The Master Gardeners of Adams County will have their annual plant sale and education seminars Saturday at the Natchez Farmers’ Market, located at 199 St. Catherine St. The Alcorn State University Extension Program operates the market as an outlet for local farmers and producers to sell their goods to the public. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Master Gardeners have been busy propagating and potting a wide variety of popular garden plants for the public to purchase. Many will be favorite perennials and bulbs, which stay around for many years, but go dormant in the winter months. There will be a selection of roses and small shrubs as well as some annual plants and herbs. Our aim is to make gardening fun and to offer the public a chance to purchase plants that have been shown to be the toughest survivors in our humid South. Plan to come early for the best selection!

The workshops begin at 9:30 with a presentation by Master Gardener Kay Browning. Kay will fascinate the audience with her knowledge of “The Unsung Heroes of the Garden.”

For example, bats are not to be feared, but should be sought after for the benefits they offer in the garden. She will provide plans for building bat houses.

At 10 a.m., Emily Winners will present “Bluebirds on the Bayou.” She will have a DVD showing the nesting cycle of bluebirds, including nest building, egg laying, hatching and feeding of the babies by the parents. This was filmed with a camera in the bluebird box in her yard in Lacompte, La. Bluebird boxes will be on sale.

At 11 a.m., Carol Funchess, from Magnolia, and often referred to as “The Butterfly Lady,” will explain the ways of attracting butterflies to your garden.

Carol has been studying butterflies and their habitats for seven years and will certainly peak the local gardener’s interest in having butterflies in the garden. The Master Gardeners will also have butterfly attracting plants for sale.

At noon, Rilondricks Beeman, from the Alcorn State Extension Program, will give a presentation on “Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Containers.” He will offer advice on plants, soil and types of containers that can be used by the home gardener.

The Farmers’ Market is a community gathering place that will have locally grown strawberries, homemade tamales, and freshly baked breads, cakes and pies that day.

Come and support your local Farmers’ Market and the Master Gardeners. The dollars raised by the plant sale are used to fund community projects.

The purpose of the Adams County Master Gardeners is education, service to the community, and the promotion of responsible horticultural practices. We hope to see you on Saturday. Happy gardening!

Elaine Gemmell is an Adams County Master Gardener.