NILES, Mich. — Everyone is invited to celebrate spring in the garden at this new and one-of-a-kind horticultural event at Fernwood. The full-day festival is open to gardeners of all experiences and features a rich blend of local vendors specializing in unique and artfully grown plant material, hand-crafted artwork for the garden, lectures from leading industry experts, and hands-on workshops.

The plant sale portion of the festival will include plant material traditionally found in Fernwood’s spring plant sale as well as orchids from Great Lakes Orchids and members of the Michiana Orchid Society; succulents and more from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens; hardy ferns from Lundberg Nursery; carnivorous plants from Doug Osman; herb and flowering topiaries from Glasgow Greenhouses; and alpine plants and dwarf conifers from Benedict’s Nursery.

Guests can learn about Community Supported Agriculture shares (CSAs) from Blue Star Produce, growers of heirloom vegetables and herbs, and support the Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force by purchasing planted containers from Planting Hope in Michigan. There will be an opportunity to learn about environmentally wise/safe gardening practices at the Michigan State University Extension “Smart Gardening” booth.

A selection of home and garden items can be found under the tent as well. Shop for hand-blown glass, metal, and fused artwork made by local artists and teens from Water Street Glassworks; garden sculpture, bird feeders and baths, vases, and planters from ceramic artist Lynne Tan; hand-crafted, botanically inspired jewelry by Vicki Cook; hand-turned wood vessels and bowls by Bob Crowder; pewter vases, wall décor, and giftware by Rebecca Hungerford; and fun, whimsical, handcrafted stoneware clay art from Hands on Clay.

After visitors have browsed the vendor tent, they can attend informative lectures and fun workshops throughout the day. Speakers include Chris Woods, Founding Executive Director of Chanticleer Pleasure Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, who will discuss Unleashing Creativity in the Garden; Gregg Tepper, Director of Horticulture at Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek, who looks into the Sensory Experience of Native Plants; and Dan Benarcik, Gardener at Chanticleer Pleasure Garden, with ideas on creating Captivating Containers.

Guests may choose to attend the workshops that are designed to be fun, artful, and informative, learn to care for orchids with The Michigan Orchid Society, or how to propagate and grow trillium with Gregg Tepper, create a stained glass flower with Water Street Glassworks ($15 materials fee), or learn tricks to add character to terra cotta pottery and planters with petina.

There is no charge to shop the vendor tent and plant sale. Festival admission for lectures and workshops is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Premier admission for lectures, workshops, advance vendor purchases, and mingling with guest lecturers over breakfast hors d’ourvres is $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

With VIP admission of $65, receive benefits of Premier admission plus guaranteed seating for lectures and workshops and private lunch with the speakers. Those who bring a garden club or other group will receive 20 percent off any festival admission or premier admission tickets when you purchase 10 or more before April 30.

Visit Fernwood at www.fernwoodbotanical.org or call 269.695.6491 for more information and to register in advance.

 

About Fernwood

Fernwood is a special place where nature blends with gardens and art to create an experience of wonder for all ages. Fernwood comprises 105 acres on the St. Joseph River near Buchanan, Michigan, at 13988 Range Line Road, Niles. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The Fernwood Café is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Call (269) 695-6491 or visit www.fernwoodbotanical.org for more information and to confirm status of classes.