Spring is in the air, which means it is time for Springfest in the UGA Research and Education Garden. The free event returns this year on Sunday, May 1 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It is open to the public and everyone is invited to come enjoy the afternoon learning about nature.
For the event, several UGA Griffin departments and local clubs will be offering information as well as hands-on activities. The Flint River Gourders will be creating colorful, dipped gourds for attendees to take home at their booth, while the Flint River Astronomy Club will have a scale solar system for viewing and offering tips on using a telescope to view the stars and planets.
Also in attendance will be UGA Extension Consumer Horticulturist Bob Westerfield, who will be demonstrating how to make a container vegetable garden. Bodie Pennisi, a professor in the Horticulture Department, will be discussing plant physiology and offering some hands-on activities and the Flint River Iris Society will be on hand discussing Griffin’s official flower.
If bugs are more your thing, then make sure to check out Bethany Harris’s booth to learn about the importance of bees and insects for flowers and gardens. Then make a stop with the Entomology grad students who will be discussing their latest research and answering your questions about all things creepy crawly.
Finally, visitors will have a chance to see and touch some of the large farm equipment used by our Field Research Services department as well as a firetruck from Griffin Fire Rescue.
The UGA Research and Education Garden is located at 129 W. Ellis Road in Griffin.