National Green Centre events have limited space available

As the countdown to the first National Green Centre continues, several exclusive events are nearing capacity. Set for Jan. 9-10 at the America's Center in St. Louis, the National Green Centre is billed as "the Next Generation" green industry education program and trade show. And show officials say the enthusiastic response already has put a premium on several featured attractions, including:

• A walk through the Missouri Botanical Garden with Dr. Michael Dirr and 29 of your colleagues.

• Dr. Dirr’s 3rd biennial colloquium: The Education of Gardeners: How to Promote, Market, Sell and Educate Customers about Plants, Design and Garden-Making (limit 100).

• A special class focusing on how to design, install and maintain green roofs with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ Green Roof 101, 201 & 401 courses.

• An Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Contractor course that allows attendees to take the first step to becoming a WaterSense partner.

The National Green Centre will have an nteractive trade show and 90-plus hours of education. To register, visit www.nationalgreencentre.org, click attending and then click register. Each of these exclusive events and workshops require an additional fee. Show officials say a number of education classes may well fill up prior to the show -- already tickets for Dr. Dirr’s plant walk are almost sold out.

The 2011 National Green Centre is presented by the Western Nursery and Landscape Association. The newly renamed and rebranded show was formerly known as The WESTERN.