Master Gardeners host plant sale, garden fair

Master Gardeners of North Alabama (MGNA) members Patsy Connor and Janet Boothe set up the 2015 MGNA Plant Sale and Garden Fair. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Master Gardeners of North Alabama (MGNA) will host their third annual Plant Sale and Garden Fair on May 7.

The event at Madison County Farmer’s Market, 1022 Cook Ave. in Huntsville, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gardeners are presenting the sale in cooperation with Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES).

Customers will find a wide variety of locally grown and curated perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, shade plants, small trees, shrubs and many more selections. All plants will be sold at very reasonable prices.

“Master Gardeners will be on hand throughout the sale to answer questions, make recommendations and assist customers with their selections and purchases,” MGNA publicist Sue Khoury said.

“We have added a wide array of activities to our plant sale, including free testing of soil pH, children’s hands-on crafts, the ‘Ask a Master Gardener’ booth, a rain barrel demonstration and compost bin demo and sales,” Khoury said. “We’ll also be selling hand tools, gloves, birdhouses and garden decor.”

The gardeners also will set up a garden-themed rummage sale. The new venue will have more space and available restrooms.

Plant Sale Chairwoman Ann Tippie said local MGNA members and interns have grown most of the plants offered for sale. Some of the varieties are hard to find at local nurseries.

A dedicated group of volunteers has been planning and growing for the sale for more than eight months. “All proceeds will help to fund a variety of community service projects throughout Madison County,” Khoury said.

MGNA has a long history of providing educational workshops, hands-on support and horticultural guidance for area schools, civic organizations, senior centers, CASA, beautification and tree boards and Huntsville Botanical Garden.

“Members are also active with local horticulture clubs, including the Herb Society, Daylily Society and many others,” Khoury said. “At the botanical garden, MGNA plants, maintains and conducts tours of the demonstration vegetable garden and maintains the compost demonstration project.”

For the garden’s spring plant sale, MGNA members staff the vegetable tent and provide thousands of volunteer hours throughout the entire garden, including the mulch pile.