Sunshine, Please

After many days of rain, everyone is ready to get out. Let's play in the sun, and dig in the dirt! If you are ready to plant something, check out the native plant sales in the area. Native plants require less work, and grow better and easier than other species. They behave themselves, and don't require you to trim them (with a machete) in a couple of years. Some non-natives are invasive, even pretty ones like wisterias and English ivy.

The NC/SC Native Plant Sale is this weekend, at the Museum of York County on Saturday, April 4, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The sale features iris, cardinal flower, butterfly weed, and native blueberry plants.

Greenville, SC hosts a Native Plant Society Sale on Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The sale will be held by the Upstate Chapter in the parking lot of Jeff Lynch Appliances in Greenville. Here is its Flyer, SCNPS_09Spring_sale.pdf.

Also on April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, is the Spring Native Plant Sale and Bog Garden Workshop. The Lowcountry Chapter of the SC Native Plant Society presents it in the parking lot of Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, in Charleston. They also offer the Bog Garden Workshop at 10:00 a.m. Here is that Plant Sale Flyer/Poster.

Look for several events on the 25th: first, the TLC Irvin Learning Farm Primavera Preview, a mouthful that I can't say three times fast. Another event in North Carolina that day is the Duke Gardens Plant and Craft Festival, with music, crafts, and more.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden Plant Sale is also on April 25th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can talk to Master Gardeners there about plant selection and care. All proceeds benefit the SC Botanical Garden at Clemson, 295 acres of natural landscapes, gardens, streams, and nature trails. I really want to see the 400 varieties of camellias there!