Native Plants and Hypertufa coming to the Halifax Farmers Market

The Southside Master Gardeners will hold a make and take hypertufa workshop at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13th from 8 to 11 a.m. Cost for the workshop is $6 to cover all the supplies and materials needed but it can get messy so old clothes are suggested. CourtHouse Plants will have a display selling an assortment of native plants.

Amsonia is an early blooming native plant, good for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. Join the Master Gardeners at the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13 from 8 to 11 to make and take your own hypertufa container. Cost is $6 to cover supplies and materials. While there, purchase some native plants to have your garden blooming all summer. Hypertufa is the art of mixing Portland cement, sphagnum peat moss, perlite and water to make stone-like garden pots. The mixture can be made into many different shapes depending on what is used for molds. Boxes, bowls, baskets and old flowerpots can be used. Hypertufa pots have the appearance of an alpine trough, but are much lighter and easier to handle. They can add a natural, organic look to your landscape. Unlike clay pots, hypertufa does not crack if left outside over the winter. Sedums and Hens and Chicks are good plants for the containers and winter hardy. Jason Weaver said he started his Courthouse Plants business from his love of birds. He thought about what do birds need to thrive and the answer is insects. What brings in insects – native plants. Native plants are simply defined as plants that were here when the colonists came. Unlike non-native plants, especially invasive aliens, native plants perform ecosystem services to wildlife. A real plus about natives is that they are perfectly suited to our clay soils and our hot summers. They don’t want to be fertilized and don’t need irrigation. But they are beautiful additions to our gardens. Hypertufa is fun to make and easy enough for kids to participate. Bring out the family to the Halifax Farmers Market on July 13th and have fun making your own hypertufa container. As always, the freshest local produce and homegrown and homemade items will be available for sale. Visit the indoor market for a variety of special crafts, homemade soaps and lotions and collectibles. Stop by the Courthouse Plant display to purchase a native plant or two for your garden. What a great opportunity to support your friends and neighbors and feed your family the best food available. See you there!