The annual Garden Expo unfolded at the fairgrounds in Lafayette, drawing in gardening enthusiasts from near and far. Spanning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, the event saw a bustling crowd and a flurry of activity, particularly in the initial hours as hundreds of plants found new homes.
Reflecting on the day’s offerings, attendee Koti Goble expressed satisfaction, despite arriving later in the day. “It was nice. I came late, so I kind of missed a lot, it looks like. But it looks like they had a good spread out and I still left with a box, and a big pot,” Goble remarked.
Hosted by the Master Gardener Association of Tippecanoe County, the Garden Expo and Plant Sale boasted a diverse array of vendors. Patrons perused through stalls offering everything from an extensive selection of plants and garden supplies to handcrafted items and culinary delights.
Commenting on the wealth of knowledge among the vendors, Pat William, ANR Extension Educator, highlighted the expertise available to visitors. “The vendors here, you can buy everything from hanging baskets to ground clovers to perennials, to native plants. The thing is the vendors are very knowledgeable, so when they get asked questions, if you’re out and about through town and buying from other folks, they may not always have people that have raised the plant from a seed or a cutting, to know really what it’s all about,” William noted.
In addition to the bustling sales, a silent auction and raffle contributed to the event’s fundraising efforts. With a target of $100,000, the Garden Expo serves as the primary fundraising event for the organization, supporting initiatives such as scholarships for Ivy Tech and Purdue.
Among the vendors, the Tippecanoe Invasive Cooperative Taskforce provided valuable guidance on selecting native plants and resources for enhancing residential landscapes. “It makes a big difference what kind of plants are available, even in small areas like yards and flower beds and all of that. Any place, we can find a native plant is going to work. We like to see those because we have so many more benefits with them,” noted Mike Smith, a Rural Conservationist with the Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation.
Looking ahead, the Master Gardener Association announced upcoming events including a Native Plant Sale and Plant Fest on May 1st and May 18th respectively. Additionally, the Tippecanoe Invasive Cooperative Taskforce offered a program allowing landowners to exchange invasive species for free native plants, furthering their conservation efforts in partnership with the Purdue Extension.
As the Master Gardener program, affiliated with Purdue Extension, continues to seek new recruits, the enthusiasm for gardening and conservation efforts remains ever-present in the community.