Native Plant Sale at Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, April 21

Conservation horticulturist Melanie Priesnitz was pruning trees on the property when I reached her on a sunny day last week. She told me volunteers have close to 800 plants ready to go for the native plant sale that’s being held in celebration of Earth Day. “The Friends of the Volunteer Group has collected the seeds from the garden and propagated the plants in the greenhouse through the winter. All the proceeds are going to the Friends group for community education and outreach projects in the garden,” she said.

Varieties include White Pine, Red Spruce, and Balsam Fir trees along with colourful perennials like Cardinal Flower, Water Avens and Pearly Everlasting in four-inch pots for between $2 to $5.

The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardens on the Acadia University campus.

Priesnitz says native plants are easy to grow, easy to care for and easy on the environment. Because they originate from the Acadian Forest Region they require no special fertilizers, extra watering or chemical pesticides. Many attract butterflies, birds and provide shelter for indigenous wildlife.

There are approximately 2315 native and non-native plants found growing throughout the original Acadian Forest Region and a good portion of these trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants can be observed at the Gardens.

Volunteers will be hosting informative displays and demonstrations geared towards ecological gardening and will be on hand to answer home gardener questions.

It’s easy to make a day of it at the Gardens. Explore the new woodland trails that take you on a 1.5 km hike along an old brook through a variety of forest habitats.

If you’re interested in joining the Friends of the Garden they hold meetings every Tuesday from 9 - 11 a.m. in the potting shed on site. Members spend time gardening, collecting seeds and propagating plant material.

For more information on the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, the native plant sale and volunteering, visit http://botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca.