Gardening at the Fair
The 1995 Orange County Fair, which opens Friday and continues through July 23, is themed “Come to Our Garden Party” and will feature floral and landscape exhibits and competitions. The fair is open Monday through Wednesday, noon to midnight, and Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight. General admission, $6; ages 6 to 12, $2; ages 13 to 17, $5; age 55 and older, $4. (714) 708-3247.
Exhibits
* “Thunder Lagoon” is a 5,000-square-foot, computer-automated indoor jungle exhibit that simulates a tropical rain forest. It is filled with more than 1,200 plants and trees, a waterfall and lagoon; it’s in the Flower and Garden Building. Each storm lasts five to seven minutes, four shows per hour, accommodating up to 300 people per show.
* The Flower and Garden department will also feature various exhibits and competitions of floral and garden design by commercial florists and back-yard gardeners and landscapers. Featured exhibits will include a garden designed to attract birds, bees and butterflies.
Contests
* Home-grown herb contest. Bring a potted-herb plant to the Craft and Cook’s Gallery by 1 p.m. on July 9. Entries must be home-grown, with one or more varieties of herbs, but within one container not exceeding 24 inches. Include a small sign to identify the plant. One entry per participant. Open to all ages. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winning entries will be kept for display for the fair’s duration.
* Vegetable carving/sculpture contest. Open to adults and teens, 3 p.m., July 22 in the Crafts & Cook’s Gallery in the Home Arts building. Contestants may use their own tools. The fair will provide a paring knife and a miscellaneous vegetable. Contestants are allowed one hour to complete the sculpture.
Youth
* Floral arrangement contest. Ages 10 to 18 eligible. Bring floral arrangements on Thursday, July 13, between 10 a.m. and noon in the Youth Building. Categories: fresh flower arrangement; dried flower arrangement; arrangement using the theme “Horticulture and Goats.” Awards will be announced at 5 p.m. Divisions: 10 to 12 years old; 13 to 15; 16 to 18. Floral arrangements will admit the participant and parent or guardian to the fairgrounds free through the main gate on contest day. One entry per contestant. Best of show winners will be kept for display for the fair’s duration.
* Florist follies. At 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kid’s Park, on Administration Lawn. Contestants will compete on how fast they create a floral arrangement. Preregister half an hour before contest begins.
Lectures, Demonstrations
Lectures and demonstration are held at the Craft and Cooks’ Gallery in the Home Arts and Crafts building.
* Patio garden lecture. Carey B. Orwig will speak on “How to Plant a Patio Garden,” 1 p.m. on Friday; “Gardening Tips,” 3:30 on July 9, and “Tips for the Gardener,” 1 p.m. on July 11.
* Garden gifts. Kate Challingsworth of the Embroidery Guild’s Orange County chapter will speak on “A Garden on Canvas,” 6 p.m. on Friday; “Welcome to our Garden,” 1 p.m. July 8; “Gifts for the Gardener,” 6 p.m. July 9, and “In the Garden,” 3:30 p.m. July 11.
* Herbal bouquet demonstration. Laurie Ennen will demonstrate how to make “Tussie-Mussie Herbal Bouquets,” 6 p.m. on July 11.
* Orchid lecture. Vinciana Pasierb will speak on “Dividing, Potting and Caring for Orchids,” 6 p.m., July 12 and 18.
