Blooms and Butterflies Celebration
The annual Blooms and Butterflies garden celebration is held in mid-June, June 13 this year, to showcase the emerging gardens and provides an opportunity for local craftsmen to demonstrate and display their creations. The butterfly gardens and 4.5-acre botanical native plant park are the backdrop for the annual event.
Garden art, hanging baskets, butterfly-friendly plants and native trees and shrubs are offered for sale during the day-long event. Heritage fruit tree specimens, including unique Fort Umpqua apple trees appropriate for the 1836-1852 era of Fort Umpqua, are on exhibit. Extra trees are offered for sale. The Douglas County Master Gardeners offer tips on gardening and ECEC provides information regarding native plant landscaping and creating a haven for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Delicious food is provided from the morning Lion’s Club Pancake booth, the student-run Outpost espresso and ice cream spot and at the end of the day a pit barbecue is held at the construction site of the Fort Umpqua restoration. At the barbecue, music will be provided by Cats-N-Dawgs, featuring Phil Berglund and Kim Eastes. The rippling water of the Umpqua River serves as a background for the event.
Local wines from the four local wineries are served at the dinner and during the entertainment.
The early morning of Blooms and Butterflies is the time for the increasingly popular Butterfly Run, a 5-K, 10-K event along the Umpqua River.
The Butterfly Run
The dream of a competitive run began several years ago, but the Butterfly Run actually took shape in 2007 as local volunteers mapped the course, provided support and promoted the annual event. Runners from nearby cities join local folks to run or walk the course along the beautiful Umpqua River.
The event has something for everyone as people decide whether to sign up for the 5K run/walk or the 10K competitive run. Awards are created by Hiroshi Ogawa, a world class potter who lives in the Elkton area.
The Butterfly Run is sponsored by the following local merchants:
Anindor Vineyards
Arlene's
Back to Fitness Chiropractic - Yoncalla
Bradley Vineyards
Brandborg Vineyard and Winery
DSS Construction
Elkton Properties LLC
Jody Smith Gujide Service
River’s Edge Winery
Tomaselli’s Pastry Mill and Cafe
Weyerhaeuser
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