FLORENCE, SC – Spring arrives on March 21st. Earth Day is April 22nd. What better way to celebrate spring and Earth Day than to visit the Southern Plant and Flower Festival. The festival will be held April 12-15, 2007 at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, 2513 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC.
Since 1985, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture has hosted the Southern Plant and Flower Festival which has become an annual pilgrimage for visitors near and far. Some even plan their vacations around the event. Designed to emphasize South Carolina’s booming blooming industry, the Southern Plant and Flower Festival provides marketing opportunities for growers and buying opportunities for gardeners.
Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of Agriculture, said, “The ornamental horticulture, floriculture, and nursery industry is South Carolina’s second largest commodity with a cash value of almost $300 million a year, a significant contributor to the state’s economy. That’s a lot of green!”
The festival attracts thousands of people from all over the nation. Hundreds of exhibitors offer the best in horticulture and related products for home and garden, and the friendly atmosphere is a haven for novice and veteran gardeners. Working alone and in groups, they stroll through the farmers shed plotting and planning for the spring planting season. From growing a small herb garden to creating a large outdoor sanctuary, the Southern Plant and Flower Festival is the place to find all the ingredients for a successful gardening experience.
Just about every kind of plant and flower imaginable is there – outdoor furniture, yard art and gardening products and supplies. In addition to buying for their gardens and yards, many folks come just to talk with Master Gardeners who attend the festival.
Commissioner Weathers said, “Gardening is one of America’s favorite pastimes, and it’s a healthy hobby. But it’s also a way to help protect part of the environment—your yard. Gardeners who establish a backyard wildlife habitat provide a natural environment for a variety of birds, butterflies, mammals, and other animals.”
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) encourages novice and veteran gardeners to establish a garden for the birds, bees, and, yes, for the bullfrogs. The SCWF in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation administers the Backyard Wildlife Habitat program in South Carolina. The objective of this program is to educate about the benefits for both people and wildlife of creating natural landscapes. Restoring wildlife habitat in the community also restores the ecology of the land on which we live.
Visit the South Carolina Wildlife Federation web site at http://www.scwf.org and get some tips and pointers on how to start a wildlife habitat in your own backyard. Then, visit the Southern Plant and Flower Festival, April 12-15, Thursday - Saturday, 8am-6pm, and Sunday, 1pm-6pm at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market to buy the plants, flowers, and water features to make your backyard go wild!
Come to the festival well-prepared. Wear some good walking shoes. Bring a cart or wagon, and a vehicle with lots of room to take home all your selections. For more information, contact Betty Boykin at 843-665-5154.