ORISKANY, N.Y. — Cold temperatures and cloudy skies didn’t keep attendees away from the Herb and Flower Festival on Saturday, June 18. Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County Master Gardener Volunteers send a warm thanks to the almost 800 guests who came to the event and braved the weather! The festival was held at the Oneida County Farm & Home Center in Oriskany, NY.
Attendees were able to enjoy the 21 garden-related vendors, walk in the Parker F. Scripture Botanical Garden, enjoy food vendors, sit in on educational classes and get advice at the Master Gardener’s booth.
Over 100 people attended the four classes offered throughout the day, including ‘A Great Escape in Your Own Backyard’ presented by keynote speaker Natalie Carmolli a Proven Winners representative. She talked about creating a private escape in your backyard by designing a garden that works for you instead of you working for your garden!
The Master Gardener Booth provided many free samples, including a selection of seed packets. They also provided on-demand answers to attendees and offered more in-depth explanations the following week. The Master Gardeners also created the Garden Scavenger Hunt that attendees could partake in while walking through the Botanical Gardens. The scavenger hunt will be left up through fall for the public to enjoy while walking through the gardens.
Future plans for the interactive children’s garden were announced during the festival, and visitors could see a preview of what will be coming later this year. We invite everyone to stop into the garden to check on our progress and be on the lookout for the grand opening of the new Music Garden and Nature-Based Play Center. Also, keep an eye out for the Monarch Butterflies coming in August!
The Parker F. Scripture Botanical Garden is open daylight hours seven days a week and is free to the public. Enjoy a walk in the garden and take a hike on our Nature Trails.
Call Cornell Cooperative Extension at (315) 736-3394 x 333, weekdays 8 am-3 pm for any home and garden-related questions.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County