Plants, Art & Butterflies: Photos from Herbfest
Cary, NC — We were certainly due for some beautiful weather after all the rain this past week, and Saturday, May 2, 2015 was the perfect day for Herbfest at the Page-Walker. Read more
Cary, NC — We were certainly due for some beautiful weather after all the rain this past week, and Saturday, May 2, 2015 was the perfect day for Herbfest at the Page-Walker. Read more
Cary, NC — Mark your calendars now for Cary’s annual Herbfest on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Read more
Cary, NC — Herbfest, the Friends of Page-Walker Hotel’s 5th annual celebration of all things “garden” will spring to life on May 3, 2014 from 9am – 3:00pm at Page-Walker in Cary.
Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – The cool, damp weather that has settled on Cary this Spring continued for Herbfest 2013. But the chilly wind did not dampen spirits at Page-Walker for the most successful and interesting celebration of culinary gardening yet. Read more
Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – Next Saturday, May 4, 2013, the Friends of Page-Walker host their 4th annual Herbfest celebration. See the historic Page-Walker garden in full bloom, learn about local plants and herbs, sample foods, browse for gifts and garden items and much more.
The Friends have planned a pre-Herbfest reception for Friday, May 3, 2013 at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center (7:00 PM). The kickoff event stars local celebrity food and garden writers Debbie Moose and Carol Stein, co-authors of The (Raleigh) News & Observer’s monthly column, The Tasteful Garden.
Debbie and Carol will talk about how to cook what you grow and grow what you like to eat. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the writers at a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception and book signing following the program.
If you know the Tasteful Garden column, you know Debbie and Carol like to cook with vegetables and herbs they grow here in their Triangle garden.
Debbie is currently on a tour for her latest book, Buttermilk:A Savor The South Cookbook, published by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She did a book signing appearance recently at La Farm Bakery here in Cary and will visit Charleston, SC.
I asked Debbie what attendees can expect during the evening. “Carol and I tend not to plan too strongly. We have been writing the column for about 8 years together.” She adds, “Carol knows more about gardening and I know more about food trends.”
Debbie and Carol will bring food with them to be sampled at the event. Debbie is debating whether to choose deviled eggs from one cookbook or some potato salad featured in another. Whatever she brings, you be rest assured it will be fresh, using herbs she grows in containers. Like many suburbanites, Debbie’s garden has limited sunny patches suitable for a larger plot.
Growing some types of vegetables can be a challenge in the Piedmont with our acidic soil (thanks Pine trees!) and clay base. I asked Carol Stein “Can you grow a decent tomato here?” Carol said its a question she gets often.
“The answer is yes. But many tomato varieties are subject to soil borne diseases. Tomatoes prefer alkaline soils, with organic compost mixed in. In the garden, they require frequent weeding and for that reason I prefer to grow tomatoes in large containers. My favorite variety is Sun Gold grape tomatoes. They’re prolific, have the sweetest flavor ever, and easy to grow in larger containers.”
The two will no doubt get questions like that one and many others from eager Cary gardeners.
Carol’s 5 tips creating a successful garden:
Debbie mentioned they will talk about growing conditions here in the Piedmont – what plants like it here, but can also look good in your landscape, and what are edible. Maybe a recipe or two will be thrown in at the end, like they do in their weekly column.
The festival continues to grow, adding new vendors and additional food options each year. The date is always the first Saturday in May, falling conveniently before Mother’s Day allowing for purchases of last minute gifts for Mom (or Dad).
Festival-goers will have many opportunities to find out all they need to know about starting an herb garden by touring the Page Educational Garden, including a close-up look at the historic 1850’s Page smokehouse.
In addition, they will have a chance to watch herb cooking demonstrations and stroll through booths selling a wide variety of herbs, crafts and garden products.
The popular Suzanne Tilton, a.k.a. the Butterfly Lady returns to Herbfest this year as a crowd favorite. Her live butterfly releases are scheduled for 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
New to this year’s Herbfest is the Friends’ collaboration with the Cary Creative Center From 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, volunteers from the Center will provide reuse materials and guidance for children to make a fun garden craft. The Cary Creative Center is connecting people with the arts and environment to promote reuse as a way to achieve waste reduction in our community landfills.
Guests also won’t want to miss the silent auction for a chance to win herb and garden-related items, including a garden book and beautiful butterfly/herb photographs.
“We’re so pleased that Herbfest has become a community tradition that brings so many people to historic downtown Cary,” said Friends’ President, Brent Miller. “I know that folks won’t want to miss the special program with Debbie Moose and Carol
Stein on Friday evening, and of course the fantastic vendors, garden tours, children’s activities, food and fun on Saturday.”
Herbfest 2013
presented by the Friends of Page-Walker Hotel
Sat May 4, 2013
9am-3pm
rain or shine
Page- Walker Arts & History Center
119 Ambassador Loop
Cary, NC
Cost: Free
Activities throughout the day, booths with items for purchase.
Pre-festival event “The Tasteful Garden”
Friday May 3, 7:00pm
Authors Carol Stein and Debbie Moose will speak about gardening and cooking.
Attendees can meet the authors during a wine and cheese reception.
Tickets for the pre-festival evening program on May 3 are $20.00 each and can be purchased at the Cary Arts Center box office, online at eTix.com or by phone at 1-800-514-3849. A limited number of tickets are available to this event and a sellout is anticipated.
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The Gardening Column on CaryCitizen is sponsored by Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Rd. in Cary, NC.
Cary, NC- If you are a gardening enthusiast, or if you just like to smell the flowers, Herbfest’s third year has a little something for everyone, including a brush with fame. Read more
Story and pictures by Hal Goodtree.
Cary, NC – Just a few pictures from Herbfest in case you couldn’t make it or just wanted to relive the glory. Read more
Story by Lindsey Chester, photo by Marcia Hansen.
Cary, NC- Last year, the Friends of Page-Walker created a new festival in downtown Cary – Herbfest.
My daughter Emma and I attended and she was thrilled to take home a seedling that grew into a large basil plant. The festival is returning on the weekend of May 7 and has expanded to include live performances and demonstrations along with the herbs and gifts for sale.