By Megan Hussey
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With the inception of the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, came the inaugural Fall Plant Sale, which has become a long-standing and ever-evolving celebration of gardening arts in Hernando County. This is a project of the Spring Hill Garden Club to fund the creation and maintenance of the Botanical Gardens. The Gardens were established in 1994, by members of the garden club; an organization that uses a portion of the 4.5 acres as a plant nursery. Overall, these Gardens have now expanded into 21 themed areas which comprise the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens.
A community tradition continues this week, as the 2021 Fall Plant Sale will be presented by the Spring Hill Garden Club at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, 1489 Parker Ave., Spring Hill. Friday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to noon. All guests are required to follow all CDC guidelines, with no crowding allowed and all distance markings observed.
“The first plant sale at our location was in 1999 at the beginning of the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens. All proceeds went to the creation of the gardens and to this day that is still the case,” said Nursery manager Kathy Wolfe. “Our plant sales account for a major portion of the funds that keep the gardens beautiful and free to the public.”
A bounty of ebullient plants will be available for sale at this signature annual event. “We feature tried and true plants that we know grow in the area, with many of them propagated from plants growing in the gardens. For our annual Fall and Spring sale we bring in many additional plants purchased from growers within a 50-mile radius of the gardens,” said Wolfe.
The sale’s featured plants this year include Florida Natives, herbs, fig-trees, many blooming shrubs, a variety of annuals (which in this area, Wolfe notes, last more than just 1 year), orchids, gingers, bromeliads, and many other varieties. These are all, according to an event flier. “All plants are displayed in sun or shade, depending on their requirements. There will be lots of help from our garden club members for those who have questions,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe invites the public to enjoy and buy plenty of nature-born artworks at the plant sale. While at the same time, seeing and supporting the gardens where plants and florals are grown and nurtured every day. “Make sure to tour the gardens while you are there and see what wonderful things your purchases have added. All the new additions are showcased on our website www.naturecoastgardens.com. Hope to see you there!” said Wolfe.
