Fall is the best season for planting. Adkins Arboretum’s Fall Native Plant Sale weekend, Sept. 14–16, will feature the region’s largest selection of ornamental native perennials, grasses, trees, shrubs, ferns and vines for sale at the Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery. Photo by Ann Rohlfing.
Enjoy fall in the garden! Adkins Arboretum will hold its annual Fall Native Plant Sale Fri., Sept. 14 through Sun., Sept. 16 at the Arboretum in Ridgely, Md. The sale benefits the Arboretum’s education programs and affords the public an opportunity to learn about the Chesapeake Bay region’s native flora and its role in land stewardship practices. New this fall, the sale will be held at the Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery.
Take advantage of autumn’s cool, moist weather to add color and wildlife habitat to your landscape. Many native plants produce seeds, flowers and fruits in fall that attract migratory birds and butterflies. Plants such as asters and goldenrod extend the garden into fall by adding bright pops of color and structural interest to the landscape.
The sale will also feature native trees such as sweetbay magnolia, river birch and white oak, the state tree of Maryland and Adkins Arboretum’s 2012 Native Tree of the Year. Tall and majestic, white oak (Quercus alba) produces rich fall color in addition to acorns that provide food for a number of wildlife species. The Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery is a participating nursery in the Marylanders Plant Trees program, offering a $25 coupon toward purchase of native trees that retail for $50 or more.
Edible plants can play a key role in landscape planning and design and as tools to restore, mitigate and improve how landscapes function to support stormwater management, soil health, and habitat creation and biodiversity.
On Sat., Sept. 15, in concert with the plant sale, landscape designer and horticulturist Jeannette Ankoma-Sey will present Plants with a Purpose: Ecological Design and Edible Landscapes from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Arboretum gallery. Registration is required for this program; register at www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 0.
In addition to the region’s largest selection of ornamental native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns and grasses for fall planting, items for sale will include nature-themed gift items and used and new gardening and horticultural books. Arboretum staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, and a free guided walk will be held Saturday, September 15 at 10 a.m.
A members-only plant sale will be held Fri., Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public sale days are Sat., Sept. 15 and Sun., Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members, including those who join on any sale day, receive 10% off plant and gift shop purchases, and members at the Contributor ($100) level receive a 20% discount on plants. To reach the sale, shoppers will enter the Arboretum from Eveland Road via the South Entrance and follow directional signage to the sale.
For more information, call 410-634-2847, extension 0 or visit www.adkinsarboretum.org.
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