by Ann McCulloh, contributing editor
The great plant grab is on! Suddenly it’s May, and the best and freshest of plants are offered in all corners of our region. There’s always a sense of urgency about getting around to the various sales (many on the same weekend) and making your selections before they sell out. My best advice: 1) look at offerings online ahead of time (when available) and make a realistic list 2) Plot a route that lets you visit several on one day 3) Go early 4) Bring cash (and set a budget) 5) line your car with a tarp or old shower curtain.
This is a list of 2016 plant sales by not-for-profit groups in Northeast Ohio. Some of them emphasize annuals and vegetables, others focus on native plants, perennials or shrubs, others offer some of everything. Despite my best efforts, this list is not comprehensive, so additions are welcome in your comments. Please do keep it to promotions to not-for-profit organizations, though.
Sat May 7 9am – 4pm Larchmere Community Association http://www.larchmere.com/new-events/
Corner of East 127th and Larchmere Blvd
Sat May 7 9am -1pm, Shaker Lakes Nature Center http://www.shakerlakes.org/
May 7 and 8, 10 am-4pm, Cleveland Metroparks Native Plant Sale http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/EventsProgramsCalendar/Native-Plant-Sale-9044.aspx
North Chagrin Nature Center Auditorium 3037 SOM Center Road, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094
Sat May 7 2-4pm, Lakewood Earth and Food Community http://www.leafcommunity.org/
Lakewood Garden Center 13230 Detroit Rd., Lakewood. Several local seedling vendors, local food and craft vendors, too.
Thurs-Sat May 12-14 10am – 4pm, Rockefeller Park Greenhouse http://www.universitycircle.org/events/2016/05/rockefeller-park-greenhouse-sale
750 East 88th St., Cleveland, just off Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Free, secure parking.
Fri-Sat-Sun, May 13, 14, 15, Holden Arboretum www.holdenarb.org/home/plantsale.asp
Sat May 14 10-4pm, GardenWalk Cleveland http://www.gardenwalkcleveland.org/
12541 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, OH. Parking in the Cedar Hill Baptist Church lot.
Sat May 14 9am-1pm, Secrest Arboretum www.secrest.osu.edu/calendar.asp
(Sat May 20 and Sun May 21 are scheduled pickup days for Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s member’s only native plant sale. There’s still time to join and pre-order. More info at https://www.cmnh.org/native-plant-sale)
Sat June 4 9am-2pm, Master Gardeners Plants in the Park www.cuyahogamg.org/
City of Independence Complex, 6363 Selig Drive, Kiwanis Pavilion