BY BARBARA STORZ
The Hidalgo County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are holding their annual Fall Garden Festival from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 14, at North San Juan Park in San Juan. This event will feature free workshops for families, a plant sale, silent auction and a raffle drawing for a garden cart filled with tools and supplies.
Topics to be covered in the workshops include presentations on herb gardening, butterfly gardening, and how to make a rain barrel. These workshops will begin at 9:30 a.m. and are free. If you would like to reserve a rain barrel kit to take home, they are available for $40 each with advanced reservations. To reserve a rain barrel contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, call (956) 383-1026.
In addition to the workshops, the Master Gardeners will have a plant sale. This year they will have moringa, papaya and starfruit trees, along with Black Spanish grapevines and a variety of ornamental plants. Proceeds from this event will go toward supporting the educational programs provided by Master Gardeners throughout the year.
Guides will be available throughout the gardens to answer questions about the plants. The individual theme gardens inside the educational garden are well marked with the scientific name and common name for each plant, along with some important information about the plant’s performance.
The South Texas Master Gardener Educational Garden is located at the North San Juan Park at 509 East Earling Road, which is an extension of Nolana Loop, just east of Raul Longoria in San Juan.
The Park is a 15-acre plot behind the North San Juan Community Center, which is on the south side of the road. After crossing Raul Longoria on Nolana Loop, watch for signs in front of the Community Center that direct you to the educational garden.
You may pick up information on the Garden Festival with a map to the Park at the Growing Growers Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon today at Firemen’s Park, 1st Street and Business 83 in McAllen. You can also purchase raffle tickets for the event.
Barbara Storz is a local horticulturist. You can listen to her gardening program at 7 a.m. Saturdays on 710 KURV Radio, or email her at [email protected].
