OSU Botanical Garden is site for Summer GardenFest

This annual event will take place at the Oklahoma State University Botanical Garden, 3425 W. Virginia, in Stillwater. The garden is home to the studio garden of the popular program Oklahoma Gardening. The event begins at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public.

 There will be a wide variety of topics and activities at this year’s event, said Laura Payne, OSU Botanical Garden volunteer coordinator and field coordinator.

 “GardenFest just gets better and better every year, and this year is no exception,” Payne said. “This year’s theme is ‘32 Years and Still Growing,’ which relates to the number of years Oklahoma Gardening has been on the air.”

Steve Owens, who has hosted Oklahoma Gardening since 2001, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. He will present “The Pursuit of Landscape Gardening in Oklahoma” at 10 a.m. A native of Oklahoma, Owens has gardened professionally and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from OSU. He is a member of the Oklahoma Horticultural Society, the Oklahoma Native Plant Society and the American Horticulture Society. He also is the author of a new book, “Best Garden Plants for Oklahoma.”

 Other educational workshop topics will include rustic structures in the landscape, gardening for wildlife, soap making, tussie-mussies and butterflies.

Lou Anella, associate professor in the department of horticulture and landscape architecture at OSU, will share his expertise in selecting and caring for small trees in Oklahoma. The Stillwater Fabric Guild will be on hand to give cotton spinning demonstrations and the Stillwater Water Garden Society will answer questions about water gardens.

 David Hillock, OSU Cooperative Extension consumer horticulturist will share information at the Children’s Gardening Activity Booth.

“Gardening enthusiasts are guaranteed to have a great time and learn many new things at this year’s GardenFest,” Payne said. “We’re really looking forward to having a big crowd and we encourage families to come out and spend the day together.”

In addition, there will be food vendors and Oklahoma Gardening merchandise available.

In the event of inclement weather, all outdoor activities will be cancelled. Owens’ keynote address will take place indoors in the Educational Center. For more information about this year’s GardenFest, please call 405-744-5404.

 
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 Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

Trisha Gedon
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
136 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK  74078
405-744-3625 (phone)
405-744-5739 (fax)
trisha.gedon@okstate.edu