Buying. Planting. Watering. Fertilizing. Beautiful blooms can be yours during the spring, summer, and fall season if you know the basics along with a few tips — and some secrets, according to our speaker, Linda Colliins of H.J. Benken Florist & Greenhouse, which has operated in Silverton since 1939. One secret? Even if you have a tiny garden, layering bulbs can maximize the space and give you lasting blooms for several weeks.

 Linda, a graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in agriculture education and horticulture, has 30 years of experience in the horticulture industry as a teacher, florist, consultant, and public speaker. During her 20-year teaching career, Linda taught at Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development where she received several “Teacher of the Year” and “Outstanding Educator” awards at the state, county and local level. Many of Cincinnati’s florists and landscapers have begun their careers under Linda’s tutelage.