Take your pick from the Memorial Gardens Plant Sale
You too can have a “garden of dreams” if you stop by the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens on Saturday, May 9 to take your pick from a variety of plants and flowers available at the annual Plant Sale. While you’re there, take a seat on this bench and ask questions of the local gardeners there too. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
Whether you’re looking to fill a whole garden, find some blooms to complement a couple pots, or pick up that perfect Mother’s Day gift, the annual Memorial Gardens Plant Sale will offer a beautiful variety of flowers for everyone. On Saturday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Prairie du Chien’s Memorial Gardens on St. Feriole Island, the public is invited to browse through the loads of colorful flowers and plants and purchase their favorites. All proceeds will go back into the Memorial Gardens.
A wide assortment of blossoms such as coneflowers, sedum, lilies—Stella De Oro daylilies and tiger lilies—hostas, different types of groundcover and more will be sold at various prices. As many as 400 lilies are expected. Many of the flowers and plants will even be potted and ready to go, or you can bring your own pots, containers or leaf bags and fill them on site. Wood chips in natural colors can also be purchased at the sale.
“You can buy by the load, if you want a lot,” said Barb Toberman, sale organizer. “But bring a truck. Someone will be there to help load.”
The AmericInn, Barb Toberman, Sandy Vold and a host of other master gardeners from the area have donated items to the plant sale. Mike Witt has donated the wood chips.
Anyone who has their own blooms to donate are asked to take them to the gardens on Friday, May 8 and drop them off. There should be a trailer on the mound, where they can be placed. Donors are asked to label the plants and flowers as to what type they are and what colors they will blossom. Any Arbor Day trees people wish to donate can be dropped off at the firemen’s tables in the gardens.
Last year’s plant sale was canceled due to high water, and people really missed it, Toberman said.
“So come on out and buy all you couldn’t buy last year,” added Cathie Nelson, another sale organizer. “People have come to this sale and bought enough to fill their whole garden. We always have a nice turnout.”
In addition to the plants and flowers, a highlight of the plant sale will be advice provided by a number of experienced gardeners. They will be on-hand to answer gardening questions and offer tips.
