Like planting a seed and watching it grow, a garden program at Anderson University attempts to create some growth in the relationship between it and the community.

Professor Blake Janutolo, a botanist and dean of the college of science and humanities at AU, will speak at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to the public on how to grow and tend perennials. It’s an outreach program to connect the academic world and the community, said Karen Roller, executive director of the AU department of development.

“It’s free to the public,” Roller stressed. “It’s one of four major events that we sponsor each year. There are so many talented faculty and staff members that have specialties that we want to share with the community.”

For the second year, one of the events offered is gardening. Last year Janutolo and the university’s landscape architect teamed up to give two different presentations — Janutolo’s presentation is completely new this year, Roller said.

“We pick people who can speak in a fun, humorous way,” Roller said. “They are not dry and sterile as some might think. He’s wonderful in the classroom and with an audience.”

His discussion lasts about an hour and a half, including the free food and beverages, she said. He may do some demonstrations and has handouts for people and has time for questions and answers.

Last year Roller said the interest of the people who attended was so high, that she decided to let Janutolo dedicate the entire time to one subject rather than split it between growing and landscaping.

In addition to the four main events, Roller said the university also does other events. It offers two dinner theaters, a musical and a humorous opera in English.

“If you think you hate opera, you’ve got to come to ours. Our dinner theater is a feast for the eyes, ears and everyone else,” she added.

The programs, offered to enhance the community, range from music to academic to lifestyle and world issues.

“There’s been times we’ve done things on the black hole of astronomy. In 2002 we did a long session on issues related to the Middle East,” Roller said. “We’ve talked about the travel programs on campus and had students come in and talk about the cultures they experienced.”

People can get on the mailing list to get invited to the other events by calling 641-4053.

If you go ...

What: Seminar on gardening