By Mark Ambrogi
As Monica Taylor was going through her classes to become an intern with the Hamilton County Master Gardener Association, she and couple of other women were issued a challenge.
“Someone challenged us said you can’t grow roses in Hamilton County,” Taylor said. “We said ‘we’ve always grown roses. I don’t see why you couldn’t grow roses.’ That’s how the Rose Garden came about.”
The Educational Rose Garden, on the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville, went in April 26, 2014 and wasn’t ready for prime display last year.
“Last year the roses were babies,” Taylor said.
Taylor, a Noblesville resident, is hoping to draw attention to 4-H gardens by holding a Tea in the Rose Garden from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 18 during the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, which ruins from July 16-21. The Rose Garden, which is at open to the public at all times, contains 104 roses that were planted by more than 60 volunteers. The educational labeling is provided for each rose.
The HCMGA takes care of many public gardens on the 4-H Fairgrounds. Native plants, vegetables and herbs all are on display in beds. HCMGA representatives for each garden will be available between 10 a.m. to noon to answer questions and share information about the plants.
“We’re hoping to do this again next year if it’s a success and maybe even expanding on it,” said Taylor, who has been with the HCMGA since 2012.
Food and craft shows
The Hamilton County Extension Homemakers are sponsoring an open Food & Craft shows. The show starts at 2 p.m. on July 18 and noon on July 19.
Bernie Huber, from the Purdue Extension Hamilton County, has been working with the event for the past five years
“There are different food categories with breads, pies, cakes, candies and food preservation,” Huber said.
Huber said there are usually multiple crafts, including needlepoint, wood working, scrapbook.
“We have multiple categories but we don’t know what people will bring in,” Huber said.
Huber said the food and crafter exhibitors have to be 18 years and older.
“You have to be a Hamilton County resident or one of the extension homemakers, a few of them do live over the line somewhere,” Huber said.
Photography is one of the popular categories, Huber said.
“We have paintings and there is sewing and quilts and jewelry,” Huber said.
Entries are submitted for closed judging July 18 and will be on display July 18-19.
The first two days (July 16-17) of the fair is a flower show, primarily flower arrangements. The flower show theme is nursery school rhymes.
“They might have a theme like ‘I’m a little teapot’ and ‘Mary, how does your garden grow,’” Huber said. “Then ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ is just a flower arrangement only four or five inches tall.”
Blood Center drive
Fairgoers can donate blood at the fair from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July 16 or July 17 at the Indiana Blood Center’s Mobile Unit, which will be north of the Swine Barn. The donors will receive a voucher for a free milkshake courtesy of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau along with a ticket to upgrade a meal in the Hamilton County Procedures Tent to use any time during this 4-H Fair, along with a free Indiana State Fair ticket provided but the Indiana Blood Center.
Ice cream contest
The Homemade Ice Cream Contest will be at 6:30 p.m on July 18 at the east side of the show arena. The contest, which is open to all Hamilton County residents, will consists of teams (2-4 people). The teams have 40 minutes to produce their favorite ice cream recipe. There will be prizes in youth and adult categories.
Participants using recipes with eggs must use cooked eggs, egg substitutes or powered eggs or recipes without eggs. Teams must register in the 4-H office by10 a.m. on July 17. There are electric and hand crank divisions with youth and adult groups.
Other events
- The Color Me Green Fun Run is a mile run at the 4-H Fairgrounds at 11:30 a.m. on July 20. Runners will be showered with green colored powder at various stations of the run. The cost is $10. All the proceeds from the run will go to the Purdue Extension Education Fund.
- The Pet Parade is annual free event at 6 p.m. on July 19. “It’s a really huge, fun event for youngsters who are not involved in 4-H yet to come and bring their pet,” said Maggie Herrington, office manager from the Purdue Extension Hamilton County.
- The Youth Talent Contest is set for July 20, with the junior division starting at 2 p.m. and the senior division at 4:30 p.m. “It’s a state sanctioned event and the winners go on to compete at the state fair,” Herrington said.
The Hamilton Co. 4H fair runs from July 16-21
For more information or to register for 4-H events, visit extension.purdue.edu/Hamilton.
