A fest for gardeners

In general, I’m up for anything with the word “fest” “party,” or “celebration” in the title. “Reception” is good too. We fest a lot in Buffalo: spring, summer, winter, and fall, and, although the picture at top is a bit premature, a September garden fest helps bring an appropriate celebratory note to the winding down of the garden season.

This Saturday, September 20, if you’re within 100 miles or so of this blog, I encourage you to attend Lockwood Greenhouse’s Fall Garden Fest in Hamburg. This event used to be held by the local cooperative extension in East Aurora every year at this time, as the Fall Garden Faire. I think Lockwood’s will do an excellent job reinvigorating the event (and I have to admit I’m glad the olde spelling of fair was discarded—but that’s just me).

The event is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vendors all day and lectures/workshops at 10, 11, 1:30, and 2:30.

There is a very cool lineup of workshops and vendors, like:
•Groundcovers (Weed-suppressing perennials)—Brian Eshenauer, Cornell IPM
•Keep the annuals, Bring in the houseplants—Donna Connelly
•Hydrangeas—Joan Mariea
•Walking tour with Sally Cunningham

There will be all kinds of free advice for the asking from the master gardeners present, including a soil testing clinic. Keep in mind that this is AT a greenhouse, so in addition all the visiting vendors, there are tons of plants to buy for fall fill-ins. Personally, I only do fall planting in September; I just don’t think the plants have enough time to settle in after that.

Lockwood’s is one of the best nurseries around and this event was excellent when it was a stand-alone in East Aurora. So I would have to call this a perfect storm of fall garden goodness. Check it out!