Heritage Garden Weekend
CJ
columnist Hill, Wiche
headline Garden Weekend
Market,
exhibits, some activities
are free to the public
Staff Report
SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (April 2003) – A weekend of
activities for gardening enthusiasts is planned in Scott County, Ind.,
during the second annual Heritage Garden Weekend, April 25-27.
Free and open to the public will be a gardener’s market, soil testing,
a garden and nature related gallery exhibit, a children’s garden
activity tent and a nature walk. The Purdue University Extension Service
will provide free educational materials. Other events offered for a
nominal fee include a reception, silent auction and dinner and a gardening
symposium.
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Photo provided Gardening
enthusiasts find tips |
Louisville Courier-Journal columnist and radio show host
Bob Hill will present “Rare and Unusual Plants and Garden Whimsy”
on Friday evening following a reception and dinner. Hill has been a
columnist for the newspaper for 25 years and has published eight books
on subjects ranging from gardening to basketball history as well as
two collections of his newspaper columns.
Hill and his wife, Janet, are co-owners of Hidden Hill Nursery in Utica,
Ind., which specializes in rare trees and plants, garden sculpture and
whimsy.
The nursery will play host to Heritage Garden Day from noon to 5 p.m.
on Sunday. Hill has propagated rare and unusual plants for the past
20 years, traveling around the country and abroad in pursuit of his
gardening hobby.
He is also known as the co-host of “Homegrown,” a WFPL 89.3
radio show with fellow garden expert Jeneen Wiche. Wiche will also appear
at the event during the afternoon on Saturday to present a workshop
featuring tips on preparing the garden for the growing season ahead.
On Saturday, the morning session of the gardening symposium will begin
at 9 a.m. with spring teas and pastries followed by water garden and
herb workshops. The afternoon session will begin at noon with an herbal
cooking demonstration and luncheon followed by gardening with bees,
ornamental grasses and Wiche’s workshop. The symposium sessions,
including meals, are $20 each or $35 for both morning and afternoon.
Cost for the Friday evening reception and dinner with guest speaker
Bob Hill is $25.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Scott County Heritage Center &
Museum. The weekend is sponsored by Preservation Alliance, Inc., the
Scott County Purdue University Extension Service and the Scott County
Visitors Commission. Last year, several hundred people turned out to
enjoy the weekend of activities, according to Scott County Visitors
Commission Executive Director Bob McAdams. McAdams is hoping for comparable
success this year.
“This is such a special event that we hope will continue to grow
and provide much enjoyment for both the local residents and people who
visit for the weekend,” McAdams said.
• For more information or to make reservations, contact Purdue University Extension agent Jeannie Carlisle at (812) 752-8450 or pcarlisl@purdue.edu. Reservations with payment will be accepted through April 20.