Three years ago, I’d never heard of the Friends School Plant Sale. Now I take a day off work just to be there on the first day. Sure, I may supplement the season with a trip or two to the farmer’s market or a nursery, but the Friends School Plant Sale has really become my one-stop garden shop.
I’m not a very disciplined gardener. I don’t fertilize, mulch as little as possible and have no track record with plant food; I’m more the “put it in the ground and hope for the best” type. But, like most of you, I love working in my garden and seeing the results. That’s why the plant sale is the perfect solution for beginners like me, master gardeners and everyone in between. The variety is amazing so I can try my luck with all sorts of interesting plants. The prices are so good I can afford to be a bit of a risk taker. Not that I need to be: the quality of plants always gets thumbs up from me (even though my thumbs aren’t the greenest).
Be sure to read the website section on “doing” the sale…it’s very helpful. But if you’re new to the grandstand, here are a few other things I learned as a rookie:
1. Know your ABCs
“A” is for attire. I’m channeling my mother here, but dress for the weather. You will be waiting in line, albeit a fast-moving one, for sure on Friday and Sunday mornings. The first year I attended was sunny and 75 degrees; last year I wore a hat and gloves in the 50-degree rain. It’s always nice inside, though.
“B” is for BE prepared. You’ll make the most of your sale experience by getting to know and love the catalog in advance. Even though you’ll get a shopping list form as you enter the sale, making a preliminary list is a good idea. (You can download the form in advance here as a pdf, 12K.) With over 1,900 plant varieties, it will help you stay on track. Don’t forget a pen or pencil.
“C” is for cart. By all means bring one. A plastic milk carton crate bungeed to a luggage carrier works just fine. So do wagons. Last year my husband built me a custom, double-decker dolly, just for the sale. It’s a sweet ride. Anything goes except sleds; they’re a tripping hazard and won’t be allowed inside. Stick to wheels and remember to practice good cart etiquette.
2. Pounce!
It’s probably common sense, but if there’s absolutely one thing you have to have, make that your first stop. The tomato plants will probably be there on your second or third pass through. The Pineapple Upside Down Cake hosta? Maybe not!
3. Keep Your Options Open
Nothing can dampen your spirits like those two little words: crop failure. And yet, it can happen. You may see a few of those signs around, so it’s good to have a backup plant in mind, just in case. Or, if your first choice didn’t work out, look nearby; maybe another color or variety will appeal.
4. Treat Yourself!
I always make it a point to buy one plant type (Who am I kidding? Five or six!) that I hadn’t planned to. Something that looked so cool or was so unusual, I couldn’t say no. Invariably it’s these little extras that get the most comments and compliments from visitors to my garden.
5. Don’t be a Stranger!
Come Friday for the best selection. Come back Saturday to see what’s been restocked and come on Sunday for 50% off all remaining plants. I would say come back every year, but once you’ve experienced this wonderful sale, that’s a given.
Happy planning and we’ll see you in the Grandstand!