Get your garden in order by shopping at three local plant sales, which will benefit various nonprofits, this weekend. by David Fields
With the groundhog’s prediction of an early spring seemingly coming true, it’s time to start thinking about your spring vegetable garden and landscaping projects. Of course, holding with an old farmers’ tradition, you already planted your peas on Valentine’s Day, right?
Nonetheless, as spring awakens and the landscape returns to color, our local farms and nurseries also spring into action with preparations for annual spring plant sales. Crabtree Farms, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center and Trailhead Restoration Nursery are all hosting plant sales this week.
Crabtree Farms’ annual Spring Plant Sale and Festival will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 15-17. The sale and festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Crabtree Farms Spring Plant Sale is a must-see event because it is the only sale of its kind,” said Sara McIntyre, executive director of Crabtree Farms. “The plant starts are grown from seed by our staff and dedicated volunteers. The varieties represented are hand-picked and farm tested by us. We know from experience that they grow strong, taste great, and come from healthy, non-GMO seed.”
McIntyre said that there will be “over 55 varieties of garden tomato” for sale. In addition to selling healthy, sustainably-grown fruit, vegetable, flower and herb plants, Crabtree Farms will also offer free gardening workshops, live music, food, fun-on-the-farm activities for kids and handcrafted items from local artisans.
For more information about Crabtree Farm’s Spring Plant Sale and Festival, visit www.crabtreefarms.org.
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center will hold its 29th Annual Spring Native Plant Sale on Thursday, April 14 from 2- 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The April 14 sale is only open to Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center members.
There will be a variety of native species available for purchase, all of which are propagated in the Reflection Riding greenhouse. Various programming will take place throughout Friday and Saturday, ranging from a class about attracting native bees and hummingbirds to composting and rain barrel workshops. There will also be wildflower walks.
For more information about Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center’s Native Plant Sale, visit www.reflectionriding.org.
Trailhead Restoration Nursery will sell native plants at the Cumberland Trail Spring Festival at Ivy Academy in Soddy Daisy on Saturday, April 16. The nursery will also be open on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.. to 2 p.m. at its Signal Mountain location, 54 Miller Cove Rd. During that time, Trailhead Restoration Nursery will also offer workshops on promoting pollinators and container gardening for people who may not have enough space for a garden.
“Trailhead Restoration Nursery focuses on raising native plants that not only grow well in the Chattanooga area, but also restore habitat, reduce storm water runoff and support pollinators,” said Sally Wencel, volunteer and nursery project manager.
Additional information about Trailhead Restoration Nursery and the Cumberland Trail Spring Festival can be found at www.trailheadnursery.weebly.com.
Planting a spring vegetable garden is a wonderful way to get outside and shake off those winter blues. But, spring is not only a wonderful time to plant a vegetable garden; it is also a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs not only increase the curb appeal of your home, they also create habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. Birds help reduce garden pests such as cabbage worms, whiteflies, aphids, earwigs, grasshoppers, cucumber beetles, and grubs, while bees and butterflies can help pollinate you vegetable and flower gardens. Just remember, trees and shrubs should be watered weekly until they are established, especially during the heat of the summer.
With the groundhog’s prediction of an early spring seemingly coming true, it’s time to start thinking about your spring vegetable garden and landscaping projects. Of course, holding with an old farmers’ tradition, you already planted your peas on Valentine’s Day, right?
Nonetheless, as spring awakens and the landscape returns to color, our local farms and nurseries also spring into action with preparations for annual spring plant sales. Crabtree Farms, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center and Trailhead Restoration Nursery are all hosting plant sales this week.
Crabtree Farms’ annual Spring Plant Sale and Festival will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 15-17. The sale and festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Crabtree Farms Spring Plant Sale is a must-see event because it is the only sale of its kind,” said Sara McIntyre, executive director of Crabtree Farms. “The plant starts are grown from seed by our staff and dedicated volunteers. The varieties represented are hand-picked and farm tested by us. We know from experience that they grow strong, taste great, and come from healthy, non-GMO seed.”
McIntyre said that there will be “over 55 varieties of garden tomato” for sale. In addition to selling healthy, sustainably-grown fruit, vegetable, flower and herb plants, Crabtree Farms will also offer free gardening workshops, live music, food, fun-on-the-farm activities for kids and handcrafted items from local artisans.
For more information about Crabtree Farm’s Spring Plant Sale and Festival, visit www.crabtreefarms.org.
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center will hold its 29th Annual Spring Native Plant Sale on Thursday, April 14 from 2- 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The April 14 sale is only open to Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center members.
There will be a variety of native species available for purchase, all of which are propagated in the Reflection Riding greenhouse. Various programming will take place throughout Friday and Saturday, ranging from a class about attracting native bees and hummingbirds to composting and rain barrel workshops. There will also be wildflower walks.
For more information about Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center’s Native Plant Sale, visit www.reflectionriding.org.
Trailhead Restoration Nursery will sell native plants at the Cumberland Trail Spring Festival at Ivy Academy in Soddy Daisy on Saturday, April 16. The nursery will also be open on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.. to 2 p.m. at its Signal Mountain location, 54 Miller Cove Rd. During that time, Trailhead Restoration Nursery will also offer workshops on promoting pollinators and container gardening for people who may not have enough space for a garden.
“Trailhead Restoration Nursery focuses on raising native plants that not only grow well in the Chattanooga area, but also restore habitat, reduce storm water runoff and support pollinators,” said Sally Wencel, volunteer and nursery project manager.
Additional information about Trailhead Restoration Nursery and the Cumberland Trail Spring Festival can be found at www.trailheadnursery.weebly.com.
Planting a spring vegetable garden is a wonderful way to get outside and shake off those winter blues. But, spring is not only a wonderful time to plant a vegetable garden; it is also a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs not only increase the curb appeal of your home, they also create habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. Birds help reduce garden pests such as cabbage worms, whiteflies, aphids, earwigs, grasshoppers, cucumber beetles, and grubs, while bees and butterflies can help pollinate you vegetable and flower gardens. Just remember, trees and shrubs should be watered weekly until they are established, especially during the heat of the summer.
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