National Public Gardens Day

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – As spring weather improves, it beckons all the green-thumbs to plant more colors into their environment.  

Muskingum Valley Park District Executive Director Russell Edgington discussed National Public Gardens Day and shared how it plays a role in supporting the area’s public park system.

“So National Public Gardens Day, we celebrate it this year on May 8th, and it’s generally right around Mothers Day weekend. And National Public Gardens Day, here at Mission Oaks Gardens is when we see the return of the fairies to the fairy garden. So that’s one of the aspects of the one day event. That’s May 8th, from 10 to 2,” Edgington said.

The event serves as a major fundraiser for the park district with vendors on hand present to offer gardening related items. But the nonprofit will also be selling a variety of native flowers and plants that have been nurtured on site, in their own greenhouse, to help support their day to day operations.  

“No pre-orders, it’s first come first served and it’s just you know rain or shine. It’s a great event to come out and get a piece of the park basically. And that’s not literal. We don’t go out and dig them up but we do… we do grow them here. And we’re encouraging people to use natives in their home gardens because they’re beneficial to the native wildlife,” Edgington said.

Mission Oaks Gardens is located off of Euclid Avenue and has limited parking. The park district asks attendees that must park along the street to be mindful of the neighbors and not block their driveways.