April 22 Column: Plant Sales
My garden column for this week is about two huge plant sales in Spokane. One put on by the Spokane County Master Gardeners and the other by the Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane. Here is a link to the headline in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Largest area plant sales on the horizon. (or you can read my column lower in this post)
The Master Gardener Garden Fair & Plant Sale will be this Saturday, Apr. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spokane County Extension building, 222 N. Havana St.
The Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane’s plant sale will be Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Their sale will be held just east of the Gaiser Conservatory in Manito Park, 4 W. 21st Ave.
This weeks’ “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video is all about a fun way to grow and plant peas. It started when we watched a YouTube video where a gardener started had his peas in rain gutters. At first, we chuckled at what seemed like a crazy idea. The more we thought about it, we decided it was actually a pretty good method. This is the first year we’ve tried it! Here’s our video, and I’ll put the original videos below it:
Note: I received a helpful comment from a viewer about weaving together the pea supports. I did just that and now it’s quite strong and stable. Hooray!
And here are the 2 videos from YouTube that inspired the gutter pea project in the first place!
Video #1 on “the guttering method”:
Video #2 on planting out the “gutter peas”:
Plant Sales garden column:
by Susan Mulvihill
Gardeners know spring has truly arrived when local plant sales start taking place. Two of the largest sales will kick off the season next weekend. The Spokane County Master Gardeners and the Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane hold their annual offerings of wonderful plants.
Spokane County Master Gardener Garden Fair & Plant Sales
On Saturday Apr. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Master Gardeners will host their Garden Fair & Plant Sale. The location is in and around the Spokane County Extension building, located at 222 N. Havana St. Visitors will find a wide range of perennials, vegetable and herb plant starts, berries, dahlias and ornamental grasses. All have been grown by Master Gardeners. Vendors will also offer perennials, native plants, garden art and jewelry. There will be information booths on topics such as gardening for life and sensory gardening.
Veggie Committee lead Ken Johnson suggests folks come early for the best selection of plants. There will be hundreds of peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and artichokes. Tomatoes tend to be everyone’s favorite. There will be a selection of tried-and-true favorites along with new and unusual varieties.
This event raises funds for the Spokane County Master Gardener program. They provide horticultural advice and education to gardeners throughout the county. The Master Gardeners staff a free plant clinic from March through October each year. Their goal is to answer questions and suggest solutions to gardening challenges. The clinic, which will be open during this event, provides a perfect opportunity to get your questions answered.
Tim Stiess, past-president of the Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County, explained the history and purpose behind this annual event:
“At the beginning, we held an open house to share research-based gardening information with the Spokane community. It was a fun event and we promoted all the good things that Master Gardeners do in the community. The Garden Fair is now a fundraiser necessary to the continuation of the local Master Gardener program. It has never deviated from that original purpose.”
Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane Plant Sales
The Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane will hold their plant sale on Saturday and Sunday in Manito Park. The sale includes a broad selection of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs.
Their sales are always popular with local gardeners. Plant sale coordinator Norma Gavin noted that last year was their biggest sale ever, with over $20,000 raised.
The Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane holds these sales to raise money for community projects involving gardening in Spokane County. In 2017, the proceeds went toward grants. Here are some examples: insulating curtains in Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory, a rototiller for the River City Youth Ops, improvements to Spokanimal’s dog walk area, plot improvements for Spokane Women’s Farms, in addition to other local programs.
The club is accepting grant applications through May 15. These are for projects that include neighborhood or community gardens, plants or planting materials, building materials and fencing, signs or markers, and educational gardening opportunities. Applications and additional information are available on the clubs’ website, associatedgardenclubs.org.
While shopping for the perfect plants for your garden, you’ll also be supporting worthwhile programs in your community.
Spokane County Master Gardener Garden Fair & Plant Sale
When: Saturday, Apr. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 222 N. Havana St.
More info: Visit mgfsc.org.
Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane Plant Sale
When: Saturday, Apr. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Apr. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: East of Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory, 4 W. 21st Ave.
More info: Visit associatedgardenclubs.org.