Lyn Morgan-Hill, MG 2010
As I am writing this, the witch hazel on Mt Baker Hwy near
Deming is blooming; shoots of tulips are coming up in my garden so spring must
be just around the corner. That means it’s time to think about digging plants
for the Master Gardener Plant Sale.
This year the plant sale will be held Saturday, May 7 at
Hovander Park.
As you know, the plant sale is the major fund raising activity
for the Master Gardener Foundation and we rely for the most part on plants
donated by our members. Now is the time for you to take a look at your garden
and see what plants could use a little dividing or plants you would just like
to get rid of. We need as many good
plants as possible.
Here are some suggestions for potting up the best plants and
making the plant sale a big success:
• Start early.
The plant starts need an optimal six weeks to put down roots and to look
presentable.
• Use good
soil. Potting soil is available at the Old Greenhouse at Hovander Park. A
potting bench, pots, labels, and tools are there for you to use or you can fill
pots with soil to take home.
• Beginning in
March, volunteers will be at the Old Greenhouse on Wednesdays from 9 a.m.to
noon if you need help.
• Identify your plants. The internet and Sunset Garden Book
are great sources of information or you can bring a sample into the Master
Gardener office for identification.
• If you have a
lot of plants and need help dividing or digging them up, please contact Karen
Gilliam (jkgilliam@gmail.com) or Linda Bergquist (lbergquist41@gmail.com) and they
can arrange a work party to come to your house to help dig up and pot the
plants.
The plant sale set up will be Friday, May 6 from 8:30 to
noon,
so please plan on bringing all your potted and labeled plants to Hovander
Park that morning and volunteers will be available to help unload your vehicle.
Besides plants, we also need people for the plant sale set
up and during the actual plant sale. There are many activities you can be
involved in before, during and after the sale such as publicity, vendors,
cashier positions, table managers, parking, loading, set up, take down, etc. We
will be posting a volunteer sign up page on the Master Gardener webpage next
month so you will be able to see the various positions and times available.
Please join us for this fun and rewarding event.
Lyn Morgan-Hill
Plant Sale Coordinator