The 35th Annual Spring Plant Sale

Sunday, May 17  ●  10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Everyone wants their garden to be beautiful.  Why not make it useful, too?  Growing your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs can not only stretch the food budget but make gardening more gratifying—bringing the idea of “locally grown” produce right into your own backyard. 

At the 35th Annual Spring Plant Sale, shoppers not only will find all the great offerings this sale is famous for, but dozens of new plants to inspire a bountiful “victory garden:”   heirloom tomato seedlings, colorful chiogga beets, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Red Emperor’ carrots, white alpine strawberries, blueberry plants, purple string beans, herbs for delicious teas, even hops for the home brewer.  Knitters and weavers can grow their own silky “Egyptian” cotton along with dyeing herbs for tinting the spun yarn. 

There will be plenty of ornamental plants, too, including many uncommon varieties of roses, camellias, orchids, cacti, succulents, bromeliads, palms, and more. A special highlight of this year’s sale is a selection of flowering shrubs that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.  Look for two beautiful varieties of Asclepias, the “Butterfly Bush:”  A. tuberosa  sports  red and yellow flowers while A. curassavica ‘Silky Gold’ has bright golden yellow blooms.  Other favorites include Pentas lanceolata, with its masses of red, pink, white, or lavender flowers; the brightly colored and nectar-rich red Penstemon; and Russelia equisetiformis, the “Fountain Plant.”

Look for all these, plus hundreds of other great finds, at this year’s sale.  In order to present the widest variety possible, quantities of each are limited and popular items may sell out quickly.  Arrive early for the best selection, and bring a wagon or cart to carry your purchases.

Special Demonstrations, Talks, and Discounts for Members on Saturday, May 16

Members can enjoy an extra 10 percent discount in the Bookstore and More during the May 16 Members’ Plant Sale—doubling their savings on garden books and gift items.  The offer is valid on May 16 only and is not transferable. See event invitation for discount coupon. Sorry, the discount cannot be applied to plant purchases.  New Members can join on site the morning of the sale. Membership information... 

1 p.m.:  South Coast Weaving and Spinning Guild: "Weaving, Spinning and Dying Techniques"

10:30 a.m.: Andrew Mitchell, craftsman builder: “How to Build a Raised Garden Bed”