Sowing circle: Free seeds available Saturday
Fredericton Botanic Garden Association event aimed at growing interest in gardening
With the spring thaw taking root, those keen to renew the green sheen on their thumbs can avail themselves of free seeds in an annual Fredericton event this weekend.
The Fredericton Botanic Garden Association is hosting an annual promotional event this weekend. Steve’s Seedy Saturday is set to take place at the garden’s resource centre at 10 Cameron Ct. from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, the organization said in a news release this week.
Thousands of seeds - for annual, biannual and perennial plants - will be given away, and the event is open to the public.
The spotlight this year will be on seeds that are suited for planting in rock and crevice gardens, it said.
“Seedy Saturday events are held across Canada to encourage people to try their hand at gardening, whether it be flowers or vegetables,” the release said.
The event is possible due in no small part to the efforts of organizer Steve Stehouwer, who harvests many of the seeds himself along with a network of fellow seed collectors, it said.
“Several local retailers have also provided seeds and other items to be given away,” the release said.
“In addition to the free seeds, Stehouwer will be giving away numerous gardening related door prizes, including chickadee nesting boxes, T-shirts, gardening gloves and gift cards.”
There’s more than free seeds and other swag available at the event, the association said. There’s also a wealth of knowledge that gardeners can tap.
Experienced and novice gardeners can speak with experts at the event to help guide them ahead of the spring planting season, the release said.
Admission to Steve’s Seedy Saturday is $5 per person or family, and members of the Fredericton Botanic Garden can access the event early.
The garden is open year-round from dawn to dusk every day free of charge. Numerous trails run throughout the property at the western edge of Odell Park on Fredericton’s south side.
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.