Gardening in the Black Hills 2026

6 Sessions/12 Classes: February 24 – March 31, 2026

Tuesday evenings 6:30–9:00 p.m.

Pennington County Master Gardeners and the South Dakota State University Extension are offering a series of classes titled “Gardening in the Black Hills”. The series will cover many gardening topics ranging from the basics to more advanced gardening skills. Each subject is taught by a SD Master Gardener, Extension Personnel, or other qualified individual.

Classes will start February 24 and run each Tuesday evening through March 31 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

2026 Schedule

February 24

Soil Health and Fertility Management for Gardens – Nick Volesky

Compost – Brenda Pates

March 3

Weeds- Protectors of the Soil– Cathie Draine

Insects – Patrick Wagner

March 10

Seed Starting – Laura Hemenway

Raised Bed Gardening – Janessa Bixel and Lysann Zeller

March 17

Gardening for Small Spaces – Lissa Marotz

Herbicides? Insecticides? Pesticides? What do I care? – Jeff Hemenway

March 24

Pollinators: The Wings of Life – Julie Dean-Pelikan

Roses – John Berglund

March 31

Herbs – Jean Grode

Companion Planting – Janet Wernicke

Schedule is subject to change without notice. Class size is limited to 50.

Registration: $60 for the 6-week series. Includes refreshments and handouts.

Classes will be held at:

SDSU Extension Rapid City Regional Center

711 N Creek Dr. (lower level of former First Interstate Bank by Menards)

Rapid City, SD 57703