Spring plant sales kick off this weekend in Eastern Iowa

The Backyard Abundance plant sale, on Saturday, April 27, 2013, kicks off a number of local plant sales in Eastern Iowa. (photo/Backyard Abundance)

UPDATE: More plant sales have been added in Oxford and Iowa City. Scroll down to find sales in May 2013.

If you’re hoping to add a bit more green – or color – to your landscape, local plant sales are the way to go. Not only are the plants reasonably priced, but because they are locally grown, will generally do well in this part of the country. You can also choose the healthiest plants for yourself and often, the “sales force” or volunteers, includes experts who can offer planting advice. In addition, proceeds from the sales go to a good cause.

Here is information submitted on several upcoming plant sales. Find maps and other details on the events calendar.

Backyard Abundance Plant Sale Features Tasty Edibles
IOWA CITY, IA – The third annual Backyard Abundance plant sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 27 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Iowa City Recreation Center, 220 South Gilbert Street in Iowa City. It will be a wonderful time to chat with knowledgeable gardeners and welcome in the spring growing season.

The fundraiser will feature healthy plants grown locally and organically. People can buy tomatoes, peppers, kale, cabbage, eggplants and a variety of other vegetables. Perennials that volunteers have dug from their yards will be available. In addition, fruit trees and berry bushes will be for sale: apple, cherry, pear, peach, plum, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, aronia and gooseberries. All trees and shrubs were carefully selected to maximize yield, resist diseases, and thrive in Iowa weather.

Other features of Backyard Abundance event include a silent auction, vendors selling herbs, mushroom starting kits, and locally-made garden tools. Snacks made from locally grown, organic ingredients will be available. “We will have great educational displays to help people learn skills for growing their own healthy food”, says Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance.

For more information visit www.BackyardAbundance.org or call 319-325-6810.

Backyard Abundance is an Iowa City-based nonprofit that helps build vibrant communities by creating beautiful, resilient landscapes that provide healthy food and habitat.

INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER HOSTS ANNUAL PLANT SALE

Guild fundraiser features native plants for gardeners

Celebrate gardening season and support Iowa’s only privately-funded nature center by attending the annual Spring Plant Sale at the Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE in Cedar Rapids, on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-Noon.

This three-hour event, hosted by members of the Nature Center Guild, offers a variety of annuals and perennials.   Whether shopping for Mother’s Day or for your own backyard, you will find a variety of wildflowers, prairie grasses, geraniums, and hosta.   In addition, vendors will be selling herbs, small bushes and garden art.  Vendors will accept only cash or checks.  A Master Gardener will be available to offer suggestions and answer questions.

Proceeds from the Plant Sale help the Nature Center provide educational programming to thousands of children and adults and preserve more than 210 acres of land.  For more information, call (319) 362-0664.

Seed Savers Exchange Rare Plant Sale

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 4;  Heritage Farm, 3074 N Winn Rd  Decorah, IA

Seed Savers Exchange will be offering unique vegetable transplants from the preservation seed bank for sale to the public, on May 4 only.

The preservation plant sale, which will consist of hard to find vegetable varieties, will include staff favorites like the deep maroon amaranth ‘Kerala Red,’ a nearly black lettuce ‘Revolution-Evolution,’ a classic mustard known as ‘Myers’ Family Heirloom, and the relentlessly fruitful tomato ‘Tiny Tim Yellow.’  Transplants will be sold for $3 for 3 inch pots, and $4 for 4-packs, available in limited quantities.  SSE staff will also be on hand during the event to answer gardening and seed saving questions.

Oxford Farmers Market Plant Sale

The Oxford Farmers Market is having a two-day plant sale at the Depot in Oxford from 9am to 5 pm. Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Funds will go toward the farmers market.

The Depot is on Augusta Avenue, the main street through town,  right across from the fire department.

Friends of Hickory Hill Park

The annual plant sale covers the cost of prairie and woodland burns or covers part of the cost of hiring a work crew to make park improvements.

Friday May 10th (4 pm to 7 pm)

Saturday May 11th (10 am to 4 pm)

Friday May 17th (4 pm to 7 pm)

Saturday May 18th (10 am to 4 pm)

The plant sale will be held in the backyard of 1167 East Jefferson Street in Iowa City.  Plants can be dropped off the week and weekend before.  Call Joan at 319-338-5331 if you would like to donate or for more information.

Project GREEN Garden Fair

May 11, 2013 9–11:30 am at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

We have many new things to offer, and we believe our sale to be the biggest and best in the area. Here are some of the reasons to support and attend our sale:

Your purchases fund local landscaping. All funds raised from the 2013 Garden Fair will be earmarked for a major contribution to the landscaping at the new Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, south of Iowa City on Sand Road, which will be Iowa City’s largest
park including 207 acres with a 95.5 acre lake. There will be a display at the Garden Fair with more information about this project, as well as Project GREEN’s other projects – past, present and future.

Tried and true plant stock!
The plants sold at the Garden Fair are all proven performers for our climate. Our plants have all been nurtured and donated by local gardeners.

Hosta, shade perennials, sunny perennials, trees, shrubs, vines galore!
Contrary to popular rumors, there are plenty of plants available for the duration of the sale. You do not need to be present when the doors open in order to have a good selection of plants for purchase.

Orchids!
Once again we will be blooming orchids for sale, courtesy of the Eastern Iowa Orchid Club. What a perfect gift for Mother’s Day!

Refreshments!
We will have refreshments available for purchase – coffee, muffins, sweet rolls, sweet breads and the like; plus tables and chairs where you can take a break from your shopping!

Expert advice!
Local experts will be available to answer your garden questions. Experts from Master Gardeners, Iowa City recycling and composting, Department of Natural Resources, and other wildlife experts, biologists, foresters will be on hand.

Plant sitters!
Plant sitting stations will be available where you can stow your boxes of plant treasures while you talk to the experts, enjoy refreshments, or shop for more.

Plan to come to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 11.
Doors open at 9 a.m.

Brucemore Plant Sale

Benton County Master Gardeners Celebrate Spring Extravaganza

Sat., May 11, 2013

These self watering pots will be sold during the Benton County Master Gardener Extravaganza and Plant sale on Saturday, May 11, 2013. (photo/Kathy Janss)

8 am-9 am Plant Sale (open to the public and registrants)

Garden Art Sale

Extravaganza Registration

Self-watering pots will also be sold during the sale (see photo)

 9am Fairy/Miniature Gardens, Becki Lynch, ISU Master Gardener

10am Maximizing Your Garden Enjoyment, Jamie Beyer, ISU Master Gardener

11am Gourd Birdhouse Workshop, Tammi Cook, ISU Master Gardener

Fairy/Miniature Gardens

Join Linn County Master Gardener Becki Lynch as she takes you into the world of miniature gardens. From fairies in small containers, to elaborate villages, there’s something for everyone in this magical world. She will review the materials needed for a variety of gardens, and how you can make your own—with or without your favorite small fry– guaranteed to lighten all hearts!

Maximizing Your Garden Enjoyment

 Lifetime Master Gardener Jamie Beyer will share many techniques to make your gardening hobby more enjoyable than you thought possible. For instance, a friend plants a “secret” in her garden and watches children as well as adults try to discover it. His presentation includes adding whimsy to your plot, allocating garden time, viewing your garden, managing it and sharing. Jamie will bring a gift for you!

Gourd Birdhouse Workshop

Join Benton County Master Gardener Tammi Cook as she helps you create a beautiful organic birdhouse from dried gourds to take home.

Early Registration (postmarked by May 3): $15 for lectures and birdhouse workshop.

Late Registration (after May 3):$20 for lectures and birdhouse workshop

(Registration fee is non-refundable)

Make Check Payable to:Benton County Extension

Send to: Benton County Extension, 501 1st Avenue, Vinton, IA 52349

First Lutheran Church is located at 1523 Sunset Drive, Belle Plaine, IA (two blocks north of the car wash/Dollar General) Watch for signs.

For more information contact:  Greg Walston, Benton County Program Director, Iowa State University Extension. Phone 319-472-4739. gwalston@iastate.edu

Linn County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale

Linn County Extension, 383 Collins Road (note new location) Cedar Rapids, IA.

Saturday, May 18, 8 am to Noon

As always, 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, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, annuals and more.  These plants come from our Master Gardeners’ gardens, 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 choosing the plants just right for you and will answer your gardening questions.