Calling All Native Gardeners

BRNN will again hold a plant sale on Mothers Day (Sunday, May 11) to raise funds for our organization and to offer an inexpensive option for people who want to add native plants to their home gardens. The sale is held at the home of Charlotte Caplan in Montford. 

Most of what we sell comes from the gardens of members who have well-established plants that can tolerate being divided in the fall or spring to be potted up for sale. Unfortunately, we will not receive as many plants as usual this year from our two most generous contributors, Charlotte Caplan and Randy Richardson. Charlotte’s yard was heavily impacted by Helene and Randy has left the area. We are appealing to our gardening members to help make up some of the shortfall by potting some plants this spring. If you bring plants to the sale, you can swap them for plants that others have grown.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Ideally, plants should be in pots by April 1st to have time to grow and look good by May 11. They definitely need to be potted a month ahead.
• Each plant should be labeled with the common name and, if possible, Latin name. Indicate whether it likes sun or shade. A good place to check names and growing conditions is the NC Extension Plant Toolbox. (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/)
• Quart containers that yogurt and cottage cheese come in make good pots for small plants if you punch holes in the bottom. 
• Natives aren’t too fussy about their potting soil but straight garden dirt is usually too heavy unless it has a lot of organic matter. Mixing your own soil with an inexpensive potting mix is a good option.
• Your newly potted plants will need to be kept moist and out of full sun.
• If you would like more information contact Mayo Taylor at 828-582-1061 or president@brnnetwork.org.