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Robyn Miles / Daily News
Horticulture intern Ashley Martin and Jo Phillips of Hills and Dales Estate in LaGrange inspect the Penny Mac hydrangea, which has a longer blooming season that other hydrangeas. It was named for Penny Mac Henry, who started the American Hydrangea Society.
Horticulture intern Ashley Martin and Jo Phillips of Hills and Dales Estate in LaGrange inspect the Penny Mac hydrangea, which has a longer blooming season that other hydrangeas. It was named for Penny Mac Henry, who started the American Hydrangea Society.
That is the case with the Hydrangea Festival on June 10-13. Estes made a promise to the community to make the event this year one of the best ever by combining tradition with contemporary.
“We are going to focus more on our French roots with a Parisian marketplace downtown. This year, we will have an old-fashioned garden party - a ‘Picnic with the Pops,’ concert which will feature the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra,” she said.
The statue of the Marquis de Lafayette downtown will be surrounded by pink and blue hydrangeas acquired with the assistance of a local garden retail shop.
The festival also will host a variety of activities and musical entertainment geared toward families, Estes said.
As part of the event, more than 1,600 bicyclists will come into town as part of the annual “Bicycle Ride Across Georgia,” something Estes is very excited about.
“We are glad to be a part of this event, and welcome the visitors to the community,” she said.
Fifi Le Fleur, the French skunk mascot of the festival, will make her debut June 10 during the “Flicks on the Bricks” movie on Lafayette Square.
On June 12, vendors will set up on the square in tents similar to the market place in Paris, along with private garden tours and the “Picnic with the Pops” concert at Callaway Memorial Tower. French food, such as beignets and coffee, will be sold early that morning on the square. There will be farm-fresh vegetables and colorful flowers on sale as well, she said.
June 13th’s events include the marketplace and picnic box lunches as well as gospel musical entertainment.
Estes said the festival planners kept in mind the economic situation and believe that all the events are cost- and family-friendly.
June 11 will be the old-fashioned garden party and wine tasting at Ferrell Gardens at Hills and Dales Estate. A limited number of tickets are available at $50 per person.
Private garden tours will be available but reservations must be made in advance. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children.
The concert will have general admission available, but a table for eight may be purchased for $200.
— For more information on the Hydrangea Festival, call (706) 884-8671.
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