Spring is Here

Snipes Farm and Nursery in Morrisville, Pa., holds a Garden Party March 23-24.

By: Jodi Thompson
   Daffodils and forsythia blooms and warm spring breezes put many people in the mood to dig in the earth. The result for those unlucky souls born without a green thumb can be a garden that looks like the victim of the war between Bill Murray and that cute gopher on Caddyshack.
   The Do-It-Yourself Weekend of the Garden Party at Snipes Farm and Nursery in Morrisville is here to save the day, or at the very least your lawn. Gardeners — talented and otherwise — can participate in seminars and learn the basics of caring for grass, roses, perennials and more March 23-24.

Right now our customers are champing at the bit," says Hannah Hogan, Snipes Farm and Nursery president, "waiting for somebody to say winter’s over."

   "Right now our customers are champing at the bit," says Hannah Hogan, Snipes Farm and Nursery president, "waiting to get out there, waiting for somebody to say winter’s over. It’s done. Let’s go. It’s going to be nice. We can’t quite do that yet."
   Instead of empty promises, Snipes can offer a taste of spring within the warmth of its massive greenhouses. When the weather is still changeable, the Garden Party brings a taste of spring.
   "Picture color and fragrance and bloom," Ms. Hogan says as she waves expansively to indicate the amount of greenery that will cover every spare inch of the place. As she speaks, seven tractor-trailer loads of plant material wait to be unloaded and arranged to usher in the vernal season.
   Spring bulbs, blooming shrubs and trees will transform Snipes into "a mini flower show. It’s our kick-start for spring," says Ms. Hogan. "It gets us ready, our staff in the mood."
   The Do-It-Yourself Weekend of the Garden Party is especially intended to provide hands-on experiences.
   "It’s how to prune, how to mulch," she says. "If you want to borrow the pruners and try pruning yourself, that’s fine. How to clean the filter on your water garden, that kind of thing. Little gardening chores, that once you know how to do them, they’re nothing to be afraid of, but until you’ve done it or someone’s shown you, it’s a lot."
   Snipes will offer six seminars each day, covering such diverse topics as combating problems in your garden, the joys of mulch, native plants that attract wildlife and the procedures for re-potting houseplants.
   "There’s a new one we’re doing this year that we’re all excited about and that’s limited to 50 (people)," Ms. Hogan says. "It’s an herb recipe contest. The staff will make the herb recipes and 50 people who get into the seminar will do the taste testing and judging. We give out restaurant gift certificates to the staff who win. We’re looking forward to that."
   Her staff gets into the Garden Party in a big way. The planNing begins a full year in advance. A week before the event, work has already begun. An old peach tree has been recycled to hold delicate houseplants and trailing moss. The Orchid Tree is a touch of whimsy in an otherwise practical display of ideas gardeners could replicate in their own backyards.
   In addition to inspiration, a lot of information is disseminated during the Garden Party. Ms. Hogan says numerous brochures and pamphlets are available. Her office just completed new rose, lilac and hydrangea guides.
   "It’s really a way to get information to gardeners, to help them with their planning," Ms. Hogan says. "And it’s fun. More than anything, it’s fun. There’s a lot of room for questions and answers at the end of everything."
   Although the seminars are intended for adults, children have not been totally forgotten. Snipes’ barnyard animals, as well as the wooden maze, are always popular stops for youngsters. Snipes sponsors an Easter Egg Hunt March 23-24 and 29-30. Children up to age 10 get an Easter basket, 12 eggs filled with candy or prizes, a hayride and a photograph with the Easter Bunny.
   The Garden Party is now in its eighth year and approximately 1,000 people visit each day during the popular event. There are sales during the celebration, too. The ones that regular customers wait for are the annual free tree planting and free mulch, soil or stone delivery.
   As if there wasn’t enough to take in, The Slot Canyons, an exhibition of photographs by Inge Snipes, will be on display in the Garden Center. Ms. Snipes’ Amazon Lily and Other Water Lilies collection of photographs will be available for view in the conference room between seminar sessions.
   "Mentally, we’re saying spring is here," Ms. Hogan says. "It’s to see and breathe spring."
Garden Party Do-It-Yourself Weekend at Snipes Farm and Nursery, 890 W. Bridge St., Morrisville, runs March 23-24. Garden Party admission, seminars and parking are free. Easter Egg Hunt March 23-24 and March 29-30. Children 5 and under at 11 a.m., 10 and under at 12:30 and 2 p.m. The hunt costs $7.50 per child. Extra photos available at $1.50 each. Photograph with Easter Bunny $3. Registration required for seminars and Easter Egg Hunt. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For information or to register, call (215) 295-1138.