The Manchester Garden Club's Spring Plant Sale
At the end of every growing season, the Manchester Garden Club members examine their gardens to look for plants that can be dug up and donated to the annual Spring Plant Sale. The event is usually held the Saturday before Mother's Day. Those plants selected are usually from masses of perennials that need to be divided, or from specimens for which the gardener has a passion and would like to share it with others. Members are requested to contribute 10 or more substantial plants to the Plant Sale.
Because most of the perennials come from local and mature stock, they have survived the winters here, and are therefore likely to be more hardy in local gardens. Those in the know that have been coming to the Plant Sale for years share stories with us about how well (often how better than other plants!) their Plant Sale purchases are doing in their beds.
Because the Plant Sale is staffed by club members, buyers have access to the gardener who donated the plants and can hear first hand the success tips that have worked for them.
Photo by J. Kelsey
The Plant Sale starts promptly at 9:00 am, rain or shine. In recent years, it has been held at the Community Baptist Church parking lot on East Center Street. Location will be confirmed in early 2008. Be advised: most seasoned buyers arrive at 8:30 and are literally held back by police tape until the 9:00 announcement is made. Nearly a thousand plants are gone by around 10:30 am!