2018 Plant Sale Wrap-up
-Mary Ring, Plant Sale Chair
The INPS Central Chapter’s plant sale again was a resounding success, the result of the phenomenal efforts of the chapter’s talented and dedicated growers and volunteers. And again, customers began claiming their positions in the opening line beginning at 7:45 a.m., patiently waiting for the 9:00 opening. Between 125 and 150 customers were anxious to be first to score their favorite native plant selections. Sunshine made an appearance, its first in many years, and gave everyone – sale volunteers and customers alike – a special boost.
As always, special recognition is given to our talented growers: Lois Fox and the ever-patient George Fox, Guy and Edie Sternberg, Alana McKean, Henry Eilers, and Jim Struebing. This year, Lois had excellent assistance from Carol Anderson as they worked together, making daily trips to the greenhouse to start seeds and manage the growth of the majority of the herbaceous plants sold at the sale. Guy, Edie and Alana manage woodies at Starhill Arboretum, and Henry always has a diverse selection of offerings from his home gardens. Special thanks this year to Wendy Weisenburn for the use of table space in her heated greenhouses, germination room, and making bulk purchases of our growing supplies. We also had access to her specially fitted cargo trailer for transporting the plants to the sale location. Jim Struebing grew dozens and dozens of wonderful plants at his greenhouse and donated them for the sale. Thank you to all of these devoted members.
New this year were the pre-packaged pollinator garden selections. Four different packages were offered – plant selections tailored to support bees, hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies, and monarch butterflies. These packages were best sellers and all were sold within the first half-hour of the sale! Kudos to Carol Anderson for her design and assembling of these garden packages.
Two additional organizations conducted their own annual sales by co-locating with the INPS Central Chapter sale. The Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District offered bareroot trees and shrubs, and the Springfield Bonsai Society offered its members’ uniquely styled plants. Yes, some are native species!
The INPS Central Chapter uses funds from the plant sale to support its grant program and offers financial support for special projects that support the conservation of native plants. Go to the INPS website (www.ill-inps.org/central-chapter-grant-info/) to view the grant guidelines and to access application materials.
Planning for next year’s sale will begin soon. If you have ideas you would like to share about the sale, please take a moment to send an email to the INPS Central Chapter president, Trish Quintenz (trishquintenz@gmail.com) or to the plant sale coordinator, Mary Ring (westring@frontier.com).
Save the date for next year’s sale: Saturday, April 27, 2019