Garden experts sow seeds of experience at community event

BY CHRIS COATS

The seed was planted more than a month ago for NeighborsGrow. It sprouted and came into full bloom on July 18 as more than 130 eager gardeners filled the Texas AgriLife Pavilion in Far North Dallas for the first of what will become an annual event.

Everyone from seasoned pros to weekend gardeners came from all over Dallas, Richardson, Plano and even Celina.

“We wanted to come and meet other gardeners and share with one another,” said Tiah Lambert of Gardeners in Community Development of Dallas.

Keynote speaker Dotty Woodson, Texas A&M Extension Program Specialist-Water Resources, discussed “Making the Most of Heat in VegetableGardens.” She was available afterward to answer questions from gardeners on everything from pest control to fungus.

The crowd was also privy to other experts on hand like Fouad Jaber and Rosemary Thomas, who oversee the A&MEducationCommunityGardens.

“It’s good to know that so many people are interested in gardening in the urban areas,” Jaber said. “It’s an incentive to keep providing education to the public with events during the year.”

Between speakers, attendees browsed information booths from organizations like the PlanoCommunityGarden, North and Central Texas Unit of the Herb Society of America, the LakeHighlandsCommunityGarden and others. Gardeners in Community Development harvested seeds on-site for giveaways, along with plants.

NeighborsGrow sponsor, Shades of Green nursery in Frisco provided more than 12 plants and 500 packages of seeds for giveaways.

A highlight and finale of the event was the seed exchange, where gardeners swapped or were gifted plants from fellow gardeners.

Jessica Stewart of Richardson was one of the last gardeners to leave the event.

“I’m just tickled to be here and be a part of it all,” she said. “Everyone left excited and wanting to go out there and start gardening.”

Chris Coats is a neighborsgo community columnist.