Kitchen and garden tools figure into two events this week at Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.
Knives are in order for Melon Fest, scheduled today, Aug. 18, at the weekly Ooltewah Farmers Market held on-site.
Loppers will be put to use Saturday, Aug. 20, at a make-and-take workshop for building a rustic chair.
MELON FEST
This is the second year for Melon Fest, which nursery officials describe as a mouthwatering, rind-thumping, seed-spitting, lip-smacking good time.
Guest artist Jo Kilmer of Spirit Tall in Murphy, N.C., will lead a make-and-take workshop on building a rustic chair Saturday, Aug. 20, at Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co.From 3 to 6 p.m. today, visitors will have a chance to sample watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew plus an array of rare melons that most likely will be new to them.
“Perhaps their grandfathers have enjoyed some of these heirloom melons when the grandparents were young, but those fruits have seldom been seen or tasted since then,” nursery manager Kat McGraw predicts. “We have a lot of organic farmers who are growing rare heirloom melons. Some of them are very unusual and beautiful to look at. And they taste good.”
The afternoon includes seed-spitting contests for children and adults, plus watermelon baked goods, frozen treats, candy, cookies, jellies and jams. Call 423-238-9775 for more information.
BUILD A RUSTIC CHAIR
Artist Jo Kilmer of Spirit Tall in Murphy, N.C., returns to lead another make-and-take workshop starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Her first session at Ooltewah Nursery in March showed how to make a garden trellis. In this workshop, participants will make a small “twig art” chair that can be freestanding or hung on the wall as a seat for a potted plant.
The cost of the class is $45, plus $25 for materials ($70 total). All the raw materials will be provided, but each chair will be as individual as the person making it. Participants are asked to bring a cordless drill, drill bits, sharp loppers, hammer and measuring tape, if possible.
To register, call Kilmer at 828-837-4866. Learn more at her website, spirittall.com.