Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale in Paola Save the last weekend in April!

Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardeners will conduct their annual Plant Sale at the Paola Extension Office April 27, 28, 29. As always, our locally grown plants are raised without the use of pesticides so they are safe for pollinators and humans. Greg Beverlin will be onsite selling his hand-made hypertufa containers and stepping stones. Credit Cards welcome!

We also offer gardening information. Our “Lucy Booth” will be staffed with our Extension Master Gardeners, ready to answer your questions with expertise ranging from flowers to vegetable growing to butterfly gardening. We will be giving away “Seeds for Kids” and encouraging children to grow seeds and enter their flowers in our County Fair to win ribbons. A new feature: we will give away FREE used gardening books for as long as the supply lasts.

Butterflies

We are famous for our selection of butterfly host plants. Everyone wants more butterflies in their gardens and since you choose which butterflies grace your garden by which caterpillar host plants you offer, we will sell at least 40 species of host plants, including 8 species of Milkweeds for the Monarch caterpillars. Pollinators such as butterflies, honey bees, most native bees and syrphid flies are generalists, not picky about their flower choices. For them, we will have a wide assortment of nectar-rich ornamental, native and nativar perennials, as well as colorful annuals.

Native Plants

For native plant lovers, human and insect, we will feature both native species and nativars. This includes shade-loving native perennials such as Celandine (Wood Poppy), Indian Pink (Spigelia) and Black Cohosh. Whether your interest is prairie restoration or native plants grown in ornamental gardens, we will also offer a wide selection of midwestern prairie species and varieties. Since about 30% of our native bees require a specific genus or species, we will have a wide diversity of sun-loving native flowering annual and perennial plants, which will optimize your pollinator garden’s impact.

Edibles

An abundance of both medicinal and culinary herbs will be offered, including five flavors of Basil and seven varieties of Thyme. Available varieties of fruit trees include varieties of Apple, Cherry, Peach and Pear plus Elderberry bushes and Grape vines. Berry bushes include Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries. For the vegetable gardener we will have carefully selected varieties of vegetable transplants, especially favorite varieties of tomatoes and peppers. For busy home gardeners with limited space, we will again offer patio pots of cherry tomatoes.

Other Plant Offerings

But we have so much more!

Traditional favorites include Clematis, Daylilies, Geraniums, Hosta, Heuchera and Peonies. In addition to the usual selections of native and ornamental perennials, we will feature succulents and hanging baskets of annual flowers and shade-loving tropicals. Other shade-loving selections include ferns and woodland flowers. Tropical plants return, perfect as houseplants or for an exotic touch to your garden. If you are landscaping your yard, we will have a selection of native trees and ornamental grasses.

Convenient Location and Times

The sale is in the parking lot at the K-State Extension Office, 913 N Pearl (Old KC Road), Paola, KS. Rain or shine—as we proved during last year’s monsoon! The sale will open promptly at 9 am, no pre-sales. On Thursday April 27, we will be open until 5 pm. On Friday, April 28, we’ll stay open until 6 pm and close at 1 pm on Saturday, April 29. Pay by cash, check or credit card. For more information go to www.maraisdescygnes. ksu.edu. or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg or call the office: 913-294-4306.