97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com have partnered with NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Orange County for “Playing in the Dirt,” a monthly column providing information and inspiration to gardeners of all skill levels! Check back on Chapelboro each month for a new subject – from our gardens to yours!
By Margaret Alford Cloud, Orange County Master Gardener℠ volunteer
The Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County will host PlantFest on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center, 1020 US Hwy 70 West, Hillsborough, NC, 27278. The center is across the road from the DMV office in Hillsborough. Rain date will be Oct. 21.
There will be fun for all: A big plant sale, children’s activities, gardening exhibits and information, a nature-themed art sale, free seed packets, tool sharpening, food vendors and more.
Proceeds of the plant sale and art sale will support Master Gardener activities in the community. Master Gardener volunteers help the public learn about gardening and plants through activities such as community and school gardens, information tables at farmers’ markets, a seed library, and educational events such as the Dig Deeper With Us talks at the Orange County Library.
We hope you’ll come! Here’s a quick tour of some of the PlantFest booths and exhibits (visit our website at www.PlantFestNC.org for more details):
The welcome booth at last year’s PlantFest. Photo by Margaret Cloud.
Welcome booth. When you arrive at PlantFest, come to the welcome tent first. Cheerful Master Gardener volunteers will be happy to help you with PlantFest information, including locations of booths at the event and PlantFest passports for kids. You can also find information on how to become a Master Gardener volunteer. Pick up information on our bulb sale, too!
The plant sale at last year’s PlantFest. Photo by Margaret Cloud.
A big plant sale. Fall is a great time to plant! More than 1,000 plants will be available, including many native plants. Come early for the best selection. Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions about the plants (see the Biodiversity section below). A list of plants is available (and frequently updated) at www.PlantFestNC.org.
At last year’s PlantFest, kids learned about insects. Photo by Katie Rentzke.
Hands-on activities for kids. Children can learn about plants and insects at PlantFest.
- Scavenger hunt: Each child can pick up a PlantFest Passport with words and pictures of items all around the event. Children are encouraged to get the passport stamped as they locate items or booths.
- Fred Nijhout, a Duke entomology professor (a “bug expert!”) was a big hit at last year’s PlantFest – he’ll be there again this year. He is interested in butterflies and moths and loves teaching about the lives and benefits of insects. Look for the caterpillar races!
- Enjoy insect specimens, puzzles and games as well as a craft project for kids to make.
- Plant a seedling and take it home.
- We’ll have a “resting” spot where parents and kids can relax on a quilt and read or look at books about plants and nature.
Fred Nijhout’s caterpillar exhibit was a hit; he’ll be back this year. Photo by Margaret Cloud.
Gardening exhibits and demonstrations. Bring your questions about gardening and plant problems as you visit these exhibits.
- Basic gardening. Learn how to:
- Use worms to improve your soil.
- Choose the right plant for the right place.
- Dig and prepare a hole for your plant.
- Move a plant or tree (and when to do it!).
- Prune bushes and trees to keep them healthy and beautiful.
- Winter sowing. Learn how to start seeds for vegetables, perennials and annuals in winter – outdoors! Gather some recycled containers plus soil, seeds and tape and you’re on your way!
- Invasive plants. Learn to recognize common invasive plants that displace native plants and disrupt the ecosystems that depend on them. Understand options and strategies to manage and remove them.
- At the plant sale, our biodiversity team of Master Gardener volunteers can help you select native plants that will support pollinators and other creatures. Look for their “Ask Me About Native Plants” buttons! Please bring your phone to try our QR codes and to access the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox for more information on plants.
- Our Community Seed Library will offer free packets of seeds.
- Information about bees and more!
At PlantFest 2022, Julee Herbert, a Master Gardener volunteer in Orange County, talked about gardening with a visitor. Photo by Katie Rentzke.
A sale of art and crafts, made by local artists. You’ll find beautiful pottery, concrete birdbaths, hypertufa pots, sun-printed totes and other items. Get a start on holiday shopping!
Tool sharpening demonstrations. Learn how to sharpen garden tools safely with the help of Master Gardener volunteers. We will have files, whetstones, mineral oil, glasses and gloves for your use. Bring up to two hand tools for sharpening. For everyone’s safety, please take the tools back to your car after sharpening them.
Food vendors. In case you get hungry while walking around PlantFest:
- Members of the Orange County 4-H group will sell baked goods, light lunch items, coffee and tea. They’ll also sell winter vegetable plants that they started!
- A food truck will sell burritos, tacos and other good food plus beverages. They were a hit last year.
Hope to see you at PlantFest on Oct 14!
Check Us Out!
- Join us for our Dig Deeper talks each month at the Orange County Library in Hillsborough. This fall, Master Gardener volunteers will talk about native perennials (Sept. 30), companion planting (Oct. 28) and composting and soil prep (Nov. 18). Each event is on a Saturday, 2-3:30 p.m. We’ll have free packets of seeds for you to plant! Please register on the library’s website.
- Have a plant or garden question? Email the Orange County Master Gardener volunteers at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or phone 919-245-2061.
- Subscribe to The Garden Buzz, the Orange County Master Gardeners’ monthly newsletter, for gardening news and tips. And visit our website, The Orange Gardener, for helpful gardening information and tips.
- Follow us on Facebook!
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