Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow??
If you ever wanted the inside scoop on how the famous nursery rhyme character created such magnificent greenery, then plan to attend the First Annual Plant Exchange and Garden Workshop from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 31 at the Addison Township Office Complex (1440 Rochester Rd. in Lakeville).
The event is sponsored by The Friends of the Addison Township Public Library.
‘We’re trying to get folks outside after this long winter; get them socializing and saying hello to each other,? said Friends President Claudia VonDrak.
The event will feature a variety of activities designed to help green-up local backyards while simultaneously promoting the library and Friends.
A sure-to-be-popular activity is the ‘Community Plant Exchange,? in which attendees bring a certain number of plants/flowers from their yards and exchange them for an equal number of horticultural delights from others? yards. Participants can bring as many or as few plants as they wish.
There will be tables set up for perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, native plants, household plants and miscellaneous varieties, VonDrak said.
Master Gardeners and Addison residents Lynn Boehmer and Bill Vernier will be on hand to answer any gardening questions attendees may have.
‘If someone takes a plant that they never had before, the Master Gardeners present will be able to tell them how to plant it, if it needs a lot of sun or shade, what kind of fertilizer to use, etc.? VonDrak said. ‘We really want to showcase the talent that’s out here.?
The title ‘Master Gardener? is a certification obtained upon completion of an extension course conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
‘It’s a formal credential that allows them to work in nurseries and act as consultants,? VonDrak said.
Attendees will also have the chance to learn about plants and flowers native to North Oakland County in a workshop entitled ‘Let’s Go Native,? presented by the Oakland Land Conservancy from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
For a $10 donation, attendees can learn about the benefits of native plants to the local environment and how to introduce them into their personal garden and landscape plans.
The Oakland Land Conservancy will also be selling Butterfly Gardens, which consist of various flowers that attract the colorful insects and can survive in a variety of environments including sunny, shady and wetlands.
‘They’ll only have a few, so they’re probably going to go very quickly,? VonDrak said.
Kids will be given a chance to cultivate their green thumbs in the ‘Pot-a-Plant? activity.
Oxford Farm and Garden donated 40 small pots, which kids will be allowed to decorate with paint or stickers, fill with soil, and plant either Marigolds or small Petunias, according to VonDrak.
Event attendees will have lots of opportunities to win ‘outdoor prizes? such as hanging baskets, ‘really nice? pens from Oxford Bank, a popcorn machine complete with popcorn, and many other unique items.
Attendees will also be strongly encouraged to ‘Explore the Library’s Garden of Books.?
‘Even though we have a teeny tiny library, it’s amazing the number and variety of books we have,? VonDrak said. ‘I was amazed to find that our library has over four shelves full of garden and landscape books. It’s quite an array.?
‘We’ll have a table set up outside promoting the library and the books related to gardening,? she added. ‘We’ll invite people to come inside (the library).?
‘Even though this is a plant exchange and garden workshop, (the Friends) felt very strongly that no matter what event we do, we have to have a crystal clear and very strong tie-in with the library because that’s why we exist,? VonDrak explained.
Addison’s Friends organization incorporated in December 2002, but didn’t really start promoting itself until April. It currently has 25 members and is ‘growing every day.?
VonDrak said the Friends? purpose is to ‘generate awareness? about the current library and ‘spread the word? about proposed plans to build a new, expanded facility.
‘We want to help mobilize the effort (to build a new library) by encouraging people to get involved, be it through a Friends? membership or voting ‘yes? (on a ballot proposal),? she said.
‘A library is a non-political thing,? VonDrak said. ‘It’s something everyone can get behind. I don;t think there’s anyone that can say they don’t believe in a library and what it can do for a community.?
For more information about the Plant Exchange and Garden Workshop or The Friends of the Addison Township Public Library call (248) 969-3379.