The Spring Plant Festival, which raises funds for the James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum Foundation's educational programs, offers top quality herbs, flowers, vegetables, grasses, tropical plants, boxwood, hanging baskets, shrubs and trees for public sale. The event also features: Artisans Marketplace for shoppers interested in finding garden accents, birdhouses, pottery, ornamental ironwork, hypertufas, nature-inspired jewelry, bonsai, wood carving, and more; The Book Nook in the Wallace Library for purchasing new or gently-used books; Alice's Arboretum Wonderland in The Time Warner Cable Discover & Grow Zone, where parents and children can met characters from the story and participate in activities based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; Gardening tips and demonstrations that cover: how to make attractive hypertufas, hanging baskets, container gardens and window boxes, simple propagation methods, plant combinations and design and plant care; Food vendors for lunch or supper, including Chef's Touch, Diva's Gourmet, Hearts Hot Dogs and Roscoe's Ribs; Music and entertainment, including local artisan Kim McClinchy creating a bear carving and musician Steven Gregory; Local horticultural societies offering plant exhibits and sales, including the Cox Arboretum African Violet Society, Miami Valley Rose Society and Cox Arboretum Bonsai Society.
Additional Festival Activities On Friday, May 6, the Arboretum will host a luncheon seminar, "Hot New Plants for 2005." Marvin Duren of Marvin's Organic Gardens will review the new cultivars and discuss ideas for placement and care. The event will be held 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tickets, which cost $25 for non-members and $20 for members, can be purchased by calling 937-435-9005.
Stephanie Cohen, director of Temple University's Landscape Arboretum, author of "Perennial Solutions" and current co-chair of the Perennial Plant of the Year program, will be featured in a pre-festival seminar on May 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. A book signing will follow Cohen's presentation on new and underused perennials. Admission is $10 for non-members and $5 for members. RSVP by calling 937-435-9005.
"After a cold, snowy winter, people are anxious to get outside, work in their gardens and begin this year's landscaping projects. The Arboretum's Spring Plant Festival is the perfect place to find healthy, robust plants and heartwarming horticultural accents, while enjoying a variety of activities in the beautiful gardens and natural areas that are so lovingly cared for by our staff and volunteers," said Executive Director Jay Woodhull. "The Zorniger Education Campus allows us to provide indoor and outdoor spaces to educate and entertain our festival visitors."
A special members-only preview will be held Thursday, May 5th from 6 – 8 p.m. Members receive a 10 percent discount on Arboretum plants throughout the sale, in addition to receiving a free gift plant. Individuals interested in joining prior to the sale to receive these benefits can call 937-434-9005.
The Spring Plant Festival is sponsored by Vectren, Kettering Medical Center and T-Mobile.
Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark is a landscaping arboretum that brings gardening, nature and horticulture to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Featuring 189 acres of specialty gardens, woodlands, prairies and other natural areas, Cox Arboretum offers a unique outdoor learning and recreational experience. Educational programming, centered on plants, trees, wildlife and the conservation sciences, is offered for all ages. Ohio's only native butterfly house, which opens for the season on June 25, is located at Cox Arboretum. For more information, call 937-434-9005 or visit www.coxarboretum.org.