The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Bulb Festival will showcase Hollandia Botanical Gardens

Dayton gets boost from committee for UAV testing
11:48 p.m.
Patrol searches Springfield dealership for stolen cards
11:43 p.m.
Police headlines: Two accused of child endangering
11:41 p.m.
Ad calls Brown career politician
11:39 p.m.
Local Focus: Clark County for May 25
11:27 p.m.
> More headlines

Bill Lackey/The perennial flowers have started to bloom in the Hollandia Botanical Garden in preparation for the garden's upcoming Bulb Festival.

By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 7:26 AM Thursday, April 1, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — While the vision for Hollandia Botanical Gardens is still in bloom, the community will soon get a sneak peak of what it could grow into in coming years.

The planned public community garden will hold its fourth annual Bulb Festival April 17 and 18 at the Hollandia garden site, located on the bike path between Water Street and Sherman Avenue. The event will showcase what the group behind Hollandia hopes it will become — a community garden playing host to a variety of events, said Paul Parlato, executive director.

“I would say it’s an example of the kind of thing that the actual garden will do,” he said.

This year’s festival features something for everyone, from kids to novice gardeners to serious horticulturists, said Brian Kampman, president of Hollandia Botanical Gardens.

Several of the bulbs — particularly daffodils and hyacinths, with the tulips and alliums still sprouting — planted over the last four years at the 11 acre site are already blooming for the festival, right on schedule he said.

“I believe a garden should be in bloom from the time the snow has melted off until it starts falling again,” he said.

There will be bulb and plant sales at the event and vendors ranging from garden accessories to day spas, as well as food vendors like Rudy’s Smokehouse, HGB’s Dogs and Brats station and the tea and dessert shop.

There will also be performances and presentations throughout the day including Springfield Youth Symphony ensembles and Dr. Ski Shanher of the Heritage Center who will speak on the subject of “Springfield, City of Roses.”

New to the event this year is a vintage car show which will highlight the space’s ability to serve as the host of various community events. The Shawnee Auto Club will provide the show with vehicles including a 1938 Studebaker, Model A and Model T cars.

Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 18. The event is free.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or mgildow@coxohio.com.

Share this article