Plantae-Palooza: Garden festival returns to Hollis Gardens this Saturday with a new name

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·1 min read
Looking out over Hollis Garden's water feature to the shore of Lake Mirror. The Lakeland Police Department is in the background.
Looking out over Hollis Garden's water feature to the shore of Lake Mirror. The Lakeland Police Department is in the background.

LAKELAND — Everyone from greenthumbs to casual gardeners will be able to find a plant for their collection this Saturday in Lakeland

The city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department will hold a free Plantae-Palooza Garden Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hollis Gardens, 614. E. Orange Street.

"The Plantae-Palooza Garden Festival, formerly known as Plantopia is an event that the plant community really enjoyed last year, and we had to bring it back as an annual event," said Kevin Polk, the Lakeland's grounds maintenance supervisor who oversees Hollis Gardens.

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The event will feature more than 20 vendors selling a variety of plants ranging from perennials and house plants to exotic fruit trees and carnivorous plants. Featured vendors include R.F. Orchids, Tropiflora, Sow Exotic, 3 Season’s Growers, Paradise Found, My Crazy Plant Life, Critter Companions by Kenny Coogan, Mad Plants, George 4 Plants, Calusa Palms Nursery, Southern Blooms Florida Plant Nursery, Third Insight Design & Nursery, Rose Petals Nursery, Amaryllis & Caladium Bulb Co., Got Desserts, The Lakeland Garden Club, Lakeland Camellia Society, The Nectary, and Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society.

Polk said some of the plant societies and garden clubs will have members available to share their plant knowledge.

A portion of the event's proceeds will benefit the Hollis Garden Perpetual Care Fund. To donate or learn more about the garden, visit www.lakelandgov.net/hollisgarden.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Plantae-Palooza returns Saturday. You might recall it as Plantopia