A promise of spring
Augusta The 11th annual Springfest Flower and Garden Show will be held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, in Augusta, March 9 through March 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. The show has become fondly known as “The Garden Lover’s Flower Show,” featuring high quality exhibits by over 50 regional garden, landscaping, commercial and educational exhibitors. “This show is unique among garden shows, since it is not-for-profit with proceeds dedicated to scholarships and agricultural education,” said Springfest president David H. Wright, C.L.A. “It is produced by the non-profit Agricultural Division/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show as well as dedicated volunteers and generous supporters that share a passion for gardening.” Last year, Springfest attracted over 8,000 winter-weary visitors from the tri-state area. Housed in the warmth of the Sussex County Fairground’s quarter-acre Conservatory, the show’s popularity has grown to include more than 30,000 sq. ft. of exhibits that will give visitors a preview of spring’s beauty, including more than a dozen ornamental garden displays. The creative ideas of each of the premier landscape companies featured will be on display as visitors stroll through paths, past ponds and waterfalls complete with flowering trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs forced into bloom just for the show. The landscape designers of each exhibit will be on hand to answer any questions and offer advice to the homeowner. The expanded Educational Exhibits will host lectures and demonstrations and are free with a paid admission to Springfest. Visitors are encouraged to bring notebooks and cameras to help record instructions and ideas. This year’s speakers include Tom Castronovo, a featured columnist for the Gardener News. Castronovo is a life-long Garden State’ resident, a horticulture and community educator, and is executive editor and publisher of the Gardener News, New Jersey’s most influential gardening newspaper. Castronovo is also featured on News 12 New Jersey every Sunday night and Monday as the “Backyard Gardener.” He will be lecturing on the correct way to build a paver walkway. Other topics are Water in the Garden; Orchids; Deer Resistant Gardening; Designing with Perennials; Herb Gardening; Disease Diagnosis; Pruning Techniques; Garden Design; and Wildlife Conservation in Your Backyard. Educational displays by Rutger’s Cooperative Extension, arboretums, botanical gardens, plant societies and soil conservation will give visitors an overall view of the garden environment. An elegant evening fund-raiser is planned to benefit the Springfest Agricultural Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Gala has become a popular event for hundreds of garden lovers, 4H families and agricultural dignitaries. Guests will be treated to live music from the Skylands Youth Symphony as they stroll through the gardens while tasting butlered hors d’oeuvres. Full catered buffet dinner by Condit Catering and open bar will follow, leading up to the scholarship presentations. The Saturday, March 10 event begins at 7 p.m. and requires advance tickets at $50 per person. Call 973-948-9448 for reservations. Admission to Springfest is $9 adults, $7 seniors and free to children under 12. Senior Citizen Day is Monday, March 12, with $5 admission to seniors 65 and up. Sussex County Transit will make special stops at Springfest on Friday and Monday. Springfest is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 973-948-9448 or visit www.springfestgardenshow.org. Springfest is thankful to our very special friends, Bev and Bruce Gordon.