Newport in Bloom Hosts Annual Gardening Seminar

Some towns depend on April showers to bring May flowers, but for the last 29 years, a Newport group passionate for gardening has not left beautification to chance.

Newport in Bloom, an all-volunteer organization, held their annual spring gardening seminar on Wednesday night at Fenner Hall.  

During their free public event, 115 gardening enthusiasts socialized and listened to presentations from the Ocean State Orchid Society and demonstrations on container gardening.

"Orchids have been around for millions of years,” P.J. Morim, of the Ocean State Orchid Society, told the audience. “You don’t have to be gentle with them.  That’s a myth. Just remember not to over water them," she advised. 

Joanne Merchant, who has volunteered since the organization was founded in 1982, said the seminar used to meet inthe Newport Library, but had to move once the group gained a larger following.

Miriam Byrne, a volunteer from the University of Rhode Island’s Master Gardener program was at the event to answer guestss gardening questions and offer free seeds.  “I live in the garden, I just sleep in the house,”  Byrne joked to another attendee.

Newport in Bloom’s mission is to beautify Newport through planting and displaying of flowers, while fostering a sense of community pride.  

“We try to encourage Newporters to garden the front of their yards and homes with window boxes, containers and in-ground gardens in order to help beautify not just our home, but our neighborhood and ultimately, our city," said Nikki Vazquez, Chair of Newport in Bloom.

The organization encourages neighborhood beautification through  the annual Newport in Bloom Garden Competition.

Gardens in four categories, residential, large business, small business and bed and breakfast, are judged on color, horticultural care and creativity. All plantings must be visible from the street. are accepted until July 29, 2011.  

The organization has around ten core volunteers and many others who contribute their time.

“Anyone who loves gardens, flowers or wants to beautify the community should get involved. You can do as much or little was you want,” said Patty Hayez, daughter of Joanne Merchant.   The organization encourages any level of gardener to participate.  

Each year, Newport in Bloom fundraises around $20,000 to fund the spring lecture, the well-known hanging baskets and annual garden awards ceremony.

“We love gardening, but we are also very civic minded,” says Charron Reed, a ten-year Newport in Bloom volunteer.

The Newport In Bloom plant sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. on the corner of Old Beach and Eustis Avenue.  

“We encourage any newcomers to get here early as local plant enthusiasts start lining up at 8:00 a.m. to get the best selection," Vazquez said.

For more information on:

Newport in Bloom

To become involved with Newport in Bloom call Joane Merchant at 401.847.8577
http://newportinbloom.org

Mail order form and contest entry to:
38 Whitwell Ave
Newport, RI 02840 

Ocean State Orchid Society

Orchid Auction
April 30th 10:00 AM
101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809
http://www.blithewold.org
401.253.2707

URI Master Gardeners
1.800.448.1011
http://www.urimga.org/

The public can call the URI Master Gardner Hotline with any garden related questions Monday - Thursday 9:00AM - 2:00PM.  They also free perform soil testing and have free seeds available.