Native Plant Festival

Saturday, August 7th at Sargent's North

FREE workshops!
Kid's Activities
Lunch Vendors from the Rochester Farmer's Market
Lots of FUN! Join us throughout the day for workshops, plant information and a day outdoors!

All activities are located at Sargent's North. Pre-registration is not required, however, we recommend you call 289-0022 to reserve your seat today.

9:30-10:20 Maintenance Practices for a Better Lawn
*Due to a family emergency Nick Sargent will be filling in for Eric Counselman, Somerby Golf Course Superintendent this Saturday.  We are attempting to reschedule a date for Eric to make his presentation.
This lawn care class will be an opportunity for any homeowner to learn the Best Management Practices for their home lawn maintenance. Eric will cover all aspects of making your home lawn aesthetically, environmentally and financially ideal. Topics included will be mowing practices, irrigation use (scheduling), fertility practices, pest control and aeration.  There will be a question and answer segment afterwards for individuals with specific problems. 

10:30-11:20 Landscaping for Birds
Joel Dunnette, Audubon Society
Some of the most welcome visitors to our landscapes are the birds and butterflies that pass through on migration or raise their young here. Our gardens are increasingly important to sustaining nature’s diversity of birds, butterflies and other creatures.  Native plants play a key role – they are adapted to local conditions and support local insects that mature into beautiful butterflies and which also provide essential food for song birds.

11:30-12:20 Landscaping with Native Prairie Plants
Jeff Feece, Sargents Landscape Nursery
Jeff will discuss some of the amazing characteristics of our native prairie plants and the benefits they can provide in our landscapes. Come and learn how to incorporate plants like Verbena, Butterflyweed, Big Bluestem and many more into your perennial garden!

12:30-12:50 Break
Local produce and snacks will be available from vendors from the
Rochester Farmer's Market.

1:00-1:50 Realize Raingardens Rochester
Norrie MacIlraith, Raingarden Grant Recipient and Master Gardener
Norrie’s program will include interactive displays and activities for participants that cover what storm water is and why we need to manage it.  She’ll give basic information about raingardens and review the Realize Raingardens Rochester grant program and provide many resources for implementing a raingarden.