Daylilies are among the many perennials sold during upcoming plant sales in Eastern Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

With snowfall still fresh on Iowans’ minds, it’s hard to believe that gardening season is finally here. Local plant sales offer a great way to jump-start your efforts, with plants grown by master gardeners and others with gardening expertise for Iowa’s conditions.

One major change for plant sale enthusiasts: given the unpredictable weather in May, the Linn County Master Gardeners have moved their sale indoors. See the Master Gardeners entry for that new location.

Following is a list of Eastern Iowa plant sales for 2018. Leave a message, below, if your organization offers a local plant sale to add to this list.

Edible Plant Sale Fundraiser hosted by Backyard Abundance

Saturday, April 28
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 South Gilbert St., Iowa City

Vegetables, herbs, berries and pollinator-friendly plants.
Experts carefully researched each plant variety.
Worms for vermicomposting bins will be available.
Purchases help fund environmental education events.
Membership Discount and Early Entry
Members of Backyard Abundance receive a 10% discount on all purchases and can enter the sale at 8:30 am to get first pick of plants. For more information, visit www.BackyardAbundance.org

Indian Creek Nature Center, Spring Plant Sale

Saturday, May 5
9 a.m. to noon
Indian Creek Nature Center, 5300 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids

The Friends of the Nature Center group is ready to fill your yard and garden with a variety of beautiful wildflowers, hostas, geraniums, perennials and prairie plants at their annual Spring Plant and Art Sale. Select beautiful hanging baskets and planters or choose individual plants to create your own masterpiece. You’ll also find a selection of vegetables ready to transplant into your garden. Gardening experts are on hand to answer your questions and make suggestions about what plants will work best for your individual situation. And if you’re looking for garden art and accessories, vendors are ready to provide unique and attractive pieces to help you create a charming garden showcase in your yard. The Spring Plant and Art Sale is one of two annual fundraising events benefiting Indian Creek Nature Center put on by the Friends of the Nature Center group, along with Nature’s Noel holiday market in December.

Project GREEN Garden Fair

Saturday, May 5; 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City

This year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Project GREEN. Our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale will be held Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It should be no surprise that our volunteers are already hard at work to make certain shoppers who support the organization have the most reliable, locally-grown plants to support our fundraising efforts. All Garden Fair plants have been grown in our experienced gardeners’ own gardens. They are choice, hardy plants that will survive Iowa’s weather. Choose from thousands of plants set out on tables that extend halfway around Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Cedar Valley Iris and Daylily Society

Saturday, May 12
8:30 a.m. to noon.
Environmental Learning Center, 3300 Cedar St., Muscatine

Spring public plant sale at the Gazebo at the Environmental Learning Center, 3300 Cedar St., Muscatine. This is a great chance to pick up some very nice registered hybrid daylilies and iris as well as some perennial plants. More information available at cvids.org.

Johnson County Master Gardeners 11th Annual Plant Sale and Flea Market

Saturday, May 12
8 a.m. to noon
Johnson County Fair Grounds, Building B, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City

Johnson County Master Gardeners will be holding their 11th Annual Garden Sale and Flea Market. The sale will include perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, tools, and garden yard art. The Johnson County Master Gardener Plant Sale and Flea Market will be held Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds from the annual sale support 4-H Awards, Kirkwood Community College Horticulture Scholarships and JCMG program support and operations.

The Good Earth Garden Club, 2018 Plant Sale

Saturday, May 12, and Saturday, May 19, 8 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, May 20, 9 am to 5 p.m.
740 Old Marion Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids

Find a wide range of shade and sun perennials and annuals, including native plants and edibles. See a listing of many of the plants for sale.

UPDATE: postponed until further notice – Harshbarger Hosta Society Hosta Sale

Saturday, May 19
9 am to noon
Noelridge Garden, Collins Road and Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids

Find numerous hosta shade plants for sale at the Noelridge Hosta Shade Garden from local gardens of members of the Harshbarger Hosta Society.

Linn County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale

Saturday, May 19
8 am to noon
NEW LOCATION: American Legion, 625 31st St., Marion

Pick plants for your garden from many kinds of perennials (both for sun and or shade) and many varieties of hosta and daylilies, also wildflowers, herbs, groundcovers, house plants,  ornamental grasses, annuals and more. These plants come from our Master Gardeners’ gardens and the Lowe Park greenhouse, where they were carefully dug and potted, and tenderly taken care of until the sale day. Best of all, they are priced for anyone who likes a bargain. Take Master Gardener plants home, grow them and enjoy them for years to come. In addition, a variety of vegetables, including heirloom tomatoes, will be available. Master Gardeners will help you choose the plants right for you and will answer your gardening questions.

Friends of Hickory Hill Park Monarch Madness & Plant Sale

Sat. May 19 and Sun., May 20
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bloomington Street Entrance to Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City

The sale offers the usual array of prairie and other donated plants, including a number that encourage monarchs. Monarch Madness will feature live milkweed plants for sale to home gardeners. Donations go to park stewardship and conservation projects.