McLaughlin lecture series planned

PARIS — The McLaughlin Garden and Homestead announces its 2013 lecture schedule. As in past years, the talks will be held on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. The public is invited for tea beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The talks are free but donations are greatly appreciated. The lectures will be held at the McLaughlin homestead on Main Street near the Oxford County Courthouse.

The series begins on January 30 when Rick Gammon from Gammon Landscape Nursery in Auburn will speak on hydrangeas.

Gammon says the question he is most frequently asked is, “How do I make my blue hydrangeas bloom?" He will answer this question as he discusses how to grow and care for various varieties of hydrangeas.

Other lectures in the series are Eli Goodwin on February 13 on underused plants and techniques, Mike Murphy on February 27 on woodland plants, Mark Brandhorst on March 13 on rock plants, Cindy Tibbetts on March 27 on herbs and Mary Van Nest on April 10 on birds.