Hopeful gardeners queued up very early before the 8am opening of the Fergus Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale on May 24.
This year’s sale certainly did not disappoint, as many large specimens were reasonably priced. A late spring meant a late plant sale as many plants were not ready to be transplanted.
This event is the society’s only fundraiser and proceeds allows it to purchase new plants and carry on horticultural activities throughout the year.
The majority of plants offered were perennials, with native plants, grasses and small shrubs also included.
Some varieties were in limited supply and were the first to be picked up by sale-goers. One lucky gardener picked up all the pots of a specific variegated hosta.
Plants were taken from 23 society sites and individual gardens.
Perennials must be divided every three or four years to keep them growing. Once divided, these plants become surplus and are placed in the sale.
The hybrid irises at Terry Fox Park also needed to be thinned out, said George Kron. Every three years, Kron and other society members pot up and label surplus rhizomes. Crowded iris rhizomes produce smaller blossoms, lose their luster and start to push each other out of the ground.
Experienced gardeners can easily recognize overcrowded plants. If they have to struggle for room, nutrients or moisture, they will not produce the best blooms. Plants in crowded conditions will have restricted air circulation, essential for preventing damaging diseases.
As usual, this year’s sale was a success. Gardeners left with wheelbarrows full of assorted plants that will soon be growing throughout the town.
submitted by Ron Stevenson
