Pass Along Plants at the Halifax Farmers Market on August 12th

The Southside Master Gardener Association will have a display on perennials and season extenders from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Halifax Farmers Market with a special dividing demo at 9:30.  This is busy day at the market as the “Meet me at the Market” will also be held to help people become familiar with the market vendors and their products.  It will also be a celebration of National Farmers Market Week.

Perennials should be the backbone of all landscapes.  These plants come back year after year and bring color and beauty to your flowerbeds.  Their flowers and berries provide food for birds, butterflies and bees.  Another positive feature is that the clumps will grow larger and larger with each passing gardening season.  Once they get too “big for their britches” they need to be divided. The resultant smaller clumps may be planted in other parts of the garden or “passed along” to friends and family.  The Master Gardeners will have a few different types of pass along plants to share.

Master Gardener Maggie Westervelt will have a display on season extenders.  These are things that you can do to help your growing season start earlier in the spring and go later into the fall.  Who wouldn’t love to keep having BLT’s in November?  Maggie will be available to answer your questions about the display.  And no, it doesn’t involve a greenhouse.

While at the market support your local vendors and artists.  Outside vendors have fresh produce, organic meats, fresh eggs and sometimes plants.  Inside you will find all kinds of crafts and collectibles as well as on site photography.  There is a seed bank and recipes for your browsing.  As always, the Master Gardeners will be there to answer all of your gardening questions. To learn more about the Master Gardener program and its activities visit www.ssmga.org or call the Halifax Extension Office at 434-476-2147.  Hope to see you at the market!