CEDAR CREEK, Texas – The free 3^rd 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 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and features Pesto and Amateur Photo contests with cash prizes for first places and local merchant prizes for second and third places.

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 backyard birding class by Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Kelly Bender; 11 a.m. Jay Mertz, owner of Rabbit Hill Farm, considered one of Texas premier gurus in organic methods, giving a lecture on worm composting and organics; a Noon program on Hummingbirds of Texas by TP&W’s Mark Klym; a 1 p.m. the two Pesto Contests with two first place prizes of $50; and a 2 p.m. the two Amateur Butterfly and Dragonfly Photography Contests with two $50 cash first prizes.

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. Food vendor Oaxacan Tamaleo, Austin Chronicle’s First Place as Best Tamale 2006, will join the festivities this year.

Many informational booths such as the Bastrop County Audubon Society, Bastrop County Master Naturalists, National Wildlife Federation, Pines and Prairies Land Trust 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 categories are traditional and non-traditional and call 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. Pesto judges are Daddy’s Grill owner Raymond Keyrouz and Scooter’s manager Laura Yannuzzi. The photo contest will have two categories, butterflies and dragonflies, with 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. Photo judges are Jeff Snyder with the Bastrop Art Guild and BISD Art Teacher Vickie Jones.

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CEDAR CREEK, Texas – It’s time to spruce up your herb and butterfly gardens to be ready to compete in the contests of the Third Annual "Butterflies, Dragonflies and Summertime Things Festival" to be held on Saturday, July 28, at Bastrop Gardens.

"We’re going to have two contests this year, one for pesto cooks and the other for photographers," said Bastrop Gardens owner Deena Spellman. "Last year’s contests were so much fun, we wanted to repeat them." But potential contestants need a little more notice so there will be more participation and more fun, she added. "So fertilize your basil and study your recipes and plant and fertilize more butterfly and dragonfly host plants so you’ll have plenty of subjects to photograph," Spellman said. "Or come visit our Butterfly Garden here and bring your camera – there’s already plenty of action here."

A pesto-making contest and a butterfly and dragonfly photo contest with cash prizes are two features of the third annual "Butterflies, Dragonflies and Summertime Things Festival". The festival is a celebration of the harvests of summer – from the garden to organic, healthy lifestyles. The public will have a chance 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. A 10 a.m. backyard birding class by Kelly Bender, Texas Parks & Wildlife, will kick off a series of events including demonstrations of Yoga, garden tours and other events offered during the day-long festival.

The judged pesto contest categories are traditional and non-traditional and call 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 entrant.

The photo contest will have two categories, butterflies and dragonflies, with 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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