The Words That Make Every Plant Addict Weak in the Knees - Plant Sale!

The Rhododendron Species Garden hosts a sale twice a year, spring and fall which I rarely miss. (Previous post here.) The sale is held Friday afternoon  and  all day Saturday on a site only 10 minutes from where I work.   With so many plant sales happening on the weekend of April 18, I was a bit worried that there wouldn't be as many vendors this year as in the past.  To the contrary, there seemed to be even more!

Arisaemas a go go.

My shade garden has several varieties whose names I've forgotten.  Mostly I call them lucky to survive as mine emerge fairly late and the space is in danger of being used to plant something else. Sloth has its benefits as by the time I get around to planting things, the arisaemas are usually making themselves known.

The flowers are quite interesting and the foliage is equally captivating.

The Rhododendron Species tables themselves always contain far more than just rhododendrons. Can you imagine this leaf only two feet across?

Ian brought Treasures from The Desert Northwest.  If you're in the area, his open house dates for this year are May 29-31, July 31 - August 1, and September 25 - 26.

Prism Gardens Nursery was a new name to me.  Turns out, Prism Gardens is Lee Hiatt, the secret grower you may have remembered from this post and this was the first time ever that Lee had participated in a plant sale as a vendor.  Word on the street is that he had a great time!

He volunteered - $45.00!  He was selling them for $8.00.  

 One of the clubs represented at the sale.  These tables often have some unusual treasures for those interested in a specific kind of plant.

More great plants and vendors. 

Gardeners find hosta irresistible as do deer and slugs.

 One of my favorites and one that the hummingbirds enjoy as well, Berberis darwinii.

Sarracenia blooms are as quirky looking as the plants themselves.

Here's a pitcher stalk cut open to show how many bugs were consumed by this single stem.  

Kalanchoe

Starting to feel really silly for starting tomatoes from seed.  This was one of many tables... 

There were lots more vendors like Robinwood Nursery, and The Scented garden which had chimonanthus praecox which is difficult to find in these parts and Philadelphus madrensis, the blooms of which have a delicious wafting fragrance reminiscent of like grape kool aid.

It's fitting to end this post with a couple of rhododendrons since the sale benefits the Rhododendron Species Foundation.  Here's Everred.

Someone forgot to photograph the label on this one but ain't it grand?    

The RSF autumn sale takes place in October.  Hope you can make it!  For a list of other FSF events, click here.