A budding celebration

Few town names are as quiet as on-the-nose as Manzanita. The town will celebrate its namesake shrub at the annual Manzanita Day celebration, held at the Hoffman Center for the Arts this Tuesday, March 31.

The event will open with a proclamation read by Manzanita Mayor Kathryn Stock, declaring March 31 as Manzanita Day.

As part of the festivities, guests will have a chance to enter a raffle, with prizes including two manzanita plants selected for the winner’s garden and a manzanita-inspired Hoffman Center T-shirt. Five winning tickets will be drawn, with the drawing held at 11:30 am. Winners do not need to be present and will be notified by email.

The event also marks the inaugural session of the Wonder Garden Education Series, a new program from the Hoffman Center’s Horticultural Arts Program. The first session will focus on manzanitas, offering guidance from local experts on plant selection, care, pruning and the differences between hardy and more finicky species.

The series is designed to provide practical advice for coastal gardeners while exploring the unique growing conditions of the Oregon Coast. Future sessions will continue throughout the spring and summer, giving community members opportunities to learn about a variety of plants and gardening techniques.

Manzanita Day offers a chance to celebrate local plant life while connecting with fellow gardeners and learning more about cultivating a thriving coastal landscape.

Tuesday’s event begins at 11 am at the Hoffman Center for the Arts, located at 594 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita. For more information, go to hoffmanarts.org.