Can it really be State Fair time? It’s gently raining and 63 degrees as I write this (my garden is loving it, though my tomatoes may never ripen!), but we are in full preparation mode for a full return to State Fair this year.

Come visit us in the Dirt Wing of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building (down by the Haunted House and the southern Skyride station) and enjoy:

• Membership – Renew or join and get a free, lime green tote bag and packet of parsley seeds from Seed Savers Exchange (plus all the usual amazing benefits of membership)
• Winter Sowing – See examples and learn how to plant seeds in milk jugs over the winter so they are hardy and ready to transplant in the spring.
• Photo Opp – Take a selfie that places you on the front of our Northern Gardener magazine, celebrating 150 years of supporting northern gardeners.
• Dirt Stage – Learn about a wide variety of gardening techniques and inspirations, including some presentations by MSHS staff. Schedule changes daily.
• Merchandise – We have some fun new shirts, socks, seeds, tools and many old favorites. Enjoy your 15% member discount, and look for the discount on gloves in the blue discount book.
• Free Tickets – Yes, we still have spots open for volunteers at our booth. Help out for a few hours then enjoy the fair the rest of the day.
• New Garden – Check out our new garden and gazebo, outside the northwest corner of the building. And of course our beautiful dahlia garden on the east side of the grandstand.

It’s always a good time to be part of the hort, but the State Fair is a special opportunity for us to come together to celebrate, learn and enjoy being a strong community of northern gardeners. Bring a friend and help us grow as we help them grow. See you there!

Rick Juliusson, the hort society’s executive director, has been driving education, international development and nonprofit consulting projects around the globe. He loves growing food and flowers, and even worked as a farmer for many years, selling peonies, garlic and meat grown on his 5-acre Vancouver Island property.

To learn more, join a webinar or workshop…

UPCOMING CLASSES