2019 Garden Fair set for March 16

Spring is on its way, and everyone is starting to think about gardening. Robins are returning, the days are getting longer and the Master Gardeners of Putnam County are hosting the 2019 Garden Fair.

The fourth annual Garden Fair will be on Saturday, March 16 in the York Auto Family Community Building at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., this annual event will offer all things garden-related. Free and open to the public, the day will offer something for everyone.

For everyone who is interested in learning more about gardening, there will be speakers throughout the day.

9 a.m. - “Raising Monarch Butterflies” presented by John Garner, longtime educator and Master Gardener;

10:30 a.m. - “Proper Apple Tree Pruning” presented by Matt Chandler of Chandler’s Farm and Country Market;

12:30 p.m. - “Growing Berries and Small Fruit” presented by Sam Irwin of Indiana Berry and Plant Farm; and

2 p.m. - “Beneficial Garden Insects” presented by Bob Bruner of Purdue Extension.

Folks who love to shop will find all sorts of gardening-related things to buy, including wonderful things to get Mom for Mother’s Day. There will be unique items - everything from garden art and handmade lawn furniture to locally produced honey. There will be handmade soaps and lotions for sale, along with pottery, lawn mowers and even worms for the garden! Of course, there will be plants - including indoor plants, garden plants, dwarf and unusual conifers for landscape design and bare-root plants to start berry bushes and strawberry beds. Bargain hunters will love the Master Gardeners’ version of a garage sale - the Garden Shed. The bargains will include plants, gardening tools, gardening books and magazines and a huge assortment of treasures at garage sale prices.

Another thing shoppers should check out is the booth giving information about a local CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer.

Another feature of the 2019 Garden Fair is the annual tree giveaway. Thanks to a generous donation from First National Bank, folks can take home a sapling to plant in their yards. This year’s choices include white pine, red oak or bald cypress. Be certain to visit the tree giveaway booth early. The trees are popular items, and thanks to FNB’s support over the years, we now have thousands more native trees growing in Putnam County.

For the youngsters, there will be a booth just for them. At the Children’s Corner, kids can receive starter kits to grow plants in their own gardens. The children can grow tomatoes, zucchini, sunflowers and marigolds. Later this summer, children can enter their own exhibits at the Putnam County Fair in the Lil’ Sprouts event. This is a terrific way to introduce children to successful gardening.

For the first several hundred folks who visit this year’s Garden Fair, there are free tote bags, stuffed with great swag. Also throughout the day, everyone has a chance to win one of several prizes donated by the vendors. Finally, at the end of the day, a grand prize - this year it’s a garden wagon—will be given away.

There’s food, too! The kitchen will be open with delicious things for sale. Come hungry, leave full!

The sponsors who support this event deserve to be recognized. For their support over the years, we thank First National Bank, Buzzi Unicem USA - Alternative Fuels, Neier, Inc., JTN Outdoor Power and B&J Cattle Company.

Plan to attend this year’s Garden Fair on March 16th. It is free and open to the public. You’ll learn useful gardening tips - Grow fruit! Prune your apple trees right! Save the Monarch butterflies! Help the beneficial garden insects! You’ll eat, shop, find bargains, meet great people, talk about plants and learn ways to improve this year’s garden. What a wonderful way to greet the spring!

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam, or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

March 5 – Succession Planning Program, Bloomington, IN, 6 p.m., $50 for a family of 4, register at www.cvent.com/d/1bq36s

March 9 – Ag Day Breakfast & Mini Farm Fest, Fairgrounds

March 12 – Cultivating Your Farmers Market Knowledge – Night 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

March 16 – Garden Fair, Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.