2012 Plant Sale--April 14
It's almost time for the plant sale--We're returning to the Fairgrounds
Mark your calendar--April 14, 2012
The sale has grown to offer the largest collection of perennial plants in the Midstate area. Typically, the sale brings together 450 different varieties and 7,000 to 8,000 individual plants.
Why gardeners -- from beginners to "old hands" -- flock to the sale.
The selection is topnotch. Plants for sale are chosen by serious, experienced gardeners. Among them, they have grown many of the varieties and cultivars. The sole priority is beautiful perennials that grow best in our area. Members of the Plant Acquisition Committee know how to research. They know the favorites last year and the years before that. They buy from Tennessee nurseries they have learned to trust for supplying beautiful specimens of plant material. It all translates into healthier plants for shoppers.
Healthy plants mean value for the dollar. Prices are almost always less than stand-alone garden centers and are even competitive with the big box stores. The limited choices at the box stores do not compare to the huge choices at the sale.
Shopping is fun. On sale day, plants have been divided into shade-loving and sun-loving. Knowledgeable plant guides are happy to answer your questions and offer suggestions. Each of the guides is a serious gardener and plant-lover. A sign on each variety tells about the plant's growth habit. Most signs have a picture of the mature plant and its bloom. Enthusiastic volunteers help carry plants to your car.
We're going back to the Fairgrounds this year. Shoppers lining up outside the door for an hour or two before the doors open speak to customer loyalty. Some have traveled more than a hundred miles. Some come with lists; others want inspiration on the spot. Early birds are rewarded by signing up for a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate at the sale.
Volunteers begin planning months before the sale to make it a pleasant shopping experience. Proceeds go to educational print materials for members and the public, scholarships for 4 horticulture students, maintenance of Heritage Garden at Ellington Agricultural Center, and expenses for bringing in knowledgable speakers for monthly program meetings.
All program meetings are free and open to the public.