TR to host 3rd annual FlowerFest

Ocean County’s only flower festival will be held Saturday March 27 at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street.

The third annual FlowerFest will begin 11 a.m.

Exhibitors from the Master Gardeners of Ocean County, Barnegat Bay Estuary Project, The Butterfly Charities, Deep Cut Bonsai Society, Jersey Shore Rose Society, Master Composters and various garden clubs will be on hand to discuss their specialties.

Sanford Skolnick from Skip’s Florist will demonstrate how to create floral displays like the pros in “The Art of Floral Arranging and the Care of Flowers” seminar.

Horticulturist and nursery manager Mildred Eckley will answer all types of gardening questions during a Q&A session.

Debbie Hadley of Wild New Jersey will present “Make your Backyard a Wildlife Habitat.”

Members from the Toms River Garden Club will teach people how to create tiny floral arrangements out of recycled products.

Stacey Kofka from A Blossom Shop will teach children about flowers and give them an opportunity to take home a beautiful bouquet they can create. Children will also be able to play “Barnegat Bay Memory and Nature Twister” and participate in other gardening-type crafts.

A slideshow exhibit of images from local artist and photographers will be displayed in the library lobby.

Floral arrangements, donated by local florists and garden clubs, will be raffled off at the end of FlowerFest.

Downtown Toms River will partner with the library to present FlowerFest.

“We’re delighted to partner with Downtown Toms River to present this event,” said Principal Librarian Carol Zsiga. “Our local businesses have very generously contributed so much to the community and they have great enthusiasm for this event.”

FlowerFest is free and open to the public. More information about the event can be found online at http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org or by phone at 732-349-6200 or 609-971-0514.