Who would have thought that three avid gardeners would start one of the most successful festivals in Nelson?
But that’s exactly what happened when Glyn Violini, Lorelie Roll and businesswoman Catherine Cardinal set their plants out on a few tables on Hall Street in 2002 and invited other growers to join in. This colourful and lively event draws hundreds of gardeners, from all walks of life, for a five hour shopping spree, rain or shine.
The 13th annual Nelson Garden Festival is set to run on Saturday. The West Kootenay EcoSociety has taken the Garden Festival under its wings, and markets director Jesse R. Woodward is excited to take on the challenge. “When the Garden Festival organizers came to me and asked if I would take on the management of this market I felt like it was a perfect fit due to all of the other market organization that I already do.”
More than 50 vendors and community groups will be on hand with perennials, annuals, vegetable starts, trees, furniture, flowers — just about everything a gardener needs to get started or add to an already great endeavor.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The streets will be closed on the 200 block of Baker and Kootenay Streets, in front of the Bank of Montreal, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.