Get your frond on: Fern festival coming to Gold Bar


Fancy Fronds specialty nursery in Gold Bar wants to welcome everyone to come and enjoy a summer's day by the Skykomish River for the 15th annual Fronderosa Frolic.
The botanical celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. Plant enthusiasts will be able to browse a diverse range of plants showcased by over a dozen specialty nurseries, as well as obtain expert planting advice to help ensure that any plants they purchase will flourish in their new environments. The frolic will also feature custom garden art provided by six different garden artists.
Mukilteo-based glass blower Barbara Sanderson, of Glass Gardens Northwest, is one of the artists who will be in attendance.
"She has this glass ball that floats in water, and it has little bumps on it for the bees to land,GÇ¥ said long-time gardening expert and Fancy Fronds owner Judith Jones.
Sanderson's "Bee PreserversGÇ¥ have recently gained national attention after being featured in the Association of Professional Landscape Designers magazine.
Fancy Fronds nursery is situated next to the Skykomish and river access is available. Guests are invited to pack a picnic and enjoy the scenic property which features a plethora of unique garden art. There is a small Thai-inspired pavilion, a spiral-shaped garden labyrinth, "Topsy,GÇ¥ a hand-crafted Triceratops made by Jones' son, and much more.
Jones explained that, when she purchased the lot in 1996, she had about five acres, but over time, the river has taken some of that back. Currently, her facility rests on a little over 4-1/2 acres.
"It's not enough when you're planting trees but more than enough when you're weeding,GÇ¥ said Jones.
Specializing in fern cultivation, Jones has an extensive collection of over 100 species of ferns and is expert at both species identification and growing ferns from spore. Jones, who established her business in the 1980s, has even named several new groups of ferns.
Fancy Fronds nursery is located at 40830 172nd St. in Gold Bar which can be accessed by taking Dorman Road south off of U.S. 2. Parking will be available.
"We have volunteers that help with parking,GÇ¥ said Jones, explaining that she likes to try and make her event as accessible as possible. "Because if you can't park, then you're grumpy before you get there.GÇ¥
The event is also a fundraiser for the Northwest Equine Stewardship Center, a Monroe-based nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating horse rescue and rehabilitation. Raffles will be held throughout the day and donations are welcome.
For more information about Fancy Fronds, please visit the website at: www.fancyfrondsnursery.com. -áThe nursery is open year-round, by appointment only. For additional information about the Fronderosa Frolic, call (360) 793-1472.
 

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