It was a bright day for horticulturalists of all ages at the annual Family Horticulture Day Saturday at the Agricultural Research station, where attendees got a hands-on experience with plants.
According to Judith Reith-Rozelle, the assistant superintendent at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station, the main reason for the event was to get people to learn about plants and get them inspired to grow their own garden at home.
"We are trying to get children educated about plant science, and that science is fun, and that growing plants are a part of science," Rozelle said. "We give people live plants to take home so that they can learn how to grow plants. [We] give them herbs for cooking and give them seeds, so that they can learn about germinating seeds."
The event provided free herb plants to take home such as rosemary, lavender, sage and oregano. They also provided visitors with packets of either watermelon or sunflower seeds, along with miniature pots and soil for them to grow in.
"They are so full of energy that they just pop right out of the soil rather than if you were doing radishes — that's a little harder," Rozelle said.
Aside from taking home free plants, visitors were also allowed to taste a variety of foods that came directly from horticulture, including ice cream and popcorn. Carrot tasting was also available.
Rozelle said the program tried not only to get children to learn about plants, but also insects, which are a large part of horticulture.
"We try to teach them that insects are something that are fun and not something to be afraid of," Rozelle said. "You have to know insects to be a horticulturalist or a plant person, otherwise they are going to eat the plants up."
According to Rozelle, a large number of people have stopped growing their own vegetables because it is easier to buy them at the grocery store. One goal of the event was to encourage people to start growing their own vegetables again.
Rozelle noted several benefits to the hobby, such as getting fresh air, eating tastier food and building a sense of community by talking to neighbors instead of "sitting inside and watching TV." Rozelle added that growing a personal garden could also potentially save money.
Michelle Campbell, whose daughter Audrey is a member of 4-H, a national group to help children develop leadership and life skills through agriculture, traveled to Madison to take part in the festivities.
"I am a mom, and I had really good experience in 4-H with learning and public speaking, so I wanted to get my daughter involved in it." Campbell said.
Campbell said her favorite part of the event was taking home the free plants they offered, and her daughter's favorite part was eating the free ice cream.
