By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University invites gardening enthusiasts, home growers, and community members to attend its Plants, Local Foods and Outdoor Spaces event on July 21, 2026. The free public event provides an opportunity to learn about gardening, explore outdoor spaces, and enjoy one of the nation’s largest public daylily collections.
The event begins with indoor gardening seminars at the NDSU Peltier Complex from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Participants can choose from sessions focused on edible gardening and ornamental landscapes. Topics include growing raspberries and apples, hardy grapes, tomato grafting, tree replacement options, shrub pruning, and selecting valuable perennial plants.
The outdoor portion of the event begins at 3:30 p.m. at the NDSU Horticulture Research and Demonstration Gardens. The celebration highlights the 10th anniversary of Veggies for the Pantry, an NDSU Extension Master Gardener project that collects fresh produce from home gardeners and provides it to local food pantries.
Over the past decade, the program has collected more than 130,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to support community food needs. During the event, Master Gardeners will accept fresh and canned food donations.
A major attraction of the event is the NDSU Historic Daylily Garden, which features about 2,000 daylily varieties. The collection is the largest public daylily collection in the nation and is being considered for recognition through the American Public Gardens Association’s Plant Collections Network.
Visitors can also join walking tours of annual and perennial flower gardens, which display more than 200 plant species and varieties tested for growth, flowering ability, and landscape performance.
“The gardens are looking exceptionally lush and vibrant,” says McGinnis.
The event also includes educational booths where visitors can receive gardening information and ask questions. Plant experts and NDSU Extension Master Gardener specialists will provide advice on lawn care, plant issues, and gardening challenges.
The outdoor activities are free and open to the public. Parking is available near the gardens, with additional spaces available at nearby locations. Registration is required for limited indoor presentations.
A detailed schedule and registration for the indoor event can be found at ndsu.ag/garden-event-26.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Rural Lifestyle