Life

Garden Jubilee features 200 vendors plus expert presenters

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 18, 2025

Garden Jubilee from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday features more than 200 plant and craft vendors lining Main Street from Sixth Avenue to Caswell Street, transforming the historic downtown area into an seven-block garden wonderland.

The two-day garden and plant extravaganza features local and regional nurseries selling thousands of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hard-to-find plants. Crafters will offer distinctive garden art and there will be handmade lawn furniture, jewelry, garden tools, planters, wind chimes, birdhouses, soaps and pottery. Visitors can also learn the latest techniques and tips from gardening experts located throughout the festival as well as presenting on the stage at the Historic Courthouse.

The Speaker Showcase beginning at 10:15 a.m. each day at the courthouse plaza will feature Brie Arthur, Jordana Chalnick, Scott Davis and Kay Campbell and Brenda Rosbrook, the Shady Ladies of Raymond’s Garden Center.

• A bestselling author and national leader of the Foodscape Movement, Arthur brings 20 years of horticultural experience to the stage. Her practical, inspiring guidance helps home gardeners cultivate beauty and abundance in any landscape.
• A seasoned horticulturist at the Biltmore Estate since 2006, Chalnick now serves as the landscape manager. Her in-depth knowledge of landscape design and seasonal displays offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most iconic gardens.
• A certified master beekeeper and owner of Garren Creek Apiaries, Davis shares insights from 14 years of experience in beekeeping. He champions the use of Varroa Sensitive Hygienic queen stock to support healthy pollinator populations across Western North Carolina.
• A Clemson-trained horticulturist with decades of experience, Campbell joins forces with Rosbrook, the self-taught grower who is manager of Raymond’s Garden Center. Together, they deliver fresh, fun and informative talks on perennials, native plants and four-season gardening.

Saturday, May 24:

• 10:15 a.m. Opening ceremony with Stuller Power Solutions
  • 10:30 a.m. Jordana Chalnick. Biltmore: Exploring Olmstead’s Horticultural Design Intent
  • 11:30 a.m. Brie Arthur. Summer Foodscape Containers: Effortless Beauty & Bounty in Every Pot!
  • 12:30 p.m. The Shady Ladies of Raymond’s Garden Center. It’s All Sun and Games: New, Unusual & Native Sun Loving Perennials to Brighten Any Garden
  • 1:30 p.m. Scott Davis – Bees & Pollinators: Why It Matters

Sunday, May 25:

• 10:15 a.m. Opening remarks with Stuller Power Solutions
  • 10:30 a.m. Jordana Chalnick – Perennials at Biltmore: Creating Year-Round Interest
  • 11:30 a.m. Brie Arthur - Summer Foodscape Containers: Effortless Beauty & Bounty in Every Pot!
  • 12:30 p.m. The Shady Ladies of Raymond’s Garden Center. Funky and Fun: Multi-Season Interest in Your Garden – Bring Year-Round Interest Through Foliage, Color & Textures with Shrubs and Perennials including Deer Resistant Varieties
  • 1:30 p.m. Scott Davis– Bees & Pollinators: A Year in the Life – A Beekeeper’s Journey