Canby Herald Special Section, April 20, 2011

■ The Clackamas County Master Gardeners Spring Garden Fair is a true delight, offering
vendors, how-to demonstrations and tips on turning your garden from ordinary to beautiful.

By JOHN BAKER
HOME AND GARDEN

Walking slowly along a cement path, it’s hard not to notice the fresh, scented air and the colors that seem to surround you.

Plants, accessories, booths and more are available at this year’s Spring Garden Fair. And you don’t even need to carry it as a popular wagon system allows easy transport of purchases

Sure, it’s about gardening, plants and equipment, but the Clackamas County Master Gardeners don’t put on its annual Spring Garden Fair just to offer an outlet for merchandise to be sold. The atmosphere screams spring in a dozen colorful ways. Each year, thousands hear that scream. This year will be no different at the 27th Annual Spring Garden Fair on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, at the Clackamas County Event Center in Canby.

Darlene Reimer, a spokesperson for the event, said the first year she attended the event, she was impressed. “I was so impressed at the size of the event put on by a total nonprofit,” she said. “It’s all volunteers putting it on, and now, as one of those people, I know how many hours go into something like this.” The work has paid off as the fair continues to grow and develop.

“We’re very excited about it and every year it keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Reimer said. “Each year we take the comments we get and go back to the drawing board looking for ways to improve it.” More than 200 unique vendor booths will greet visitors with all manner of gardening supplies – both old favorites and new creations. Everything from vegetable and herb starts to raised beds, soil amendments, vermiculture and greenhouses to garden tools offer plenty of gardening choices. The event also features trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials grown for the northwest climate.

Reimer said that part of the emphasis for organizers is allowing the smaller nurseries, the local mom-and-pop operations, a place to show their skills. “We feel the small nurseries don’t have the opportunity to reach the masses, so this is the forum for them,” Reimer said. “We’re proud to help out those local nurseries – from local people to local people by local people.”

But the fair isn’t just about what grows, it’s also about what will look good sitting in a garden space. Each year features garden art, furniture, bird and bee houses that will transform any garden from calm and sedate to a hub of activity.

Simply buying plants, tools or ornaments isn’t enough for the Clackamas County Master Gardeners. They want each garden fair to be a place where learning occurs, too. To that end, they feature 10 Minute University sessions, which focus on a specific part of gardening – giving visitors quick hints and techniques that help turn a lackluster pile of dirt and grass into a vibrant entity around the home.

But that’s just the beginning. Around every corner and in every booth, opportunities to make a difference in your garden, your hard and home await discovery. And, with the hunt for the perfect plant or tool, the Master Gardeners know that nourishment helps the process along. So, the Good Thyme Food Court will again be up and running, offering chicken teriyaki, yakisoba noodles, barbecue items, burgers, hot dogs, snacks and drinks. Admission is $3, with children 16 under admitted free. Parking is free and there is an ATM onsite. ■Link to the pdf file of the entire section

Enterprising youths, like the ones from this club at Canby’s Ackerman Middle School, will transport your plant purchases for a fee. Susan W. Clark

http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2010/04/northwest_experts_pick_their_f.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/kympokorny/2009/05/dont_pass_up_clackamas_county.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/sassygardener/2005/04/index.html