Artists and Musicians at Hocking Hill's LilyFest
Rockbridge Ohio Hosts an Educational Arts and Gardens Festival
Feb 15, 2009
LilyFest celebrates area artists and musicians by holding an annual three-acre garden festival. Now dedicated to the memory of Bruce Bishop, LilyFest is a place where education about the arts and horticulture come together in the Hocking Hills region of southern Ohio.
Gravel pathways wind in and around the flower gardens, many planted with daylilies. The clay and metal sculptures, creations of the Bishops and past students, are permanently set throughout the gardens, as well. The grounds are dotted with more than 70 crafts-people displaying artwork during the festival.
On one end, a covered eating area serves a local favorite cheesecake, at the other end a singular pond and music stage coexist. The main music stage, bamboo trail, and another collection of ponds are just a few sights found between. However, it is the flower gardens that blends everything together.
Plant Sale at Lilyfest
The plants growing at LilyFest’s gardens are examples of those able to thrive in the region. Ohio State University Extension Master Gardeners from Hocking County are available to answer question about plant care.
In addition to display gardens, plants are on sale in several locations around the festival grounds. Behind the blue Hydrangeas collection is a shelter called the Garage. Here gardeners will find a large selection of annuals, perennials, water plants and houseplants to choose from. Elsewhere, a dig-it-yourself area allows gardeners to remove daylilies, Japanese iris Caladium and coleus.
Butterfly House Attracting Pollinators
Another educational display, amid the gardens, is the butterfly house. Visitors can walk into the small-screened enclosure housing a variety of butterflies. The display includes plants appropriate for attracting these beautiful pollinators.
Outside visitors will find many butterflies among the garden’s assortment of plants. Hemerocallis, Buddleia, and Hibiscus syriacus are a few of the plants found in the gardens.
Appalachian Festival Music
Appalachian music wafts over the gardens in every corner at LilyFest. Examples of native flutes, saxophone, strings, dulcimer country and gospel music can be heard each day.
History of LilyFest
The flower and water gardens at LilyFest are situated on the 40-acre property once owned by Bobbi and Bruce Bishop, near Rockbridge, Ohio. Both retired art teachers, the festival began as an idea to bring local Ohio artists together to display work in a garden environment. Later regional musicians were added to the festival program. Recently, the property has been donated to the Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District for the development of an educational nature center.
LilyFest started in 1992; in 2008, approximately 8,000 visitors attended. The three-day event is open free of charge to the public, with field parking available. LilyFest will be open July 10 – 12, 2009. Money raised by freewill donations support the LilyFest Scholarship Fund which sponsors local art students.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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