By Leia Jobe/reporter2@trcle.com
A winter storm of ice and snow days before the fifth annual Johnson County Master Gardener Association Lawn and Garden Show may have put organizers and vendors into a frenzy, but Saturday’s show — and its clear weather — came off without a hitch.
“It’s going wonderfully,” organizer and Master Gardener Vicki Gilpin said a little past noon. “We’ve had lots of people, the weather’s perfect, and the vendors are happy. It’s been a good steady flow of traffic. Everyone’s enjoying themselves. It’s just been spectacular.”
It will take almost a week for volunteers and organizers to count the hundreds of names from vendor lists and door-prize sign-in sheets to determine how many people attended, but parking lots at the Cleburne Civic Center and Senior Center were packed, and hallways were crowded as visitors walked around between shows, events and vendors.
The biggest change from last year to this year’s show, Gilpin said, was the addition of a new speaker in Texas A&M; University’s Dr. William C. Welch. Welch, the author of several books about gardening, spoke Saturday morning to about 70 people in a full room in the civic center. His program took listeners on a tour of gardens around the world, from Maryland and Meridian to Louisiana and the United Kingdom. Audience members were rapt with attention as Welch showed pictures of red cascade roses, peonies, camellias, wisteria, azaleas, Easter lilies, tulips, crinum, calla lilies and more from gardens around the world.
The thornless red cascade rose was, by far, the audience’s favorite flower, eliciting a series of oohs and ahhs from the crowd.
After his program on gardens, Welch gave away copies of his books as a door prize and signed autographs for audience members.
“It looks like we had a pretty good turnout,” Welch said. “I came to the show a few years ago, and it’s good to be back. My favorite part is getting to share my experiences with other gardeners who are learning about heirloom plants.”
About 70 vendors and a dozen speakers joined Welch and Master Gardeners at the event.
All seemed to have a good time.
Other than one lost purse that was never recovered, Gilpin said, the show ran smoothly.
Kids and dogs frolicked around displays of lawn furniture, garden accessories, tomato plants and gardening books.
“We enjoy coming up here,” said vendor Hulon Pass, who came from China Spring for the second year to sell tin stars.
Michael and Bobbie Williams drove from Mansfield to attend.
“We’re having a great time,” Michael Williams said. “We’ll definitely be back next year.”
Bill Allen, who lives between Alvarado and Keene, came to the show with his nephew, a vendor of patio and lawn furniture, after hearing about it on a radio show.
“We just enjoy the devil out of it,” Allen said.
