Goodbye winter! We are midway through the spring parade of daffodils, and now tulips, that brighten our yards, freeway exits, and byways of our northwest corner of Washington. The next exciting chapter in spring is just around the corner with the annual May plant sales. I think it is truly the most exciting time for most gardeners, second only to the conservation districts’ native plant sales that happen in April, but that’s a story for another day.
Before I discuss the May plant sales further, I would like to remind you that our Blaine Community Organization for Resources and Education (CORE) class on container gardening will take place 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3 at the Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. If you think you don’t have any place to grow that new variety of tomato you just read about, think again. We are going to get you growing without a front or backyard.
My personal favorites for our gardens are native plants, especially for creating permanent landscaping. There’s no better time to purchase native plants than now, with sales going on around our region. The Salal Chapter Native Plant Sale just started its virtual shopping on April 22 and the live sale will be held Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 at the Washington State University Mount Vernon Northwestern Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536. For more information, visit bit.ly/4iqEMXa.
Here in Whatcom County, we begin with the WSU Whatcom County Master Gardener Program’s online plant sale. Starting at 9 a.m. May 3 and running through 9 p.m. Sunday, May 4, you can pre-purchase veggie, herbs and tomato starts with a credit card (there’s nothing quite like shopping for plants in your pajamas). Plant pick-up is at the plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at Hovander Homestead Park, 5299 Nielsen Road in Ferndale. The free event will have educational opportunities and everything from trees, vegetables, shrubs, perennials for purchase. Visit whatcommgf.org for more information.
WSU Skagit County Master Gardeners will hold its plant sale the same day, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, 501 Taylor Street in Mount Vernon. For more information, visit bit.ly/42mZ0wl.
If you attend the native plant sale in Ferndale on May 10, make sure to stop by the DUPI (Dig’r Uppers and Put’er Inners) Garden Club Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the United Church of Ferndale at 2034 Washington Street.
Finally, the WSU Whatcom County Master Gardener self-service plant sale Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, June 22 at Hovander Homestead Park. The sale includes both new plants as well as some that were at the main sale.
For those gardeners who haven’t yet heard, I am deeply saddened to let you know that Sustainable Connections is officially closing the Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC) nursery in Everson on June 30.
“CMFC’s nursery has made a lasting impact by building a strong community of farmers, home growers, and educators who inspire others to grow,” according to Sustainable Connections’ closure announcement. “After four decades of offering educational workshops and an incredible variety of regionally adapted plants, the nursery will end its operations due to funding challenges.”
The farm is selling its nursery stock at highly discounted prices leading up to the closure. For more information, visit cloudmountainfarmcenter.org.
As we move into another summer of great gardening, I would encourage you to actively support our local growers and gardeners. They may soon be our primary source of fresh fruits and vegetables. Stop at a local farm stand and pick up some local produce or plant starts. There’s no better way than by taking a Sunday drive to explore the back roads of the county.
Kelle Rankin-Sunter is founder of Blaine CORE, which holds free home and gardening classes at Blaine Public Library. Rankin-Sunter can be reached at fruit@Blaine-CORE.com.
