JULY 9, 2007

CEDAR CREEK, Texas – The free 4^th Annual Butterflies, Dragonflies and Summertime Things Festival features a number of speakers, vendors, music and events for all ages at Bastrop Gardens on Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The festival features Pesto and Amateur Photo contests with first place $50 cash prizes in each contest.

The public will have an opportunity to talk to experts in gardening, natural resource protection, butterflies and other topics, as well as a chance to browse the wares of vendors of hand-made jewelry, clothing, birdhouses and more.

Highlights are a 10 a.m "Fire Safety and Drought" by Chief Buddy Burrow, Bluebonnet VFD; 11 a.m., Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.’s Kelly Bender on drought and it’s effect on wildlife; and a Noon program on organic gardening by Andy Chidester, Soils Manager at The Natural Gardener and "Snakes of Texas", by Bill Brooks, Lost Pines Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. At 2 p.m., the Pesto Contest, followed by the 2:30 p.m. Amateur Butterfly and Dragonfly Photography Contest, both contests offering a first place cash prize of $50. Second and third prizes are gift baskets from local businesses.

There will be many other features throughout the day including live music, garden tours, free kids face painting and nature art, local craftsmen and artisans featuring goods from herbal soaps and lotions, handmade jewelry, leather goods, birdhouses, birdbaths, outdoor furniture and many other goods to be offered. Award winning food vendor Oaxacan Tamaleo, Austin Chronicle’s First Place as Best Tamale 2006 and Critics Pick of 2008, will highlight the food vendors this year.

Many informational booths such as the Bastrop County Audubon Society, Pines and Prairies Land Trust, Bastrop County Master Naturalists, National Wildlife Federation, Lost Pines Native Plant Society of Texas and others will share experience and expertise with the public. Musical entertainment will be provided free all day long. A drum circle will begin at 4 p.m. and complete the day.

The judged pesto contest calls for contestants to bring two containers, one for the judges and one for the public to sample, and a recipe card with name, address and phone number of entrants. The photo contest, centered on best photos of butterflies and/or dragonflies, calls for photos to have a minimum color format of 5"X7" and is for amateurs only. Photos need to have name, address and phone number of owner, as well as a stamped, self-addressed envelope if pictures are to be returned.

To find out more about the contests and festival events, contact Deena Spellman at Bastrop Gardens, 30-FLORA (512-303-5672) or go to www.bastropgardens.com.

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