Plant sales jump start gardens in Eastern Iowa

Iowa’s roller-coaster weather continues this spring, after record high temperatures in February followed by winterlike winds and frost just this weekend in late April.

Read about the Three Frozen Kings frost warning legend

Generally, perennials, such as hosta, daylilies and native plants, can tolerate frost, though some annual flowers and vegetables are tender and prefer warmer temperatures.

The ideal planting time is almost as fleeting as plant sales in Eastern Iowa, where shoppers can find a multitude of flowers and more, with most grown in the area and acclimated to Iowa’s wacky weather.

Following are area plant sales in April and May 2024. Leave a comment if you know of others.

Save CR Heritage Spring Gnome & Garden Sale, 10-noon Saturday, April 27; JE Halvorson House, 606 Fifth Ave. SE, next to Kathy’s Pies in Cedar Rapids. Hosta, “magic” lilies, daffodils and other perennials rescued by the nonprofit from demolition sites, including the fabled Poe mansion, plus native purple coneflower, daylilies, iris and other plants donated by generous friends, as well as garden accessories. Cash or check preferred. Proceeds benefit the early-1900s JE Halvorson House.

Morning Glory Farm, plant sales 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May through June; 681 Hwy. 1 South, Mount Vernon; www.morningglory.community

Indian Creek Nature Center Annual Spring Plant and Art Sale, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 4; 5776 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids. Wildflowers, hosta, geraniums, perennials, prairie plants and more, plus milkweed for monarch caterpillars, seedlings and seed packets, garden accessories, home decor and art. Proceeds support educational programs. https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/gallery/spring-plant-sale/

Matthew 25 Spring Plant Sale, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4; Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids. Greenhouse-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, plus annual and perennial plants grown by local partners and yard tools sale. matthew-25.org/event/spring-plant-sale

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church plant sale, 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, May 5; 123 E. Market St., Iowa City. Over 30 varieties of perennials (some Iowa natives) and heirloom tomato varieties, peppers and herbs. Proceeds benefit CommUnity Food Bank and Healing Prairie Farm.

Native Plant Sale by Johnson County Conservation and Johnson County Master Gardeners, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, May 5; Kent Park, 2048 Highway 6 NW, Oxford, Iowa. One of four native plant sales in 2024, along with June 2, Sept. 8, and Oct. 6. Each sale happens concurrently with a Native Plant Speaker Series. Registration for the speaker series is required, but you do not need to be registered to attend the plant sale. Native plants vendors are local Iowa companies, including Allendan Seed Company.

Cedar Rapids Prairie FFA plant sale, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10; 460 76^th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. The first-ever Cedar Rapids Prairie FFA plant sale features flower and vegetable plants.

Iowa Humane Alliance 4-Day Plant Sale: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 and 10-4 Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12; next to Saint Rescue, 1200 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. Hanging flower baskets and containers, hostas, perennials, vegetable plants, herbs, succulents, house plants and more. All proceeds support lifesaving IHA programs and services. Grow plants, not pet populations. https://iowahumanealliance.org/events/plant-sale

Save CR Heritage will have a Spring Gnome & Garden Sale from 10-noon Saturday, April 27, in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Linn County Master Gardeners annual Spring Plant Sale, 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 10, and 8-noon Saturday, May 11; Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center, 4500 N. 10^th St., Marion. Vegetables, herbs and annual flowers started and tended by Master Gardener volunteers in the greenhouse at Lowe Park, plus perennials and native plants propagated from heirlooms from Master Gardeners’ home gardens. All proceeds go towards educational programming and community/donation gardens.

Plants for the Bird House, 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11; 2608 Bluffwood Circle, Iowa City. Bedding plants, hosta, perennials, hanging baskets, garden items, house plants. Check or cash only. Proceeds benefit the Bird House, a residential hospice home.

Johnson County Master Gardeners 15th annual Plant Sale & Flea Market, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 11; Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Road, SE, Iowa City. Perennial flowers, vegetables and herbs, shrubs and woody plants as well as Flea Market items and gift selections.

Pine Hill Farm, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 11; 4022 Campfire Rd., Walker, Iowa. Self-serve farm stand with vegetable plants, hanging baskets and flowers ready for container planting.

Feed Iowa First’s Annual Plant sale fundraiser, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11; NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Flowers, herbs and vegetable plants. Pre-orders: https://form.jotform.com/FeedIowaFirst/feed-iowa-first-2024-plant-sale Plants that will be for sale: www.feediowa1st.com/plant-sale/

GROW at Kazimour Farm and Orchard, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12; 2630 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids. Visit the GROW Grand Opening and Buds & Blossom Plant Sale, with activities for kids and families and education sessions provided by Master Gardeners at this fundraiser for GROW, a non-profit Century farm and orchard that supports the lives of adults with varying levels of abilities.

Not a sale, but St. Paul’s United Methodist Church has a free plant swap, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, in the church parking lot at 14^th Street and Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids. Bring indoor and outdoor plants, seeds, soil, flower pots and garden tools and pick up what you need for free. No lawn or garden chemicals.

Third Annual Fairfax Spring Flower & Plant Sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, during Fairfax Citywide Garage Sales; 449 Driftwood Ln., Fairfax. Bedding plants, hanging baskets, vegetable plants, planters and more. Cash, card, cash app, or Venmo accepted. Event by Otter Creek Produce & Garden Center.

More: See photos from EcoFest 2024 in Cedar Rapids