25 Years of Garden Fair (1997-2022), A Look Back
“I became wild this morning because the garden was so very lovely…too lovely to keep to ourselves.”
—Frances Woodworth Ball to her daughter, 1940
“After all, this is what gardeners do – share each other’s plants!”
—Star Press coverage of Garden Fair, 1997
Even the greenest of thumbs can “enhance their hue” with advice from helpful hands here at Minnetrista. Today, 25 years since the first Garden Fair, we celebrate this historical tradition and look back at a quarter century of “practical information for the home gardener.”
The first Garden Fair in 1997. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
In the late 1990s, Garden Fair joined an eclectic calendar of Minnetrista sponsored “Fests and Fairs.” Early events like Harvest Fest, River Fest, and the Blues Fest have come and gone. Garden Fair, however, has stood the test of time, becoming an annual tradition in Muncie, one built upon the horticultural history from Minnetrista’s past.
Shots of Harvest, River, and Blues Fest at Minnetrista in 2001. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
When the Ball family moved onto the bluff on the northern edge of the White River in the 1890s, they did more than just build their homes. They also transformed the landscape, developing beautiful lawns, award winning rose gardens, fruit orchards, and ornamental gardens. Over the decades, this passion led the family to seek out new gardening knowledge and advice.
Formal Garden at Oakhurst in bloom in the 1930s. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Ball family members turned to books and magazines, filling notebooks with helpful tips and scrapbooks with information on plant varieties to experiment with in their own garden beds. They also developed longstanding relationships with gardening professionals, Minnetrista Boulevard staffers like gardener and orchardist Rowland Webb, who worked at Minnetrista for decades and enhanced the landscape with his skills and know-how.
Left: Copy of “Annuals You Should Grow” by Julius King, published in 1937, owned by Elisabeth Ball. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Center: Elisabeth Ball’s Gardening notebook and scrapbook. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Right: Minnetrista Gardener Rowland Webb (1887-1979) at work on the grounds in the 1950s. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Garden Fair grew out of this tradition, imagined as a community event that could provide local gardeners - from novice to master gardeners - with information, advice, and materials to further develop their “green thumbs.” Beginning that first year in 1997, the fair took place throughout Oakhurst Gardens and featured garden tours, workshops, demonstrations, and lectures, in addition to local vendors. In these early years down the Boulevard, fair attendees particularly enjoyed the sale of unique plants from the Oakhurst gardens, cultivated directly from the ground by Minnetrista horticultural staff. By 2003, the fair demanded more space and began expanding out to the Minnetrista Center Building parking lot, where it can still be found today.
Event map and shots of Garden Fair at Oakhurst Gardens, 1998. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Over the years, Garden Fair has evolved, more changing than just its location. The number of garden vendors has grown over time, their tent growing with them! Since 2000, the fair has coincided with Minnetrista’s then brand new Farmer’s Market, now a beloved community event in itself. Some entertaining years even saw Maypole dances at the fair, others “Cooking in the Courtyard.”
Left: A plant sale at Garden Fair in 2002. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Center: The Star Press, May 30, 2003.
Right: The Maypole Dance at Garden Fair in 1998. From the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
No matter the changes, the goal of Minnetrista’s Garden Fair has remained the same for 25 years: bringing local gardeners together to learn from each other and to take home useful tips and tools to beautify their own gardens. As you walk around this year, chat with vendors and fellow attendees, they all have insights to share. Ready, set, garden!
