Hill Country Master Gardeners welcome spring with Blooms & Barrels, their annual plant and rain barrel sale.

“We’ll have plants and rain barrels for sale, but we have also lined up a number of educational presentations and exhibits for Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Highway 27, Kerrville,” said Sandy Lewis, greenhouse chairman.

Those attending the sale can learn about tomatoes and herbs at 10 am; Hill Country vegetable growing and proper plant placement at 11 am; composting and rainwater harvesting at 12 pm; and beekeeping and vegetable basics at 1pm.

Exhibitors include Hill Country Master Naturalists, Glory Community Garden, Kerr County Cactus and Succulent Society, The Gardens at the Ridge, Native Plant Society of Texas, Kerr County Soil and Water Conservation District, Riverside Nature Center, Upper Guadalupe River Authority, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

A special children’s activity is designed to involve kids while adults shop for plants.

“We’re offering more than 1000 native and adapted plants, and our 55-gallon rain barrels for sale for cash or checks only, tax exempt,” said Lewis.

Gardeners are also encouraged to visit the demonstration garden at the site. All the plants at the garden are identified and Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

Hill Country Master Gardeners is a service organization helping the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service meet the horticultural needs of the community. For further information call 830-257-6568 or visit the group’s website at hillcountrymastergardeners.org.