Two days to the Master Gardener fall plant sale
September 16, 2004
VICKIE HOPKINS
Victoria County Master Gardener
Get ready, get set for great selections and buys at the
Sept. 18 Victoria County Master Gardener fall plant sale on the grounds of
This sale will include many types of plants, two groups of
which are perennials and herbs. One plant in particular fits the description of
both. The ever-popular society garlic, while classified as a perennial, is also
considered both a tropical and an herb plant. It is not the best garlic to eat,
but it does guarantee to "spice up" any yard.
Society garlic characteristics are large clusters of bright
bluish-lavender flowers suspended from masses of clumping chive-like foliage.
They put off a garlic aroma.
These blooms are on actual plants for sale on Saturday.
Numerous shrubs (numbering almost 300) have been generously
donated to the sale by
The Master Gardener fall symposium, which will be held in
conjunction with the sale for advance paid attendees, will feature several
well-known speakers. Cathy Slaughter, an herb expert from Austin and co-owner
of Gabriel Valley Farms, will discuss a variety of herbs, some of which will be
available for purchase at the plant sale. Likely for sale will be bell pepper
basil, mixed lavender, Provence lavender, lemon grass, lemon verbena, lion's
tail and Vietnamese coriander.
On a tropical note, plumeria
cuttings have also been donated by another symposium guest speaker, local
gardening expert David Goris. While he is known as a rosarian and will speak on roses, he also has well over 5
dozen varieties of plumerias in his personal garden.
These cuttings are easily rooted, making it fun to share with family and
friends. The popularity of this tropical plant has grown tremendously in recent
years. If you are not familiar with this beauty, you are in for a real treat.
Richly scented, intoxicating blooms that are suspended from large branches with
lush green foliage are some of the unique features of this plant, making it a
very special addition to your landscape.
Many tropicals and harder to find
plants are propagated by our members. Some include root beer plant, crown of
thorns, yellow angel trumpets, cigar plant, Philippine violet, moon flower
vine, duranta, tropical milkweed, canary ivy, red
bird plants, scented geraniums, coral vine, cypress vine, bulbine,
Esperanza, pride of Barbados, Mexican spinach and the very popular yellow
buttercup, just to name a few.
Several Victoria County Master Gardeners have been in this
gardening program from its inception seven years ago, and have shared,
cultivated and continuously grown in plant knowledge. This partly accounts for
the large selection of plants that are offered. For avid gardeners like many of
us - and even for those of you who are just a bit interested in gardening -
growing and caring for a variety of plants and sharing them with family and
friends while trading with other gardeners is an enriching experience beyond
compare.
All of the plants at the sale are arranged by type - such as
natives, fruits, vegetables, exotics, bird and butterfly attractants, trees,
houseplants, etc. This makes shopping and browsing much easier for the
consumer. Trays and boxes are provided to transport plants home, and assistance
to your vehicle is available. Each plant is properly labeled with helpful
information.
Proceeds from this sale will be used to continue expansion
of the Master Gardener's
The next phase will be a significant addition just on the
east side of the Officer's Club at
This Saturday's destination or outing should be at the
Master Gardener plant sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the