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Master Gardeners Celebrate FloraFest on May 3

   Written by on April 24, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers is.

The flowers are at FloraFest on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.   The Charlotte County Master Gardeners will sponsor the annual plant sale, lectures and displays at the Charlotte County Extension office. At the same time, the Southside Virginia Herb Society will hold an herb and craft sale and luncheon across the street.

After the interminable winter, everyone must be anxious to see the gardens come alive. The master gardeners have been busy preparing for FloraFest so that everyone can have a beautiful garden.  Many of the gardeners are multi-talented and they will share the efforts of some of these talents.  On a cold, snowy day in March some of the gardeners braved the elements to make hypertufas (light-weight containers) for the sale. Some of the hypertufas even have a fairy garden already planted.

The gardeners began early to search their gardens for the first signs of plants awakening so they could pot these finds and nourish them until May 3.  As spring finally begins to unfold, more and more plants have become available for FloraFest.  Perennials, annuals, shrubs, vegetables, seeds and herbs will tempt anyone who stops by FloraFest.

At 9:30 a.m. Kevin Conrad from the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., will give a power point presentation and discussion concerning the ornamental flowering trees, shrubs and herbaceous garden plants in the Arboretum and those adapted to our region.  Kevin will answer any questions and concerns about problems with plants in your garden.  At 11:00 Mike Likins from the Chesterfield County Extension office will discuss the overall care of boxwoods. Mike will share with you the problems we are currently having with leaf miners and blight.  He will address any question and concerns you have about your boxwoods.  He is willing to go outside to examine the boxwoods on the extension office grounds and to discuss his findings.

Tickets for the Herb Society’s luncheon at Village Presbyterian Church must be purchased in advance.  Call Kathy at 434-454-4208 or email: kathymmmg@hotmail.com. Tickets are $10.00; lunch is at 12:30.

Raffle tickets for only one dollar provide a chance to win a Shaker box, a hand-carved stoneware flower pot or a hypertufa dish garden.  Evergreen Lavender Farm will have a display with herbal products and lavender lemonade.  A potter will have wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery for sale.  Tail Waggers will be selling garden items with proceeds going to the local SPCA.

Buy local; buy your plants at FloraFest.  Plants propagated by local Charlotte County residents have a good chance for quick adaptation to your garden.  Proceeds from FloraFest provide funding for educational scholarships to local students and for community grants.

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