Numerous species, varieties to be at plant sale

Joy A. McGuirl-Hadley is calling for all hands on deck when the Putnam County Master Gardeners has its annual plant sale on Saturday.

As the event chairwoman for the past three years and a Master Gardener, McGuirl-Hadley is excited about this year’s event, which will be from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. under the pavilion at the Putnam County Fairgrounds, 118 Fairgrounds Road in East Palatka.

More than 1,500 plants, including citrus, blueberry bushes, herbs, pollinators, cacti, succulents, vegetables and flowering plants, will be available at the sale while they last. More than a third of the plants are native to Florida and about 800 come from local Master Gardeners’ gardens. Prices will range from $2 to $55, with the higher price for the star of the sale, the Sugar Belle orange trees the University of Florida developed and premiered at last year’s event.

“The orange trees were developed by the university to be tolerant of citrus greening disease if properly cared for,” McGuirl-Hadley said. “We sell them with their nets, which the university recommends stay on the tree for two years.”

According to McGuirl-Hadley, the nets let the plants get big and strong before being exposed to the insects in people’s gardens that carry the disease.   

“The two I bought last year are now about 5 feet tall and beautiful in their safe-netted cocoons for one more year,” she said.

A Welaka resident McGuirl-Hadley said she has more than 100 plants coming out of her own garden this year alone.

“Some of them include three different types of bromeliads, night blooming Cereus, ground orchards, Christmas cactus, aloe, and rhizomes of edible ginger and turmeric,” she said.

Admission to the sale is free. The public is invited. No pets are allowed and shoppers are invited to bring their own wagons.

For details, contact Julio Perez, horticulture agent for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension of Putnam County, at pjulio@ufl.edu or 386-329-0318.

McGuirl-Hadley said most of the local Master Gardeners will be working the sale and answering questions about plant care, optimum planting locations and conditions, and what to do about pests in the garden.

“I have learned that natively grown plants make the best transition into local gardens,” she said. “They are already proven winners that are familiar with the local growing cycles and weather conditions. Lots of the plants are native to Florida and we never sell invasive plants.”

McGuirl-Hadley said last year’s sale attracted more than 400 in attendance.

“We have a steady following of folks that come every year and hope for some first-timers to join us this year,” she said. “This is our only fundraising event.”

According to McGuirl-Hadley, proceeds from the sale will go to fund group operations such as training new Master Gardener volunteers and horticultural programs for the community, schools and nonprofits.

McGuirl-Hadley added there are several new types of plants for sale because Master Gardeners have different interests and focus on growing different types and varieties of plants.

McGuirl-Hadley said she has two favorite plants, one flowering and one herb, that will be at the sale.

“Some angel trumpets with their big, beautiful coral flowers are one of my favorites while the other is my African basil,” she said. “They have beautiful, pink flowers that attract pollinators and, of course, make the best pesto sauce.”

McGuirl-Hadley said her garden is currently alive with spring color.

“I love the lush growth and harvesting my own herbs, blueberries and citrus for cooking and eating,” she said. “We are hoping the public will come to the sale and take home a new friend for their porch or garden.”