by Lydia Holley April 14, 2025
Henderson County Master Gardener Association (HCMGA) will hold its annual plant sale online starting at 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 21, until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. You will be notified of your pick-up time and place. In addition, an in-person plant sale will be conducted on Saturday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. to noon at TVCC, 100 Cardinal Dr., Athens, at the Pavilion. There, Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about the plants or how to get your new acquisitions off to a good start.
HCMGA’s plant sale is extremely popular because of the variety of plants offered. This year, almost 70 different species of plants are for sale, some with several cultivars, making the assortment even larger. Hanging baskets will also be available as will HCMGA’s Gardening Guide book.
Some of my favorite plants are being offered. For instance, artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ will fill a space with fringy foliage that may remind you of a fragrant cloud. Fall asters, chrysanthemum ‘Clara Curtis,’ and flame acanthus ‘Benny’s Gold’ will help make autumn a favorite time of year, while columbine ‘Texas Gold’ will welcome spring’s arrival. This spring-blooming plant is not always easy to find for sale.
Pincushion flower is a lovely companion planting and blooms throughout the year. They have bloomed for me as late as December. Texas rock rose is another favorite of mine, and one I often recommend to both new and experienced gardeners.
Some gardeners believe you can never have too many salvias. If you are one, you will be thrilled to know HCMGA will have several varieties available. I feel the same way about lantana, and again, HCMGA will offer several types. My garden would also not be the same without Brazilian verbena.
If you are interested in attracting butterflies, be sure to check out the varieties of bee balms, coneflowers, coreopsis, and turk’s caps. Other butterfly magnets are black-eyed Susan and Gregg’s blue mistflower. And this year, HCMGA will offer milkweed plants so you can keep the butterflies coming back to your garden.
If you have shade, check out the various ferns or ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip.’ For annuals, consider blue daze, fan flower, gomphrena, petunias, portulaca, and sweet potato vine. Looking for a groundcover? Try frog fruit. Buy a lot if you are wanting a lawn alternative.
For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].
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