 20 with winter garden preparation.

The group also runs an Ask A Master Gardener program returning in April at the Aiken County Farmers Market. Volunteers answer questions each Saturday morning.

The organization awards scholarships to high school seniors from Aiken or Edgefield counties pursuing agriculture programs. Funds come from multiple sources: the Rent-a-Master Gardener service, almanac sales, and an annual plant sale scheduled for April 11.

Visit aikenmastergardeners.org for more information about lectures and other services. The website contains details on the Ask a Master Gardener program, Rent a Master Gardener options, and the speakers bureau.