The Round Barn on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds will be the site for a special program, "Plymouth County Garden Fare" on Wednesday, July 25, the first day of the Plymouth County Fair.

The Floyd Valley Federated Garden Club in cooperation with the Kingsley Home and Federated Garden Club, the Plymouth County Fair Flower Gardens Committee, and the Plymouth County Extension and Master Gardeners have prepared a fun and educational day of garden activities for fairgoers and gardening enthusiasts.

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Doors to the lower level of the Round Barn in the fairgrounds open at 8 a.m. with the Garden Fare display. Those attending may browse through the educational displays on areas of horticulture, floral design, landscape design conservation and civic beauty. Attendees will be asked to place a vote for the People's Choice award.

The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Plymouth Rock Garden Center in Le Mars.

All residents and clubs of Plymouth County and/or residents of the Federated Garden Club are encouraged to submit a tri-fold display board (24" wide x 36' high x 9" deep) for this event. Displays will be received at the Round Barn on Tuesday, July 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. and released on Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. Contact a member of Floyd Valley Federated Garden Club for more details.

Several programs and activities will be offered throughout the day. They include:

Garden Walk

Join the Plymouth County Fair Flower Garden Committee on a walk through the flower beds on the fairgrounds. The walk begins at the Round Barn, lower level at 8:30 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m.

Basics of Floral Design

At 10 a.m., Darla Rock will show the basics of floral design using plant material from her own garden. Rock learned floral design with the Kingsley Home and Federated Garden Club where she has been a member for more than 15 years. She has been active with the Garden Club in presenting educational material to the schools in the Kingsley area. Her presentation will be of interest to both youth and adults.

Monarch Butterflies

Learn how to attract Monarch butterflies to your own back yard. This is a show-and-tell presentation on the remarkable transformation known as the metamorphosis of the Monarch butterfly. View the eggs of the butterfly. Hear about the amazing appetite of the newly hatched caterpillar. See the chrysalis -- and if you're really lucky, watch the butterfly emerge.

Marian McNabb, National Garden Clubs Central Region Threatened and Endangered Species Chairman and Master Gardener from Linn Grove, will show some slides on her trip to Mexico following the Monarch butterfly migration. This program will begin in the Round Barn lower level at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Life in the Loess HIlls

Explore the native plants and animals of the Loess Hills with Plymouth County Naturalist Victoria Shamblen at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. in the Round Barn lower level. This will be a great presentation for people of all ages to attend. Check out plants and animals that currently or previously called the hills home.

Gardening In Our Zone

Dr. CIndy Haynes comes to Plymouth County to share information on plants. On July 1, Haynes, associate professor of horticulture and extension consumer horticulturist, assumed leadership for Iowa's Master Gardener program in a transition from Dr. Donald Lewis.

Haynes will be in the Round Barn at 1:30 p.m. to show examples of the "tried and true" plants for this area as well as a few that tolerate difficult sites.

She will present a PowerPointŪ program on the hardiness and heat zones maps and how to use these maps for selecting garden plants for our gardens and will also talk about other site specifics that are important in plant selection. Haynes will tell about the resources available through the local county extension office and on campus at ISU.

Don't forget to enter the Open Class Horticulture, Food and Preservation Exhibit in the Round Barn at the Plymouth County Fair.

This show is open to all Plymouth County residents and/or members of the Federated Garden Clubs. See the fair board for general rules and entry information.

Entries for the open class will be received in the Round Barn lower level on Wednesday, July 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, July 26, from 7 to 10:30 a.m. It is recommended that baked goods be entered Thursday morning.