Renowned horticulturalist Bryce Lane will show guests how to keep container gardens looking fresh for every season and plants perfectly pruned at this year’s Home and Garden Symposium.

The event – which raises funds for the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation – will be held Wednesday, May 8, on campus in Roquemore Auditorium. The day begins with a brunch catered by Buck Ridge Plantation and a silent auction featuring plants, décor and more generously donated by local businesses, individuals and garden clubs.

Lane is a celebrated three-time Emmy Award-winning host and producer of UNC-TV’s “In the Garden with Bryce Lane.” The semi-retired North Carolina State University professor has 34 years of teaching experience in horticultural science.

“A lot of people grow plants in containers,” Lane said. “They get a bunch of annuals in late April, early May, and make these combination containers for a late spring and summer display. Most people don’t think about using plants in containers that would be multi-seasonal, lasting not just into the summertime, but through fall and even winter.”

Shrubs, small trees and evergreens are perfect additions to containers, he said.

“You can refresh them by pulling out some of the annuals that are overgrown or have started to look a bit haggard and put other plants in that would give you some nice color and texture in late summer and early fall,” Lane said.

Lane also uses containers to protect his hostas from moles.

“I grow all of my hostas in containers and put those containers in the places in the garden where I want hostas, and then I just commit to watering them when needed,” he said. “Hostas are one of the most diverse, hardy plants. During the growing season, you can’t even see the containers because the hostas are just so immense. You get an entire growing season worth of beauty from that plant when otherwise you wouldn’t just by growing it in a container.”

Following his container garden presentation, Lane will turn the audience’s attention to proper pruning tools, timing and technique.

“Pruning is one of those gardening basics that everybody knows they’re supposed to be doing, but a lot of people aren’t exactly sure how and when,” he said. “The good news about this talk is typically people leave feeling 100 percent more confident in pruning.”

Following the presentation, guests will enjoy refreshments provided by Chick-fil-A of Orangeburg.

Presenting sponsor for this year’s Home and Garden Symposium is Plant Depot and Gifts.

“We are honored and humbled to sponsor this event,” said owners Dusty Dukes and his mom, Sheila Dukes. “Orangeburg and the surrounding areas have supported Plant Depot and Gifts unconditionally. We felt the overwhelming need to give back to the communities who have been so good to us. We hope to see you there!”

Tickets to the Home and Garden Symposium are $50 per person. Funds raised during this event will provide scholarships and emergency aid to students.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Anna Padgett at 803.535.1246 or padgettam@octech.edu or visit octech.edu.