Minnetrista will start the outdoor recreation season with the eighth annual Garden Fair on Saturday morning.
The Garden Fair will offer practical information for the home gardener, including garden tours, children's activities, speakers and gardening workshops.
"The Garden Fair has grown so much over the years," director of marketing and merchandising Tari Lambert said. "It started small at Oakhurst Gardens in the parking lot."
The fair started in 1995, when Oakhurst Gardens first opened, to encourage residents to come.
"We have beautiful gardens here including the wildflowers, the prairie garden, the children's garden and the perennials," Lambert said. "We will also show off the different types of gardening techniques that Minnetrista uses including water gardening and managing soil."
The Garden Fair opens at Minnetrista on Saturday at 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. Admission and parking is free at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
Speakers include Douglas Smith with "Landscape Design & Color" on Saturday at 11 a.m. and "Curb Appeal with Art in the Garden" on Sunday at 1 p.m. Smith has been working professionally with gardening and landscaping for the past 25 years and has traveled worldwide with his expertise. He is the founder of the Indianapolis-based Abloomin' Nursery.
Jo Ellen Myers Sharp will give her presentation "All-Star Natives for the Midwestern Garden" on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Sharp is the co-author of "The Indiana Gardener's Guide" and will sign books.
Sharp has freelanced a weekly garden section with The Indianapolis Star since 1989. She also writes for The Indianapolis Business Journal and has been a guest on several radio and television programs.
The Minnetrista Farmers Market will also open on Saturday to the public at Minnetrista. The Farmers Market is open during the summer each Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and every Wednesday from 4 p.m. until sold out. Cooking demonstrations are held on the fourth Saturday of each month.
"Students really love to come out to the market to get their organic vegetables, meats, eggs, fruits and flowers," Lambert said. "Foreign students like to come as well because this is a place where they can find more exotic herbs and things to eat."
The farmers market serves as an educational experience as well as a place to find organic foods.
"Some kids think lettuce comes out of a bag. The farmer's market is fun and educational," events manager Emily Denison said.
Open Door Clinic gives vouchers to low-income mothers to use at the farmers market through the Women, Infants and Children Program.
"The WIC Program is great for low-income student mothers," Lambert said.
Design Build, a nature area built by Ball State's College of Architecture and Planning will also be open for show this weekend.
"This is the third year for the area but it is exciting because this weekend is the first time it will be open to the public," Lambert said. "There are six acres with wetland, ponds and a tribal area."
Vendors at the Garden Fair will include fish warehouses, pond supplies, nurseries, herbs and decorative lawn ornaments.
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