Mid-Atlantic Gardening: ArborFest at State Arboretum, 0 by rcn48

rcn48 wrote:
Just received this article about the ArborFest at the State Arboretum in Boyce, Va this weekend. You have to log on to read it so figured I'd paste it here:

Stuff a scarecrow at Blandy’s ArborFest
By Val Van Meter The Winchester Star

BOYCE — If someone devotes a decade to a cause, it must be important.

Donna Downing has helped to organize ArborFest at the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm for 13 years. But this week’s event (Satuday and Sunday) is the last she’ll chair . . . maybe.

“It’s kind of addictive,” she said of her association with the arboretum.

Downing first became involved as a volunteer. She took the training offered by Mary Olien, former assistant curator for education, and became part of the Blandy family, helping to keep up the grounds. “I was working in the gardens, but I found I was needed elsewhere.”
Donna Downing, chair of the Blandy ArborFest, directed the scarecrow making last year and will do the same on Saturday and Sunday during the fall festival and plant sale at the State Arboretum of Virginia in Clarke County.

Part of the arboretum’s mission is education, and it seemed important to introduce more people to the facility. Hence, ArborFest was started.

The event began as a “very tiny open house” of just four hours, Downing said.

“We had the Shenandoah Brass Ensemble, which was just delightful,” and four vendors of native plants, she recalled.

Now, it has grown to two days packed full of activities, organized by Downing and co-chair Kathy Clark.

It still features informative and educational events, plenty of fun things for children to do and almost 50 vendors of a wide variety of plants and trees for indoors and out, garden ornaments, pottery, even sun rooms.

“And music and good food,” Downing added.

“Fall is a great time to plant a whole plethora of things,” she said.

Trees, grasses, bulbs and perennials can go into the ground now, in preparation for garden displays next spring. ARBORFEST 2006
TIME: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

DATES: Saturday and Sunday

PLACE: State Arboretum of Virgnia, Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke County

COST: A parking fee of $5 a car will support the Foundation of the State Arboretum endowment fund.

CALL: 540-837-1758,
or e-mail blandy@virginia.edu
or visit http://www.virginia.edu/blandy/
ArborFest06/arborfest06.html

But since education is still a high priority for the arboretum, ArborFest has a message, too. Now, Downing said, members of the Foundation of the State Arboretum are spreading the word about invasive alien plants.

Aliens are taking over habitat and forcing out native species. Unfortunately, she said, “some of our favorite plants are invasives.”

Visitors can learn more about invasives, but they can’t buy any at ArborFest. Vendors know they can’t sell any invasive alien plant, Downing said.

Another focus of ArborFest is children. “We want to interest more young families to see what we have to offer,” Downing said.

Among the activities for children is one she has led for the past three years — making a scarecrow.

During the year, “I search yard sales for clothing,” Downing said. “Beverly Heclo makes the heads for us,” and the Southern States farmers’ cooperative supplies clean straw.

Also, a raffle will be conducted for an Indian girl doll, supplied by the American Girl Doll Co. in Wisconsin.

Visitors can also take home a plant for the future, thanks to Care of Trees, an underwriting sponsor of ArborFest.

“They have given us a thousand oak seedlings to give away,” Downing said.

While this may be Downing’s last year chairing ArborFest, she won’t be leaving the cause. She moves up to vice president of the foundation for 2007.

This year, ArborFest is marking Virginia’s upcoming 400th-anniversary celebration.

Many of the demonstrations will focus on old-time skills, from pottery- and basket-making to wood turning.

Rick Orli will demonstrate glass-blowing, and a blacksmith will make simple iron items for sale.

The Old Tyme Apple Growers will give away apple cider made in an antique hand press and the Beekeepers will make beeswax candles.

Blandy’s new director of education, Candace Luzlow Felling, will have special activities for children. They can learn about mammal tracks, make a suet log bird feeder, or take a nature walk.
ArborFest will take place from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum of Virginia in Clarke County. Last year’s event (above), like this year’s, offered a variety of vendors selling various plant materials and providing information.

Hayrides, a curator’s tour, and an art show are also on the schedule.

On Sunday, a group called Ballata will demonstrate spinning and will perform music from 1603.

And Chef Ed Matthews, from One Block West, will conduct a cooking class.

ArborFest’s hours are 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event is free, and it includes guided tours of the arboretum, birding walks, and hands-on demonstrations.

A parking fee of $5 a car will support the Foundation of the State Arboretum endowment fund. Call 540-837-1758 or e-mail Blandy@virginia.edu.

The State Arboretum’s 2006 Christmas ornament will be sold at ArborFest on Saturday and Sunday.

The theme is a Virginia native, the dogwood, and it sells for $10.

After ArborFest, the ornament will be on sale at the Arboretum’s gift shop as long as supplies last.

If you want to "see" the article, here's the link: http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/061005/Life_... (Oct 5th issue)

(They used a picture of some of our plants - how cool is that?)
Debbie