Lewiston hosts first GardenFest

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 17, 2006

The Lewiston Garden Club, a section eight member of the New York State Federated Garden Club, will be launching their new event, “GardenFest.” The event will be held on Center Street in Lewiston on Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will feature vendors, talks, workshops, displays and open garden tours.

Jacquie Lodico., a vendor and co-chair of the event said, “I am impressed with the wide variety of exhibitors that have a tie-in to the garden theme. We have nurseries, landscapers, garden and patio furniture and awnings, fencing, garden windows, shed and spas. It’s an amazing variety.”

Vendors will be set up along Center Street showing customers what is new and great for their gardening pleasure. Garden artists will have booths, since gardens are not just for plants anymore. Items for decorating gardens will also be featured.

Along with vendors, workshops will be held for garden enthusiasts. Lewiston Hollow Mercantile will be offering a workshop on Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. on making hypertufa containers. There will be a fee for the workshop and reservations are necessary. Artzee will feature painting and decorating. Wine tasting will be available at Village Vineyard, and Kaz Bar will also have a demonstration.

Club members will also have displays to introduce garden lovers to decorating, attracting butterflies and shade plants to your gardens.

Pam Hauth has developed some interesting and innovative ideas to use items people can purchase from the street vendors. “Street shopping is a fun and economical way to add unique and interesting things to your garden. You can exercise your creativity, reduce contributions to the landfill, and save money all at the same time,” she said.

She will also be giving demonstrations on how to turn old fence slats into a plant stand, deck steps into innovated displays of summer plants and plant butlers from old grates.

The Garden Club will have the Cornell Co-Op Extension master gardeners on hand multiple times a day throughout the course of the festival to give talks and answer questions.

Six gardens will be featured in the festival’s garden tours. The gardens are within walking distance of Center Street and maps will be available at the hospitality tent during the event.

The event is rain or shine. For more information, call 754-9765.