Photo submitted by Donis Yoder Attendees browse the native plants for sale at the 2015 33rd Garden Party.

Pollinators include more than just honey bees and the Washington County Master Gardeners are eager to spread the word at their 34th (now annual) Garden Party on Saturday, which will be focusing on the importance of pollination.

“For the last two garden parties, we’ve been concentrating on topics related to pollinators,” explained Cindy Brown, Washington County Master Gardeners director. “There will be a main speaker and there will be an opportunity for people to go to other sessions throughout the afternoon; it’s like a mini seminar or conference.”

The 34th Garden Party will be held at the Washington County Career Center at 21750 State Route 676, Marietta, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the registration fee is $25.

Coffee, refreshments and lunch will be provided at the event. Vendors include Earth Star, Organic Soils, Caron’s Creations and many more.

Those who wish to attend can buy tickets in advance through the Washington County OSU Extension Office or can purchase tickets at the door. The flier with the mail-in slip is available on the Washington County OSU Master Gardeners Facebook page.

“With the crisis in pollinators, with the weather changes that we’ve been seeing, with the impact of things like the different diseases that have been killing trees, it is just important for people to start thinking about ‘how can my garden — how can my yard — help make up for it?'” noted Brown. “How can I contribute a positive change for what’s going on in the environment?”

Marcus McCartney, OSU Extension Office agriculture and natural resource educator, said they usually receive a pretty decent turnout with each event, noting that approximately 40 people have signed up thus far with many more expected to come.

“I think historically, we’ve had somewhere between 60-80 people, sometimes more,” he said. “It’s also a great place for local gardeners to meet; it gives them a place to talk about gardening, the things they’ve done and trade ideas.”

WC Master Gardner Speaker Coordinator Donis Yoder said she is excited about the speakers for the event, especially Tom Hissong, the main speaker on Saturday. Hissong, who is well-known nationally renown speaker, according to Yoder, as an avid ornithology instructor/ bird watcher.

Hissong will be leading a session on birds (How to Make a Bird Friendly Yard) and how they serve as pollinators in the area, including topics that discuss how to create bird-friendly gardens.

“(Hissong) brings more of the native aspect and more information about birds and how to attract birds into the area,” she said. “We haven’t had a lot of information on birds in the past; this is another area of knowledge we want to bring to the gardeners.”

Other speakers include McCartney, Mark Miller, Steve Blume and Gale Martin. Each will conduct different sessions, including Backyard Pollinators, Why When and How of Pruning, Natives in Harmony’s Favorite Plants for Pollinators and Organic & Non-Organic Pest Management.

“It’s fun because it is a relaxed setting; we have a loyal following that comes to it every year,” said Brown. “It’s just a nice, educational program where we share information with the public to improve the health and wellness of the community.”

If you go

¯ What: 34th Garden Party.

¯ Where: Washington County Career Center.

¯ When: Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

¯ Who: Washington County Master Gardeners.

¯ Cost: $25.

¯ Includes: Coffee, refreshments, lunch and the sessions.