Break out the umbrella and head to the plant sales
April may be the cruelest month, but it’s also a crucial month for Sacramento-area gardeners and garden groups.
Fact: No less than eight plant sales are happening in the region Friday and/or Saturday.
Fact (and the cruel part): It’s going to rain most of Friday and Saturday.
Fact: Plants don’t melt in the rain, and neither do gardeners.
Which means the groups and students planning these plant sales — each an important fundraiser — will be ready for rain and happy to see all interested plant shoppers.
So find those rain boots, umbrellas and water-repellant jackets. Maybe a tarp for the wagon, too, before you head out.
Here’s a rundown of the weekend’s sales:
Friday and Saturday
— 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sacramento Perennial Plant Club, on the grounds of the historic Azevedo-Moll House and Tank House, 1911 Bannon Creek Drive, South Natomas, Sacramento. Open to the public. Club information: https://sacplants.org/
This fundraising sale features plants of all types propagated by the club memberss. In addition to many varieties of perennials, there’s always a wide selection of California natives, tomatoes and other summer veggies, plus succulents, herbs, indoor plants and shade plants. Proceeds from the sale go toward the club’s Saul Wiseman Gardening Grants and other community projects. Also, “Stan the Tool Man” will be available to sharpen scissors, knives and garden tools, as well as drill drainage holes in containers.
Saturday only
— 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. American River College, in the Environmental Resource Area, south of Parking Lot A in the northeast corner of the campus, 4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento. (Enter on Myrtle Avenue.) Vegetable and flower starts, berries, perennials, succulents, cactus, shrubs, landscape plants and California natives will be for sale, all student-raised. Credit cards accepted. Recommended: Bring a wagon or cart to transport plants. Proceeds benefit the Horticulture program. https://www.facebook.com/americanrivercollege
— 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Elk Grove Garden Club, at a private home, 8609 Brodie Ct., Elk Grove. Find vegetables, flowers, herbs, perennials, succulents. Great source of unusual plants; garden crafts, too. Many of the plants are propagated by Sacramento master gardeners who are club members. Cash or check only. https://www.elkgrovegardenclub.org/
— 8 a.m. to noon, Master Gardeners of El Dorado County, at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive, Placerville, behind the Folsom Lake College El Dorado Center. This sale is edibles only, covering many types of herbs, edible flowers, fruits (including some trees and cane berries) and plenty of vegetables, including 39 varieties of tomatoes and 19 types of peppers, plus starts for squashes, pumpkins, bok choi, cucumbers and eggplants. (Ornamentals sale will be held April 25.) Proceeds benefit programs and plantings at the Sherwood garden. Parking is $2, payable at kiosks. https://www.facebook.com/UCElDoradoMG
— 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Elk Grove Community Garden, 10025 Hampton Oak Drive, Elk Grove. Tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peppers, herbs, succulents, house plants and more will be sold. Cash, checks, Venmo or PayPal accepted. Click here for inventory page. Pre-orders are being taken; pick up late Thursday (April 9) or during sale hours Saturday. Email plantsrdanzz4joy@gmail.com with pre-orders. The garden will also be accepting canned food donations for the Elk Grove Food Bank. elkgrovecommunitygarden.org
— 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Yolo County Master Gardeners at Woodland Community College, 2300 E. Gibson Road, Woodland. Drought-tolerant ornamentals will be available, including California natives, pollinator-friendly perennials and annuals that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, along with tomato plants (including heirloom varieties). Pricing: quart-size pots $5, annuals $3, and 4-inch tomato pots $4 (plus tax where applicable). Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.
— 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Grace Garden Plant Sale, back patio of the United Methodist Church, 1620 Anderson Road, Davis, though expected to move inside during rain. During the sale, meet Rich Marovich from Rotary Club of Winters who can tell Yolo County residents how to participate in the Monarch Waystation Project. Also, a performance by Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan, a student-run Japanese cultural drumming group at UC Davis. Sale followed at 11 a.m. by a tour of Grace Garden with Yolo master gardener Ann Liu. Information here.
— 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery Plant Sale, members only, followed by 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to the public, Garrod Drive, UC Davis. Second of four spring plant sales. For additional information, see our post from Monday, April 6.
