GardenFest 2016 offers something for everyone
Friday, September 16, 2016
As we begin the approach to the fall season, The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University is hosting another event to showcase the beautiful garden grounds and provide educational opportunities to garden visitors.
These opportunities will take place during the 15th Annual GardenFest, slated Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Botanic Garden at OSU, located west of Stillwater on Highway 51. This year’s event will feature not only ample educational gardening opportunities, but also live music, demonstrations and a wide variety of vendors. This year’s theme is Urban Horticulture.
Laura Payne, OSU Cooperative Extension associate/volunteer and events coordinator at The Botanic Garden at OSU, said the garden crew and Ambassadors have worked very hard to get the grounds ready for this event.
“We get thousands of visitors every year and our crew here at the garden is very proud of how beautiful the whole garden is this year,” Payne said. “Even if you’ve been here before, make plans to come back for another visit because we’re always changing things up and there are new things to see. GardenFest will feature something for the entire family, so I hope you’ll come out and spend the day with us.”
There will be a number of industry specialists on hand throughout the day to share their expertise on a variety of topics of interest to the public.
Dana Zook, Northwest area Extension livestock specialist, will present information regarding backyard chickens. Micha Anderson, with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, will present a plasticulture demonstration using a walk-behind tractor at the trial plots area in the garden. JJ Jones, Southeast area agricultural economist, will discuss the benefits of goats in urban farming.
“Oklahoma Gardening” host Casey Hentges will be leading garden tours throughout the day, and Todd Lasseigne, president and CEO of the Tulsa Botanic Garden, will serve as the keynote speaker in the Educational Center. The Botanic Garden Ambassadors also will be on hand to answer your gardening questions.
“The newest addition to The Botanic Garden at OSU is the Labyrinth Garden, with the official unveiling taking place during GardenFest,” Payne said. “We’re excited about this new area in the garden. Walking a labyrinth brings together the mind, body, and spirit. The Labyrinth is a walking meditation that promotes healing from physical and emotional pain and illness.”
Payne also pointed out there will be lots of different children’s activities, games and crafts on the Events Lawn.
The Payne County Master Gardeners will be hosting a Plant ID/Diagnostic station and gardeners are encouraged to bring a sample of any plant they may have a question about.
There will be several different musical guests on hand this year, including the Stillwater High School choir and dulcimer musician Paul Bostick, along with the group Misspent Ukes, to entertain the crowd throughout the day.
GardenFest also will feature merchandise vendors offering beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, handmade bath and body products, hand-carved wooden items and much more. Garden enthusiasts will be able to enjoy lunch at Café Bella or Macarena Mexican food trucks. And, back by popular demand, the mum sale will begin at 10 a.m.
The Botanic Garden at OSU is located at 3300 West 6th Ave. in Stillwater. Events are free, however, donations are encouraged to help support this educational program. For more information about GardenFest, please contact Payne at laura.payne@okstate.edu or visit the website botanicgarden@okstate.edu. Be sure to check out The Botanic Garden at OSU’s Facebook page.
“Bring the whole family and come spend the day with us and learn more about gardening, take a tour of the garden, get answers to your gardening questions and get some great new ideas for your own landscape,” Payne said.