FERGUS – The Fergus and District Horticultural Society will be holding its first plant sale since 2019 on May 28, from 8 to 11am.
The sale will be in front of the stone house at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex on Belsyde Avenue in Fergus.
This popular sale has been part of local gardeners’ spring planting for over 20 years.
Shoppers will find a wide selection of local perennials ranging from $3 to $8.
Plants come from the 25 public gardens in the town of Fergus that are maintained by the horticultural society and from members’ personal gardens.
If you’ve ever seen the beautiful gardens in town such as the Terry Fox Garden by Beatty Line and County Road 18, the River Walk garden behind the library and the town’s crown jewel, the Templin Gardens, you know these are special plants. They include rare plants, old favourites, herbs, ground covers and shade dwellers.
Perennials in the gardens must be divided every couple of years to keep them from over-growing and to remain healthy.
These are then potted by our members for the plant sale. Many were potted last fall.
You never know what you will find – anything from ornamental grasses, hostas, black eyed Susans, lady’s mantle, peonies, phlox, cranesbill, daylilies, sedums, bloodroot, iris, bleeding hearts, Solomon seal to even rhubarb and raspberries.
There are thousands of plants to choose from.
Kathy Bouma, past president has been involved since the very first plant sale.
“The first sale was at a member’s home on St. George Street. It snowed that day, but we sold everything,” Bouma recalled.
“The plants at our sale provide vitality to local gardens. These plants come from plant material that is local, has been nurtured and looked after by our membership for years and does not include any invasive species. These are all local plants that thrive in our local environment.”
Local members also give plants from their gardens.
“They call us, and we pick flowers and plants from their beds while being respectful of their properties,” said Michelle Goff, plant sale organizer.
“Our goal is to provide fantastic quality perennials at fantastic prices and in the process raise funds to operate the horticultural society for the year.”
The funds are used to help with the gardens in town, fund garden projects, provide education bursaries at local high schools, donations to the food bank and other charitable initiatives.
And if you are worried about anything or have questions, ask any of our members at the sale for friendly advice. They are all there to help you.
This is the society’s only fundraiser for the year.
The Fergus and District Horticultural Society looks forward to seeing you on May 28 at the Sportsplex.
Submitted by Ken Johnston, Fergus and District Horticultural Society