Petals from the Past, a plant and garden center near Jemison, has several programs planned for the remainder of summer.

Petals will hold its annual tomato contest Saturday, Aug. 1 and will award prizes for best taste and appearance in various categories. The contest will be followed by a seminar entitled “Growing Great Tomatoes” at 10 a.m.

Pat Conlee, an employee with Petals, said the tomato contest has been well-attended in the past.

“Last year, we had about 80 people come to the tomato contest,” Conlee said.

Conlee said this year has been a popular one for people growing their own gardens.

“We have sold so many more fruit plants,” Conlee said. “The seed companies are out of seeds.”

Conlee also said there has been more interest in the classes offered.

Petals offers educational programs by demand for groups of 10 or more during the week.

Conlee said she, along with Petals owners Jason and Shelley Powell, plan the programs in advance.

“We just sit down every year and figure out what we want to do,” Conlee said.

Occasionally they offer cooking demonstrations, which have become very popular, because we focus on growing your own fruits and vegetables, and eating at home,” Conlee said.

The programs benefit beginner gardeners as well as the experienced, Conlee said.

“It’s not targeted toward any one group,” Conlee said. “There’s always something you can learn with gardening.”

Other scheduled events for the month of August include:

Sunday, Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. “Tour of the Figs and Bunch Grapes”

Saturday, Aug. at noon “Savor the Flavor of Provence” (Reservations required, $20 fee)

Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. “Apples, Pears and Muscadines”

Petals also offers fresh fruit, with blueberries available from until late August; figs, which can be picked by the customer, from mid-July until late September; muscadines and apples from early August until early October; and Asian pears in late August and into September.

For more information regarding the upcoming programs, log on to www.petalsfromthepast.com.