Native Plant Festival
April 24, 2010
Location: 3609 Highway 24, Ocean, NC
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Rose Rundell
Phone: 252-393-8185
One of the features of this year’s festival will be presentations on “How to Build a Rain Garden.” Rain gardens are simple and effective methods for reducing stormwater and coastal flooding. They are small depressions planted with native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers that collect, store, and infiltrate stormwater. Expert instruction will be provided by Coastal Federation staff. In addition to presentations, step by step directions with recommended plants will be available. Most all plants available for sale at the festival are suitable for rain gardens, so festival-goers can learn how to create a rain garden and buy the plants all in the same day.
You’ll want to spend the day at the festival and enjoy all the activities. Carteret County entertainment will be plentiful and include the Beaufort Chantey Men, Brass Consortium, Solar Winds and Frank Gaines.
Craftsmen and artists will surround the federation grounds with unique pieces of pottery, handmade items and coastal art. Anyone interested in having a booth should contact the Coastal Federation at 252-393-8185.
Of course, the main attraction is the more than 2,000 plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. This year’s collection boasts the best sellers of festivals past, as well as some new-comers. And many come with a bonus – like fruit. There will be black cherry trees, elderberry, blueberry and persimmon trees. New to the festival will be American hazelnut, American holly, coastal dog hobble, pignut hickory, winterberry and zenobia.
Members of the Coastal Federation get a sneak peek at the massive plant assortment on Friday, April 23 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Members are required to show their membership card for admittance. Guests and visitors may join on site. To learn more or to join, visit the Coastal Federation’s web site at www.nccoast.org.