Look for new plants for your yard and garden at garden sales, and support local organizations.
The spring weather may have you thinking about your yard and garden. Maybe you’d like to buy new plants. Are you looking for vegetable starts? Or a shrub to fill in a bare spot? Or perennials to add some color?
Plant sales are a wonderful place to buy new garden plants. You can often find interesting varieties, and your purchase helps to support local organizations.
Here are a few upcoming plant sales. Click on links for more information.
Carnation Farms annual plant sale. May 3-4, May 10-11 and May 17-18. Carnation.
Order in advance online & pick up at the farm, or shop in person. Certified organic transplants for your garden, including herbs, flowers, veggie starts & more. Proceeds support the farm’s work “educating and empowering culinary, food, and farming professionals” about regenerative food and agriculture.
Tilth Alliance May Edible Plant Sale. May 4-May 5, 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Meridian Playground, Seattle.
The annual sale features “the largest selection of organically, sustainably and locally grown vegetable plant starts in the Puget Sound region.” All revenue from the May Edible Plant Sale benefits Tilth Alliance’s year-round programming. Plants offered are the best varieties to grow successfully in our Pacific Northwest climate.
The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden Pop-Up Plant Sale. May 4-May 5, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Federal Way.
Unique opportunity to buy from a selection that you won’t find anywhere else. Shop rare & choice unusual perennials & trees. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
Snohomish County Master Gardener Plant Sale. May 11, 9:00 am-2:00 pm. Evergreen Fairgrounds, Monroe.
The primary fund raiser for the foundation, the focus will be on LOTS of TOMATOES (!), herbs and vegetables. They will also have thousands of perennials, trees and shrubs and natives.
Bellevue Demonstration Garden Plant Sale. May 11, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Bellevue.
This year’s spring sale will feature warm-season veggie starts as well as a wide selection of ornamentals: colorful annuals and perennials, shrubs, herbs, grasses, and ‘spillers and thrillers’ for your container gardening. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Master Gardener Foundation of King County.
Woodinville Garden Club Plant Sale. May 11.
Best of the Northwest tomato plants, along with more than 2,000 perennials. Proceeds support local gardening projects and activities.
Snoqualmie Valley Garden Club Spring Plant Exchange. May 14, 6:30-8:00 pm. Snoqualmie.
No sales – trades, barter& gifting only. No plants, bulbs or seeds? No worries! Pots, planters, garden tools are all acceptable currency for this event. You can also come even if you don’t have anything to share.
Local nurseries
Your local nursery is also a great place to buy plants. They have knowledgeable staff, and they stock plants that perform well in our local environment. “Local farmers also know proper seed-starting techniques and how to keep plants healthy for sale,” said Master Gardener Hillary Swetz in Better Homes and Gardens. “If they sell seedlings, you can bet the slightly higher price tag (compared to a big-box store) will actually be cost-effective in the long run.”
Happy gardening!
