by Lydia Holley March 28, 2023
Henderson County Master Gardener Association will host an online plant sale from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 7 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 15. After purchase, pick up will be scheduled at a convenient time, but all plants will need to be picked up by April 22. More information is available at https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/online-plant-sale/ or call the number below.
A listing of plants will be emailed to those already receiving information from the Texas AgriLife Extension. If you do not currently receive those emails, and wish to receive the plant listing, please contact the email or phone number below to be added.
There will be about 2,000 plants in over 120 varieties available, with approximately 40 new varieties being offered for 2023. A large selection of perennials, annuals, bulbs, and a few trees will be available, and many are native plants. Native plants are much more beneficial to the birds, butterflies, and native bees than non-native plants.
Not certain what to purchase? If you have a blank space in your garden, you may wish to fill it with ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia. Its fluffy cloud-like shape and gray foliage will fill a blank space beautifully while keeping the focus on other plantings. White Salvia greggii will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Gregg’s mist flower will return from year to year, taking up a larger amount of space each year, and will attract butterflies in the fall when they migrate through the area.
Annuals can fill in a newly-planted area, add color when other plantings are dormant, or be the center of attention in a pot. Angelonia will bloom all summer, coleus adds colorful foliage to complement other plantings’ blooms, and pentas will bring butterflies to your garden.
Some bulbs act as annuals, but many are reliable returners. Some will even increase over the years. Dutch iris will add beauty to your spring garden, Summer Sparkler alliums will act as an exclamation mark to your summer plantings, and Spanish bluebells lend the unusual and extraordinary touch of blue to the garden.
Spring-blooming trees are also beautiful additions to the garden, with pink or white dogwoods being one of the most recognized and valued. Of course, this is just a small sampling of the plants available.
How do you take care of your new purchases? Once you have them in the ground, all perennials and trees, native or not, should be tended and watered regularly until established, approximately two years after planting. Newly-planted plants may need to be watered more often, due to their small root ball size. Watering needs vary by plant, but even after your plants are established, watering is essential during times of drought. If you have any questions about the maintenance needs or planting requirements of your purchases, please ask a Master Gardener. We are happy to help and want your plants to bring you years of joy.
For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].
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