Shop Nac First

Dawn Stover, Research Associate with the SFA Mast Arboretum, will conduct a cut flower presentation, “What Grows Out, Can Come In,” at the Art of Floral Design, Color & Textures from the Gardens beginning at 11 a.m. The floral exhibit will be held this Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cole Art Center, 329 E. Main, as part of the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail.

Ms. Stover currently maintains the living plant collection within the SFA Mast Arboretum. She is responsible for maintenance of the Arboretum and the horticulture greenhouse facilities. She is also responsible for two increasingly successful sales annually that raise money for the Arboretum, as well as coordinating student workers and volunteers. Very often she can be found teaching labs for horticulture students and lecturing in a wide variety of gardening enthusiasts in the region. She also serves as editor of Garden News, a quarterly newsletter published for Arboretum members, and on occasion, Ms. Stover writes for other garden related publications.

As part of her research responsibilities, Ms. Stover trials a wide range of herbaceous plant materials and disseminates information within the horticulture industry as well as the gardening public. She is also an Instructor of Record in the Department of Agriculture at SFA, teaching a course in annuals and perennials on a biennial basis.

“Dawn’s presentation will be held at 11 a.m. and offers plant lovers an opportunity to learn about outstanding plants for East Texas landscapes that are perfect for use as cut flowers,” said Sherry Ward, event organizer. “This is an ideal topic to

the showcase of floral arrangements, which features the talents of local gardeners, designers and plant enthusiasts. The extensive variety of plant materials used in the arrangements is always a topic of discussion and an important element in the beauty of the wonderful floral designs created each year.”

The floral exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ledbetter Gallery of the Cole Art Center. Admission is free and the festivities include door prizes, refreshments, and a silent auction. The event is sponsored by the Nacogdoches Art League and Sherry Ward Fine Arts Studio.

For more information about the floral exhibit, contact Sherry Ward Fine Arts Studio at (936) 564-2066. For more information about the Azalea Trail, call the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau at 936-564-7351 or 888-OLDEST-TOWN or visit www.nacogdochesazaleas.com.

Join us this Saturday, March 27th at the Nacogdoches Farmer’s Market to help kick off spring in Texas’ Oldest Town. There is sure to be something to please everyone of all ages, so bring the whole family down and enjoy the day with us!

The Spring Fling will get underway at 8 a.m. with live entertainment, children’s activities and much much more! Children’s Activities include: a Nature Walk, Yoga Class, and Bounce House. There will also be a veggie walk, flower bed painting, soap bubbles, seed planting, and sing alongs just to name a few. The event will go until 1 p.m.
A full morning of live entertainment is schedule featuring Cindy Grayson
Michael Collins & John Mefford, Buffalo Grass and Vortex of Love & Musical Goodness
We will have over 25 vendors set up with a variety of items such as: 100 % Blue Belgian Beef, Plants and Flowers galore, Flora Garden Club Azalea Trail Cart Raffle, one of a kind jewerly, beautiful Cut Glass, hand carved benches, scrumptious pies, fresh breads, and that is just the tip of the ice burg! We promise you won’t be disappointed.

The Nacogdoches Farmers’ Market, located at the “hitch lot” at the corner of West Main and Pearl Streets, is open from 8 a.m. until noon or later every Saturday and Wednesday. If the market parking lot is full, additional parking is available in the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex parking lot. For more information about the market contact Sarah O’Brien, Main Street Manager, at 559-2573 or visit www.farmermktnacblogspot.com.

The Flora Garden Club and area nurseries will be offering a variety of azaleas, perennials, houseplants and other choice ornamental shrubs and trees at the annual Azalea Plant Sale Saturday, March 20, on the downtown square.
The plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is part of the 2010 Nacogdoches Azalea Trail, which continues through the end of the month. Organizers say plant enthusiasts should come early for the best selection and bring a cart or wagon to transport plants.
“The plant sale brings our community together to officially kick-off spring and allows patrons to see what local nurseries have to offer to beautify our town,” says Camille Bolinger, project chairman for Flora Garden Club. “Proceeds from the sale are put back into community projects by supporting SFA scholarships, the Old Nacogdoches University Building and Gardens, Arbor Day, and Millard’s Crossing.”
Plant vendors will be set up along Fredonia Street on the downtown square between Regions Bank and the Visitor Center. Shoppers can park along nearby streets or in the large lot behind the bank.
Flora Garden Club will also sell raffle tickets for $1 (or six for $5) for a heavy-duty garden cart, which is packed with gardening goodies donated by club members, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, Cook’s Nursery, Sutherlands and Dragonfly Nursery. The cart includes a soaker hose, watering hose, indoor/outdoor Myan planter, wild bird feeder, rake, Miracle Grow applicator and plant food, work gloves, garden loppers, garden spade, kneeling cushion, gardening book, insect repellent, tripod sprinkler wind chimes, pruning sheers, sunflower seeds, hummingbird feeder and nectar, watering can, water wand, potting soil, bonnet, a sprayer, and gift certificates to Dragonfly Nursery and Cook’s Nursery. The cart is on display at the Visitor Center, 200 E. Main St. The drawing will be held Saturday, March 20 at the Azalea Plant Sale.
In addition to this year’s plant sale, the Nacogdoches Main Street Program is sponsoring a sidewalk sale downtown from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Businesses will be offering a variety of specialty and unique items for sale.

Join us Saturday at the Nacogdoches Farmer’s Market to stock up on a variety of handcrafted, locally grown items. The Nacogdoches Farmer’s Market is currently open on Saturday & Wednesday mornings and offers fresh produce, unique gifts, and a variety of other delicious items.
Things to look for this Saturday: baked goods (breads, cookies &
pies), artisan Texas cheeses, Texas citrus, freshly ground corn-meal,
organic chicken, free-range eggs, tilapia fish, flowers, jewelry, plants,
starter plants, preserves and local produce (collard, mustard & kale greens;
onions; potatoes; butternut squash & sweet potatoes)

Be sure to mark your calendar for our Spring Fling scheduled for March
March 27th. Featuring children’s activities, live entertainment and much, much more!

If you would like to sign up for the weekly Farmers’ Market email update, please send an email to obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us. You are also more than welcome to visit www.farmermktnac.blogspot.com for the weekly update. Also be our fan on facebook @NacogdochesFarmersMarket.

The Nacogdoches Farmers’ Market, located at the “hitch lot” at the corner of West Main and Pearl Streets, is open from 8 a.m. until noon or later every Saturday morning. If the market parking lot is full, additional parking is available in the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex parking lot.

With less than 10 calendar days before Santa arrives, Nacogdoches’ downtown merchants are offering even more opportunities for residents to finish up their Christmas lists. Downtown boasts a wide variety of unique shops including antiques, specialty boutiques, clothing, books and now even Brighton© purses and accessories. Shopping Nac First provides an array of one of a kind gift ideas for your loved ones, friends, co-workers and even those hard to find individuals on your list.
Typically shopping hours downtown range from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of our First Friday Night Program, which offers residents a monthly opportunity to shop late. This Sunday over 14 participating downtown merchants will be opening their doors for Holiday shoppers from 1 to 4 p.m. “While a handful of merchants stay open every Sunday, we are extremely pleased to see such a great turnout this weekend,” said Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien. “It is so important and yet often times difficult for small retailer’s to compete with the big box stores, I think this is such a great step in the right direction for downtown.”
The following merchants will be featuring in store specials and unique buys this Sunday, December 20th: Heart of Texas, The Butterfly, Brick Street Antiques, Wildflower, Lyric’s, Antique Market, House of Traditions, Voyager’s Dream, Special Finds Antiques & Collectibles, Dragonfly, Macy May, The Mushroom, Sherry Ward Fine Art Studio, and The Good Book.
To pick up our shopping guide and map to downtown, shopper’s may visit the Visitor’s Center, 200 E. Main Street from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or any weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information or questions about the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program please contact the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or via email at obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us. Be sure to be our friend on facebook @Nacogdoches Main Street and follow us on twitter @downtownnac to stay up to date with everything happening downtown. To find out more information about local shopping opportunities please visit www.shopnacfirst.com.

Stroll the red brick streets this Sunday! Extended Holiday Hours at all of these participating downtown merchants!

Shop from 1 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, December 20th, 2009.

Heart of Texas
Butterfly
Brick Street Antiques
Wildflower
Lyric’s
Antique Market
House of Traditions
Voyager’s Dream
Special Finds Antiques & Collectibles
Dragonfly
Macy May
The Mushroom
Sherry Ward Fine Art Studio
The Good Book

Forget all that big box mumbo jumbo the day after Thanksgiving (who really likes being in those crowds, anyway?). This year, I say we rename the day that follows turkey and mashed potatoes.

I say we call it 3/50 Friday, in celebration of The 3/50 Project. It will be the day we each vow to stop into at least one independent, locally owned brick and mortar to say thanks….

Thanks for smiling and greeting me by name.

Thanks for remembering that I love peonies and detest carnations.

Thanks for asking how my mother is doing, then being sincerely happy when I say she’s well.

Thanks for restocking my favorite candle even though it’s that crazy lime green color.

Thanks for helping me locate the perfect gift for the boss I barely know.

Thanks for laughing when I need a lift and for listening when I need to let down.

Thanks for noticing when I’ve changed my haircut.

Thanks for not noticing when I dashed over in wrinkled sweats for a last minute present.

Thanks for donating to my kids’ fundraiser, and thanks for putting their poster in your window.

Thanks for rushing my order, and thanks for not guilt tripping me about it.

Thanks for staying an extra fifteen minutes the day I got stuck in traffic.

Thanks for that extra cup of coffee, then saying it’s on the house.

Thanks for carrying the financial burdens you do, all to provide a place for me to come.

Thanks for being one of the little guys, responsible for such a big chunk of what makes our community tick.

Thanks for being here for me. For us. For everyone.

This could be a groundswell, folks. The 3/50 Project went viral in record time; whaddaya say we do it again with 3/50 Friday?

Now…let’s get clicking.