Though winter is on its way, one LSU group looks to provide a little extra greenery for Baton Rouge gardens.
The university held its 32nd annual PlantFest on Saturday and Sunday at the Hilltop Arboretum.
The Hilltop Arboretum was opened in 1981 by Mr. and Mrs. Emory Smith as a way to raise funds to continue plant growth in Louisiana and bring people and plants together, said Hilltop director Peggy Coates.
The annual event, which began in 1983, takes place each fall and features the sale of hundreds of different varieties of plants.
This year’s PlantFest honored the 240th anniversary of naturalist William Bartram’s visit to Louisiana in 1775. Native plants, such as red buckeye, river birch and silver bell, were present to fulfill the theme.
Plants were imported from Mississippi, Alabama and Texas to diversify the available selection. Over 5,000 plants and 600 species were offered, Coates said.
“It is a great way to promote planting in the community,” Coates said. “PlantFest has grown larger every year that we’ve held it. It is incredible to see.”
The LSU chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a student group that works to increase the public’s awareness of professional landscape architecture, recruits PlantFest volunteers.
However, The event is organized by Hodge Podge Volunteers, Coates said. Hodge Podge Volunteers is a group consisting of a variety of volunteers who work in the nursery year round.
“They work in the nursery all year and grow the plants,” Coates said. “They organize the sale and distribution of plants. They make PlantFest the success that it is.”
The event draws customers from all parts of Baton Rouge interested in furnishing their gardens.
“We are always so excited when PlantFest happens,” Baton Rouge resident Casey Broussard said. “We always buy a variety of plants that we plant in our garden at home. It’s just a great atmosphere over here.”
Along with the plants, vendors also sold cookbooks, wooden swings, concessions and much more. More than 100 volunteers helped out over the two-day period, Coates said.
“I found out about this last year,” Baton Rouge resident Mark Borne said. “My garden is my leisure activity. After a long day of work, I can come home and go pull weeds and just relax. I couldn’t wait for it to happen again this year.”