By: Rachel Melvin, Horticulture Educator with University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County
Anyone who loves the renewal of spring has a once-a-year opportunity in the Garden Affair in Centreville on Saturday May 21, 10AM-2PM. Sponsored and staffed by Certified University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners Volunteers, the event offers anyone — novice and experienced gardeners, parents, kids, residents of house or apartment, trailer or estate — a fun and educational time held in a shady green space behind Wright’s Chance in Centreville.
Learn about bees, pollination, honey production and collection with beekeeper & University of Maryland Extension Apiary Specialist, Mike Embrey. Or introduce kids to the pleasures and rewards of gardening with a Master Gardeners Linda & Jack Doub at the Grow It Eat It display. Let the kiddies “plant a seed & watch it grow.”
From 10-2, get your plant disease and pest problems diagnosed with “Ask a Master Gardener’ with Master Gardeners Sabine Harvey and Dick Crane. Don’t let the little ones miss 10:30 story-time inside the Centreville library.
At 11AM, join Master Gardener & Master Composter, John Ittu, for a seminar on composting theory and practice. There will also be a demonstration of Vermicomposting, an easy way to compost vegetative kitchen waste, even in an apartment, and a special treat for boys since it consists of boxes of wiggly squiggly worms. Also, the Martha the “Turtle Lady,” will be at the Garden Affair from 11am to 1pm to introduce kids to the wonderful world of turtles that live in Maryland. Learn about where box turtles like to roam and why terrapins are important to the Bay.
At 12:30, kids will enjoy the Scavenger Hunt with Youth Coordinator Master Gardener, Pat Bowell and Master Gardener, Annie Ittu.
At 1pm, join Master Gardener John Ittu again he discusses rain barrels. Homemade or bought, rain barrels are a boon to gardeners; in addition to being Bay-wise and purse-savvy, using rain water produces better results than chlorinated water.
There will face painting, a craft table, a plant table (very reasonably-priced), and a booths on container gardening, herb gardening, beneficial bugs, shoreline plantings, and much more. Members of the Kennard Elementary Ecology Club will be there ready to discuss the native-plant swale they planted by the school.
For more information contact Rachel Melvin, Horticulture Educator with University of Maryland Extension-Queen Anne’s County at (410)758-0166 or at rmelvin1@umd.edu . Also check out the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener website at http://www.agnr.umd.edu/Extension/local/QueenAnnes/QACMG/ for more information.
University of Maryland Extension programs are open to everyone without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability