The first-ever “Art in the Park” was hosted earlier this month by the Sampson County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program on the Sampson County Cooperative Extension grounds off U.S. 421 south of Clinton. The master gardeners invited people to have a look at various yard art creations, while enjoying some homemade lavender shortbread cookies and some strawberry mint-infused water.
The pieces were on display to not only show the ingenuity of the master gardeners, but bring people out to the group’s annual azalea sale. The sale, which showcased azaleas, geraniums, super bells and assorted herbs, will extend over the coming weeks at the Extension Office, located at 55 Agriculture Place, Clinton. The money raised is used for various gardens and projects that are kept up by the master gardeners.
The group, 20-strong, has sponsored herb cooking classes and various seminars and outreach efforts, targeting those of all ages as way to promote the group, as well as educate and engage others.
The latest innovation to promote its efforts was “Art in the Park,” which showcased piece after piece of yard art. There were old chairs, grills, tires, bicycles, strip metal, horseshoes and many other assorted items that, instead of being discarded as junk, were re-painted and re-purposed into planters and other decorative pieces.
