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Crape Myrtle Festival

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A beautiful pink crape myrtle in bloom. Photo by coniferconifer, CC BY 2.0.
crape myrtle
Colorful crape myrtle shoots

Join Hicks Nurseries Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, to celebrate the beauty and color of the crape myrtle. The two-day, family-friendly event will feature a crape myrtle seminar, crafts for the kids and several food trucks.

Easy to grow and maintain, crape myrtles have become one of Long Island’s most popular trees. Blooming from July through September, they provide a vibrant pop of color in the landscape. Hicks Nurseries carries a myriad of colors, sizes and varieties.

crape myrtle
A beautiful pink crape myrtle in bloom. Photo by coniferconifer, CC BY 2.0.

A free seminar, titled “Crape Myrtle for Hot Summer Color,” will be held on Saturday, July 18, at 11 a.m. It will focus on everything you need to know about crape myrtle, including how to choose the right plant for your garden, the best varieties for our Long Island climate and how to care for your crape throughout the year. On Sunday, July 19, experts will be available throughout the day to answer questions about the crape myrtle and to help you make a selection.

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Kids can also create their own butterfly craft at the Crape Myrtle Festival.
bug jar craft
Kids can make this bug jar craft at the Crape Myrtle Festival.

Children will have the opportunity to create a garden-themed craft during both days of the festival. Options include coloring your own 3D butterfly or decorating a bug box to catch lightning bugs and other critters. Reservations are not required. Each craft costs $10 per child.

Food trucks will be parked at the nursery on Sunday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit each food truck for menu and pricing information. Hicks will provide one free hot dog per person to those who attend the festival on Saturday.

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Line up for burgers, fries and more at the Eat Me, Drink Me food truck.

Eat Me, Drink Me Truck, www.eatmedrinkmetruck.com, is a gourmet food truck with an Alice in Wonderland theme serving grass-fed beef, hand-cut fries, artisan-grilled cheese and local organic produce. In addition to burgers, the truck specializes in poutine, the French Canadian dish of fried potatoes topped with cheese curds and brown gravy, and puts its own spin on it with additional toppings. Eat Me, Drink Me also has gluten-free, vegan options and selection of desserts all made fresh daily.

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The Little Blonde Truck sells a variety of treats.

The Little Blonde Truck, www.blondiesbakeshop.com, features deliciously decadent desserts. All of Blondie’s baked goods are baked in small batches with fresh, seasonal and wholesome ingredients. Blondie’s Bake Shop is located in Centerport. The truck frequents fairs and festivals across Long Island.

Hicks Nurseries, Long Island’s largest garden center, is located at 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury. For more information, call 516-334-0066 or visit www.hicksnurseries.com.