Community Gathering

From Winter Stress to Garden Success: KUNC’s In The NoCo LIVE with CSU Extension

in the NoCo logo graphic with KUNC and NPR Network logos on the bottom
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

In Person

University Center for the Arts
1400 Remington Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Cost: $25

Event description

It’s been a warm, dry winter in Colorado — and your yard is probably feeling a little ragged. As spring planting season arrives, In The NoCo host Erin O’Toole leads a conversation about how to help your garden thrive this year, with expert help from the horticulture team at the CSU Extension.

Hear tips on keeping lawns and trees healthy when water is scarce — and the science behind sustainable landscaping. It’s the first-ever live episode taping from KUNC’s In The NoCo, and you’re invited.

Alison O’Connor Ph.D.

Alison is the Extension Faculty in Horticulture for Larimer County. She holds her bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, M.S. from The Ohio State University and PhD from Colorado State University. Dr. O’Connor is passionate about trees and turfgrass and is the star of numerous educational YouTube videos. She manages a Farmers’ Market and teaches Green Industry, CSU, consumer and Colorado Master Gardener audiences.

Deryn Davidson

Deryn is the Sustainable Landscape State Specialist for Colorado State University Extension. In this position, she develops and delivers educational programs and provides expert consultation to public and private sectors on creating sustainable, resilient landscapes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from CSU and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona. Deryn champions the use of thoughtful design and sustainable horticultural practices to foster biodiversity and implement nature-based solutions that enhance urban resilience and livability.

John Murgel

John is the CSU Extension Faculty for Horticulture and Natural Resources serving Colorado State University Extension in Douglas County. John studied ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and received his MS in Horticulture from Colorado State University.  His professional background is in public horticulture, having worked at regional public gardens for 10 years before joining Extension. John is particularly interested in the creation of low-maintenance, high-impact landscapes.  

Karim Gharbi

Karim is a horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension in Denver. He is passionate about all things involving insects and horticulture. Karim obtained a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Virginia Tech and received his master’s in entomology from the University of Hawai’i.