LUFKIN – There are as many varieties of gardeners as there are petunias: perfectionists, casual, retired and, yes, even lazy ones, said Cary Sims, Texas Cooperative Extension agent in Angelina County.

What's more, there are a lot of new gardeners these days. Sims knows this because of the ever-increasing number of phone callers with gardening questions he has been answering the last couple of years.

In order to nurture all gardeners, both the new shoots and the well entrenched, Sims and the Angelina County Master Gardeners have been planning the Greater East Texas Gardening Extravaganza for more than a year.

Set for April 2 at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center in Lufkin, the program will feature four nationally known gardening experts and writers.

Steve Bender, the first speaker, has been writing for Southern Living magazine about gardening since 1983, Sims said.

"He is popular speaker and author and gives talks on a wide variety of gardening topics all over the country," Sims said. "His articles, which often poke fun at the foibles of gardeners, have won many writing awards."

Bender's topic will be "Great Gardens, Great Gardeners."

Brenda Beust Smith, the Houston Chronicle, is longtime writer of the popular column, the "Lazy Gardener," Sims said. Her topic will be "Favorite Plants of the Lazy Gardener."

Greg Grant is well known in gardening circles as a garden consultant, lecturer and writer from Arcadia. He is co-author of "The Southern Heirloom Garden" and is a regular contributor to Texas Gardener and Neil Sperry's Gardens magazines. His most recent book is Home Landscaping. His topic will be "Heat Tolerant Tropical Color."

Dr. Jerry Parsons is an Extension horticulturist. He has been successful in developing and introducing new plants to the market, Sims said.

"Jerry is well known for his media work and is one of the most popular horticultural speakers in the South," he said. "His popularity is based on his technical knowledge and humor."

Parsons will speak on the Texas Superstars program, a Texas A&M Agriculture Program effort to identify plants that will perform well for Texas consumers.

In addition to the speakers, there will be displays by local nurseries, landscaping companies and related businesses. Master Gardeners will present workshops on various topics, including ferns, shade gardens, landscape design, daylilies and plant propagation.

Door prizes, contributed by local vendors, will be awarded throughout the day, Sims said.

Attendees may register early, by March 23, for $20 per person. The fee will include lunch and refreshments. Make checks payable to Angelina County Master Gardeners. The checks may be mailed to Texas Cooperative Extension – Angelina County, 2201 South Medford Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75901. Attention: "Gardening Extravaganza."

Registration after March 23 or at the door will be $30. At-the-door registration will be from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the civic center. The speaker program will begin at 8:45 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call Sims' office at (936) 632-8239.