More than 400 visitors and volunteers were in attendance for the Sussex Master Gardeners Open House, held July 13 at the Carvel Research Center in Georgetown. The event featured a plant sale, workshops, and a puppet show with Farmer McGregor. Pollinators were abundant as were photographers capturing the beauty of the garden.
Master Gardener Barbara Shuster of Lewes tended the popular plant sale. MICHELE WALFRED PHOTOS
Delightful to watch, clearwing butterfly moths rolled out their proboscis and enjoyed the multi-colored and multi-flavored nectar offered by the garden.
Each year, the Master Gardeners create a new scarecrow. 2019’s version was out of this world! Meet Verde Alienus doing his best scary work in the vegetable garden.
A rural mailbox converted to a bee hotel looks beautiful among the pollinator garden and sends a welcoming message to beneficial masonary bees.
More than 400 people attended the open house and plant sale.
Photographers were in heaven.
Nancy Sakaduski found plenty of plants to take home to her Lewes garden.
A Black Swallowtail gets ready to land on Jeanna, a native garden phlox.
Master Gardener Jane Casazza of Lewes showed attendees the various types of container gardens and shared tips for growing flowers and vegetables in containers.
Each year, Master Gardeners select a theme for the patio garden. A vibrant Hispanic motif was complemented with colorful Mexican pottery and traditional fiesta colors.
Donovan and Callan McCartney enjoy “The Adventures of Peter Rabbit in Farmer McGregor’s Garden” a puppet show emphasizing the value of fruits, vegetables, and beneficial insects.
Master Gardener Brent Marsh, as Farmer McGregor, delighted children as he looked for Peter Rabbit. The puppet show celebrated its 10th anniversary entertaining children at the Open House. Since 2009, the production has reached more than 13,000 children in Delaware and has been adopted in Maryland, Texas, and Idaho.
Patti Deptula and her niece Emma Burns, Georgetown with Brent Marsh as Farmer McGregor.
Stealing the show at the open house were abundant butterflies. The Delaware state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, was plentiful and particularly attracted to Native Garden Phlox paniculata Jeanna.
Stealing the show at the open house were abundant butterflies. The Delaware state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, was plentiful and particularly attracted to Native Garden Phlox paniculata Jeanna.
Throughout this year’s garden design, touches of whimsy could be found.
Each year, Master Gardeners select a theme for the patio garden. A vibrant Hispanic motif was complimented with colorful Mexican pottery and traditional fiesta colors.
Even birdhouses have gardens! This birdhouse boasts a sedum roof and a back yard of portulaca.
An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail lands on garden phlox.
A butterfly proves the sign correct.
Butterflies must read the Cape Gazette because they knew where to be. The native garden phlox Jeanna attracted this Monarch butterfly, one of many hovering around the aptly named butterfly garden.
A succulent explodes out of a hanging planter.
A vibrant Hispanic motif is a fiesta of colors.
The pollinators were pleased, attending in droves for the open house. Here an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail lands on garden phlox while bees travel to and from in the background.
A monarch feasts on garden pholx.
Layers of color and greenery cohabit in the gardens.
Stealing the show at the open house were abundant butterflies. The Delaware state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, was plentiful and particularly attracted to Native Garden Phlox paniculata Jeanna.
