Darrell Blackwelder

August 10, 2006

Below are a few upcoming events of interest for gardeners or those with an interest. 

Master Gardener Crepe Myrtle 

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in Rowan County, North Carolina are selling a limited quantity of 3 gallon North Carolina grown crepe myrtles. Proceeds from this sale are used to fund educational programs for Cooperative Extension. Six crepe myrtle varieties offered are: Acoma, Centennial, Natchez, Sioux, Tonto and Velma’s Royal Delight at a cost of $12 per plant. Detailed information about each variety can be found on the Extension Master Gardener Website at www.rowanmastergardener.com  Call Cooperative Extension at 704-216-8970 to place an order by phone or e-mail mastergardener@rowanmastergardener.com or  darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu The last date to order is Tuesday, September 5, 2006.  Pick up dates are Thursday & Friday-September 14 and 15, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Cooperative Extension Office on Old Concord Road in Salisbury.  

Salsa Demonstration at the Salisbury-Rowan Farmers Market

The Salisbury-Rowan Farmers Market will sponsor a salsa-making demonstration and free tasting on Saturday, August 19, from 10 am to noon.  John Gray of Las Palmas restaurant will demonstrate the making of traditional salsas using Rowan County produce available at the Market:  tomatoes, peppers, onions, and tomatillos.  Gray will also prepare guacamole and other less-traditional salsas (mango, salsa verde) for Market visitors to try and enjoy. 

Hurley Park Summer Lecture

Hurley Park is sponsoring, Barbara Pleasant, August 17TH 7:00PM AT the Salisbury-Rowan Utilities (formerly Waterworks Visual Arts Center) 1 Water Street in Salisbury, NC

Barbara Pleasant has been writing magazine articles, newspaper columns, and books about gardening for more than 20 years. She is currently a contributing editor for Mother Earth News magazine, as well as The Herb Companion and Carolina Gardener. She has written a new book, The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual and is also the author of Garden Stone, winner of the Garden Writers Association's Garden Globe Award for outstanding writing. The event is sponsored by Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park. Contact Lana Bird at 704-638-4459 or lbird@salisburync.gov

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu