Garden Fair 2017 to be presented by Putnam County Master Gardeners

Once again, it’s time for the annual Garden Fair. The Putnam County Master Gardeners invite everyone to attend Garden Fair 2017 on Saturday, March 18 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

The event is free, it’s lots of fun, and it’s open to the public. Anyone who is interested in gardening or learning about gardening will want to attend.

All day, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., folks can visit the York Auto Family Community Building. They’ll be able to shop at more than 40 vendor booths, collect free give-aways, enter door prize drawings, watch demonstrations, and spend the day talking to folks who love gardening. Everyone is invited to hear experts discuss various aspects of gardening.

Topics include:

9 a.m. – “Cover Crops for the Home Garden” presented by Ashley Holmes, Extension educator for Montgomery County.

10:30 a.m. –“Teaching Kids to Love Gardening” presented by Ann Delchambre, former Extension educator, gardener and mother of three.

12:30 p.m. –“Caring for Roses” presented by Mark Nolan of the Indianapolis Rose Society.

1:30 p.m. –“Your Custom Garden” presented by Stephanie Krull, landscape and grounds manager for Indiana State University.

There are several things that will be given away to attendees. Four hundred tree saplings have been donated by First National Bank, and will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. The Retired Military Garden Center is giving free pansies, also on first-come, first-served basis.

There will be several door prizes plus a grand prize, donated by several area merchants and the day’s vendors, and these will be awarded throughout the day. And until supplies run out, attendees will receive goodie bags filled with gardening-related items.

Several corporate sponsors have contributed and helped to make the day a success. A huge “thank you” goes out to B&J Cattle Co.; Buzzi Unicem US

-- Alternate Fuels; Carell Construction Works; First National Bank; JTN Outdoor Power Equipment; Neier Inc.; North Salem State Bank; and Ponderosa Aqua Farm.

The very popular Gardener’s Shed is also returning. Once again, it will feature a gardener’s dream –a garage sale featuring gently-used, garden-related items at garage sale prices.

For the children, there will be two special things. The Kids’ Corner will offer children an opportunity to do a free gardening-related activity. There will also be a booth where children may create a garden-related gift item for a small fee.

More than 40 vendors will have booths set up, selling all kinds of garden-related things, from garden art to plants, tools, honey and syrups, soaps and lotions, pottery, and gifts of all kinds.

There will be food available for sale, as well. Hog-N-It-All is returning, and will sell food all day long. Breakfast will include biscuits and gravy as well as scrambled eggs and bacon and hash browns. Lunch offerings will include brisket, pulled pork, barbecue nachos, ribeye steak sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, beans, cole slaw and chips.

The Putnam County Master Gardeners Association works throughout the year to educate people about gardening. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet other gardeners, get inspired to make a garden, learn from experts, find great garden-related things to buy, and spend a day with some of the nicest folks in the county.

For more information about Garden Fair 2017, contact the Purdue Extension Putnam County at 653-8411, or visit Facebook at Putnam County Master Gardener.

Upcoming Events

March 7 -- Technology 101 Indiana Extension Homemakers Association, 2 p.m.

March 8 -- Beginning Guide to Grant Writing, Putnam County Fairgrounds. Registration required.

March 11 – Putnam County Ag Day Breakfast, Fairgrounds 8 a.m.

March 11 – Ag Day Mini-Farm Fest, Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.-noon.

March 15 – Junior Leaders, Fairgrounds, 7-8 p.m.

March 16 – Exploring 4-H, Fairgrounds, 6-7 p.m.

March 16 – Soil Health Workshop, Fairgrounds, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP to Extension Office.

March 18 – Garden Fair 2017, Fairgrounds, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

March 21 – Women to Women: Educating Women about Farm Marketing, Fairgrounds, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost $30. Register at 574-372-2340.

April 1 – Beef and dairy steer online enrollment due.