Morris Arboretum Annual Plant Sale: May 9-10 |
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May 6, 2014, Volume 60, No. 33 |
Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, the Morris Arboretum will host its annual Plant Sale at the Horticulture Center at Bloomfield Farm, across the street from the Arboretum’s public garden. Friday is Members-Only day, so now is a perfect time to become a Morris Arboretum member for first picks on great plants. Saturday is open to the public.
The 2014 Plant Sale will once again showcase an unusual and hard-to-find selection of plants, all grown by local nurseries familiar with the Philadelphia climate and soils, so their selections are well suited to thrive in this area.
In annuals, some of the most reliable plants for attracting pollinators are being featured to combat the declining Monarch butterfly, honeybees and other native bee population. Some of the best bee and butterfly favorites include Agastache (hummingbird mint), Abutillon (flowering maple) and Pentas (star flower). Try some Salvia (garden sage) and Cuphea (Mexican heather), and you will likely see hummingbirds in your garden. And don’t forget the culinary herbs: basil, chives, mints, oregano and thyme are all excellent pollinator plants. Also offered this year will be a good selection of Heirloom and other tasty varieties of tomatoes, eggplants and peppers.
The Arboretum’s Plant Sale is always full of interesting perennials and woody plants that are not widely available at most local retailers. In the spirit of Our Feathered Friends theme for 2014, the perennials booth will be highlighting fabulous plants to enhance the habitat for these winged friends. Perennial suggestions that will help to heighten the beauty of your yard while providing food and shelter for many species of birds include Liatris—Blazing star. A favorite among bluebirds, these show stopping plants with upright purple stalks of summer blooms require full sun and grow to 2-4’ high. Another great native perennial, Eupatorium—Boneset has a large inflorescence made up of tiny flowers that create quite a show. These summer flowering perennials grow from 20” to 9’ depending on the species and cultivar. In the fall as the seeds ripen, chickadees, juncos and finches will feast on this treasure.
This year, several choice woodies are being offered, all with lovely color blooms ranging from deep purple to golden yellow and everything in between. One of the featured plants is Hydrangea serrata ‘Miyama-yae-Murasaki’ (Purple Tiers hydrangea), which is considered to be one of the finest double lacecap forms introduced from Japan. The multi-petaled flowers of this form are a stunning array of purple to blue. Another plant to look for is Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Podaras 3’ Lemon Candy (Lemon Candy ninebark). This superb and compact form of the native ninebark shrub grows to three feet tall and its new foliage emerges bright lemon yellow before fading slowly to chartreuse. White flowers in late spring are borne atop the canvas of golden foliage.
Looking for roses? An exceptional selection of award winning roses is offered this year. Many are international award winners coming from growers that specialize in hardy, disease-resistant roses like Oso Easy® Cherry Pie from Alain Meilland in France and White Out from William Radler in the United States. Tough and beautiful, they’re sure to thrive in your garden.
For Morris Arboretum members, the 2014 free Dividend Plants are very special: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Ruby Slippers oakleaf hydrangea), Lindera benzoin (Common spicebush), Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn-redwood). Once again, the Arboretum offers some very unusual “surprise” dividends this year. Plant connoisseurs eagerly anticipate the plant sale every year to pick among the rare and unusual plants that are offered from the greenhouse inventory surplus. Come early to the members’ preview for the best selection. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society returns to the Morris Arboretum Plant Sale this year. A large selection of outstanding rhododendrons, all hardy in the Delaware Valley, will be offered, many of which are not available elsewhere. Each was selected for the beauty of its flowers and foliage, and the appeal they add to the garden.
“Native Plant Experts” from Natural Lands Trust, the region’s foremost conservation organization, will also be on hand to offer advice and resources on the benefits of choosing native plant species for your home landscape. As one of the region’s largest owners of preserved lands, Natural Lands Trust has both a breadth and depth of experience in caring for a variety of landscapes and is continually exploring new and better approaches to problems like invasive plant control, reforestation, wildlife management and habitat restoration. Learn more at www.natlands.org
Whether it’s the old, the new or the steadfast you’re looking for, Morris Arboretum’s Plant Sale is sure to have something to pique your interest. So mark your calendars to join your friends and other gardeners for a wonderful selection of plants and the availability of expert advice from Morris Arboretum staff.
Friday May 9 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m., is Members-only day. All Morris Arboretum members are invited and will receive a 10% discount on their entire Plant Sale purchase, and receive a free dividend plant. Anyone who joins before or at the Plant Sale is eligible to receive the member benefits.
Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. is open to the public. Morris Arboretum members receive a 10% discount on purchases.
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