Gardeners Create May Fair Yardscapes

Inside the Southard Floral Pavilion at the Dixon May Fair, guests can enjoy a slow walk through the cool, darkened metal barn filled with large plots that make miniature yards. Some enter for the prize—a whopping $550.00 but even sixth place will get you $350 so chances are good for exchange of getting sweaty and playing in the dirt.

Some people do it for the mission it will spread. Then, there are others, who make it a family affair.

Bent over a small mountain of dirt Diana Dearmore, of Woodland, carefully places a small clutch of flowers inside an old wicker birdcage. She is one of a dozen different ‘Garden Designers’ who are competing for a blue ribbon by decorating a 10 x 15-foot plot of land.

“I like to do it because it’s fun and because it’s just a little space,” she said.

She is using the theme, ‘Blast from the Past’ and said finding “old garden things” was more difficult than she anticipated. There was an old wooden porch swing, a metal lawn chair, and a yellow potter’s stool that seemed to fit perfectly with a feel for the '50s.

That could be possible perhaps, from her experiences in the Woodland fair where she has competed before but has not won. Dearmore was encouraged by friends to try the Dixon venue.

Another experienced garden competitor also came from Woodland. Cerah Christensen has entered fair competitions for six years and has won blue ribbons in every other category but this one.

“Hopefully, this is my year,” she said. “I enjoy gardening and every year I do an eco theme—I want to be able to represent that through recycling,” she said spreading her arms to show an old toilet used as a planter, old and colored bottles that create the look of a tree, and a suitcase sprouting flowers.

“I believe in sustainable design and want to put that in front for people,” she said. She works in hospitality and even started her own business with eco-friendly gifts, she said. Her entry in table setting with an earth day theme won ‘Best of Show.’

UC Davis Architect Student Summer Giron appreciated the help of her three daughters, Siera, Madeline, and Jennifer to complete their plot also sporting the ‘Blast from the Past’ theme.

“The kids and I were doing research like crazy,” said Giron. “I remembered my Pops had a Victory Garden, a lot of grass, and a lot of basic flowers.” The family is from Benicia and spent all week planting. This is the second year they’ve entered the Dixon May Fair.

Tacy Currey from Dixon, entered with the “Through the Looking Glass’ theme and set her picnic table with giant teacups filled with plants, mismatched metal lawn chairs, and a large plush mouse surrounded by a wild display of colored flowering plants.

Cheryl Crites of Dixon entered a lush wooded parcel complete with rich, dark soils and a gold mining pan centered in her lot titled, ‘California Gold.’

Another entry featured a life-size rustic cabin, large rocks, and a small creek running through the lot. Most all of the supplies used for the displays, they said, will go home with the competitors and continue to offer “yardscapes” at their residences.

Floriculture showcase entry fee was $25.