In the garden

Wildflowers and words

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." This is especially true for Peter Loewer, aka The Wild Gardener. He will make two presentations at local libraries this spring, with a special focus on native plants and wildflowers.

This Asheville-based garden expert has written more than 30 books on plants and natural history, including The Wild Gardener and Thoreau's Garden. He lives his philosophy on an acre of land near Lake Kenilworth, where he cares for everything from a formal perennial garden to natural trails.

Loewer will speak at the Swannanoa Library on Thursday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m., and at the Canton Library on Tuesday, May 28, at 5 p.m. Color slides will accompany his presentations, which will highlight the native wildflowers that grace Western North Carolina. Both presentations are free. For the Swannanoa talk, call 648-2924. Canton talk: 648-2924. http://www.thewildgardener.com.

Celebrate spring, finally

Local farmers have been hard at work during this chilly spring, and now that tailgate markets are in full swing, they’re are ready to share their bounty. The Oakley Farmers Market will extol the season at its Spring Fling on Thursday, May 23, from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Baby goats from Gladheart Farm will great guests for an afternoon of live music, puppet shows, a flower-planting activity for kids and all the fresh produce you can carry. Berries, veggies, eggs, meats and cheeses are just a few of products that will be for sale behind Oakley United Methodist Church, 607 Fairview Road.

For more info on this free event, go to http://oakleyfarmersmarket.wordpress.com. See Xpress’ new and improved tailgate calendar in the Garden section for our region's market locations and hours.

An old-fashioned garden jubilee

A set of china is the traditional present for a 20th anniversary, but a gift of porcelain is not required to attend the Garden Jubilee Festival. This Hendersonville ritual will feature more than 1,000 perennials, vegetables, herbs and hard-to-find plants throughout the city's downtown.

On Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sixth Avenue through Caswell Street will overflow with vendors selling everything from flowers to garden ornaments. Southern Living Magazine’s landscape and garden specialist Bill Slack will return to the festival for presentations on container gardening, beautiful backyards and "laid-back landscaping." Free one-on-one advice, a hands-on clinic and activities for kids are just a few of the attractions that make this one of the largest garden events in the region.

Organizers have a few friendly reminders to help the festival go smoothly: Bring a wagon or cart to transport your plants, although hospitality tent volunteers will be happy to keep your plants safe while you shop. And don't forget: Hendersonville City ordinance prohibits animals at festivals, so leave your pets comfortably at home. Free. http://www.historichendersonville.org.