Air conditioning trouble in the library’s large meeting room didn’t stop the Master Gardner’s Extension from attracting a crowd to a smaller meeting room to discuss container gardening on Tuesday.

The lecture filled the small meeting room with plant lovers hoping to increase their knowledge of using container gardening to grow everything from tomatoes to begonias.

“A big garden can be overwhelming whereas a container garden is just right there and easy to deal with,” said Leslie Bendell, a Troup County Master Gardner Extension volunteer. “You can have fun with it – swap things out as the seasons change – so I really enjoy container gardens.”

According to Bendell, it is important to pay attention to the how your plants create focus, balance, texture, form, rhythm and proportion within their containers when selecting which variety of plants to place in a container garden. She also encouraged attendees to add their own artistic touch and take into account the seasons when creating plantings.

She also recommended varying shapes and sizes of flowers and including both annuals and perennials in plantings to give yourself a head start on the following year.

After the lecture, group conversation turned to where to buy plants, with many showing preference toward local gardening centers.

“They have information (at local garden centers),” said Frances Daniel, a lecture attendee. “They are knowledgeable.”

The next lecture in the Lunch and Learn Horticulture Series is set to be on identifying plants and is scheduled for June 6 at noon at the LaGrange Memorial Library.