Nina West is expecting another blooming success for Art in the Garden. After what the garden’s been through, it deserves one.
A freeze in April wiped out most of the irises. The hard rains earlier this month carried off most of the fertilizer for the daylilies. And with the moisture, of course, came the bugs that had to be dealt with in turn.
“It’s been real hand-to-hand combat this year,” said West, who with her husband, Gaylord, runs Toad Hollow Daylily Farm.
Nonetheless, milder weather is here, the garden is in bloom — if not as lavishly — and 13 area artists are ready to add their work to Toad Hollow’s natural beauty. It’s the fourth year for Art in the Garden, a two-day outdoor art show. The show is usually held in June, but was moved up because of — guess what? — weather.
“We moved it up two weeks so it wouldn’t be quite as hot,” West said.
The artists don’t mind. Many of them have been coming since the start and wouldn’t think of missing a year.
“It was Terry’s idea to start this,” said painter Peggy Lyon, referring to watercolor artist Terry Maxwell. “He and Hal (Berger) had done the Christmas art show for so many years and they wanted to expand it to more artists.”
Not only is the setting lovely, but there are plenty of chances to make a sale or get a commission.
“A two-day show is good,” West said. “You can go home thinking ‘That would be just right’ and then you can go back and get it.”
Some pieces can be quite unique, such as the 1,200-pound stone sunflower that Alan Tollakson brought last year.
“That was a project just to get it here,” he said.
Yes, the piece sold.
Admission is free, although donations for art scholarships are accepted. In addition, Camp Wood will be selling concessions to benefit the camp.
To get to Toad Hollow,take I-35 east from Emporia and get off at exit 135. Go south until you reach Road 170 — the first intersection — and then turn east. Toad Hollow is at 1534 Road 170. Parking is available in a meadow across from the daylily farm.
Participating artists this year are Geoff Creswell, drawing; David Edwards, metal sculpture; Josh Finley, drawing; Alan Tollakson, stone work; Peggy Lyon, painting; Terry Maxwell, painting; Paula Hanlon, stained glass; Millard Harrell, woodcarving; Barb Say, fiber; Jerry Schrock, photography; Susan Fowler, sterling jewelry; Kat Dorcas, ceramics; and Dave Lieker, photography.