When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, many plant sales went online or were suspended for the season.
At least one of those returns to an in-person sale in 2021, with the Linn County Master Gardeners annual plant sale set for 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 8, at the American Legion Post 298, 625 31st St., Marion.
Plants are grown in the Lowe Park Greenhouse in Marion by Master Gardeners, and in Master Gardeners’ own personal gardens. A variety of plants will be offered for sale, including succulents, hosta, tomatoes, peppers, and day lilies. The group typically offers about 3,000 plants for purchase each year.
Shoppers, volunteers and staff will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Many of the plants will be located outdoors, while shade plants and checkout will be indoors at American Legion Hall.
Check or credit card orders can be processed; no cash will be accepted. The plant sale is one of the main funding sources for the Master Gardener program.
The Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids, normally sells plants during its Mother’s Day Open House, but the event will not be held in 2021, due to the pandemic.
Instead, plants will be sold online through May 9, with pickup Monday, May 10, or Tuesday, May 11.
Find more information and a list of plants for sale on the Noelridge Greenhouse plant sale page.
Matthew 25 also will hold a virtual plant sale this spring, with online orders through May 4, and pickup from 9 a.m. to noon May 8, at the Cultivate Hope Urban Farm, 437 G Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids.
Find more information about the Matthew 25 plant sale.
The Iowa Humane Alliance will hold its 4-Day Drive-Through Plant Sale from 4-7 p.m. May 6 and 7 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 8 and 9 next to Saint Rescue, 1200 16th Ave. SW. The group will have a variety of
hanging flower baskets, hosta, perennials, vegetable plants, herbs, succulents, house plants, and more.
Customers can drive through or park and walk through. All proceeds support lifesaving IHA programs and services. For more information call 319-363-1225 or visit: Drive-through plant sale.
Two popular plant sales in Iowa City will not be held in 2021.
Both the Johnson County Master Gardeners and Backyard Abundance decided against holding their spring sales, with Backyard Abundance noting that their usual sale site, the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, was still closed and many growers found a safer alternative in selling from their homes or farms.
One of those, Echollective Farm, has upcoming in-person plant sales from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 8, and from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, both at 1003 Ginter Ave, Iowa City. Face masks are mandatory.
Echollective grows a wide variety of vegetable starts including heirloom tomatoes, basil, sweet & hot peppers, leafy greens, herbs, pollinator plants and others. Find more on Echollective Farm’s Facebook page.
Another home plant sale is taking place at 3022 Radcliffe Ave., Iowa City. Tomato and pepper seedlings, planted by Little Steps and Beyond Daycare children, are available for a donation. See more at I.C. Gardeners Facebook page.
Plants for the Cure, a cancer fundraiser by Team Breast Friends, will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Bldg. C, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City.
Bedding plants, hosta, perennials and more will be sold, along with vendor items. Find more on the group’s event page on Facebook.
Also in Iowa City, Calico Farm offers plants for sale from 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays at 1380 Dodge Street Court. Details on Calico Farm’s Facebook page.
The Indian Creek Nature Center’s plant sale in Cedar Rapids remained online for 2021. That sale ended April 28.
Related: See photos from the 2019 plant sale at the Indian Creek Nature Center
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