Lilyfest Celebrates Nature, Art This Year
By: Taylor Burnette
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ROCKBRIDGE, Ohio (WOUB) – Next to the natural wonders of Hocking Hills sits the Bishop Educational Gardens, and each year hundreds of people buzz in to celebrate the arts and flowers of the region.
Lilyfest blossomed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after COVID-19 sent the festival online in 2020. Some COVID-19 restrictions were still in place, like requiring reservations to attend. The celebration featured live music and over 60 artisans selling their wares. And master gardeners were on hand to answer questions.
People came from all around to enjoy the lifelong work of Bobbi Bishop. She and her late husband, Bruce, started the garden in the 70s, and then Lilyfest in the 80s.
Lilyfest came to life after Bruce suggested they move a local pottery and art show Bobbi was involved in to the property.
From there Lilyfest grew to include more artists, more events, and even Viking Reenactors, expanding to fill out the whole carefully cared for property.
![Marsha, left, and her husband Mike Beery, of Chillicothe, shop for garden decorations at Lilyfest, an annual horticulture festival, in Rockbridge, Ohio, on Friday, July 9, 2021. An aspect of the festival which is appealing to Marsha is that “it’s an all natural environment,” she said. “You can see the plants and where and how they grow. And the people that come are interested in plants and it’s so much fun.” [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/070921_Lilyfest_108-scaled.jpg)
“I’m very pleased,” Bishop said. “If my husband was still alive, he probably wouldn’t believe we’re still doing this to be honest.”
The garden wasn’t always the sprawling property it is today, though Bishop and her husband always knew they wanted to protect the land while also using it as an educational space. Bishop and the board of the garden are deeply focused on education, something they do when welcoming in the community, especially area children.
As much as she loves it, she said that it took a lot of hard work over the years.
However, the process is well worth the value the gardens bring to the community for Bishop and the board members of the garden, like Christa Myers.
“I think this gives an opportunity for kids and adults to get out into nature and learn a bit about nature,” Myers said. “We have different native plants. It’s important.”
The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Program out of Ohio State partnered with the garden. It offers classes in areas related to nature that interest people, and they can go on to volunteer in parks and areas where their new skills can be of service. Volunteers work in the Bishop Gardens throughout the year.
![Mandeville flowers are seen at Lilyfest in Rockbridge, Ohio, on Friday, July 9, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/070921_Lilyfest_005-scaled.jpg)
“We’re so disconnected now from nature, that we don’t realize how important it is that we need to take responsibility for taking care of mother earth,” Miller said. “If you’re not, it’s not because you’re uncaring. It’s not because you’re bad people. It’s lack of education in the subject.”
Lilyfest focuses on nature, but with over 60 artists on the premises, it is visible that art is a vital part of the celebration as well.
Artisans and artists like Bishop come to sell their wares, but also share their passion.
“For me, my art, my pottery is my way to center myself,” Bishop said. “A lot of people meditate, I meditate, or I’m working on getting in touch with myself.”
Whether it’s through the flora or art, Lilyfest organizers hope to offer everyone a chance to get in touch with themselves.
Those interested in visiting the Bishop Educational Gardens can visit by appointment by calling the Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District at 740-385-3016.