Adkins Arboretum’s Native Plant Nursery, offering the Chesapeake Bay gardener the largest selection of ornamental native plants for more than 10 years, will celebrate its 2011 nursery opening weekend Sat. and Sun., April 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arboretum Visitor’s Center in Ridgely. The sale benefits the Arboretum’s education programs and affords the public an opportunity to learn about the Delmarva’s native plants and their connection to a healthy Chesapeake Bay. Following the sale weekend, the nursery will be open to the public during the growing season, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends by appointment.
Plants for sale will include a broad selection of perennials, ferns, vines, grasses, and flowering shrubs and trees for spring planting. New this season, native plant garden packages will be offered for gardeners wishing to plant rain, shady, sunny or pollinator gardens. Native flowers and trees provide food and habitat for wildlife and make colorful additions to home landscapes, whether in a perennial border, a woodland garden or a restoration project. Tall spikes of purplish flowers grace blue wild indigo, while native honeysuckle entices hummingbirds. Cardinal flower, ferns and Joe-pye attract frogs, butterflies and dragonflies, and native azaleas present a veritable rainbow of bloom colors.
In addition, the Arboretum is a participating nursery in the Marylanders Plant Trees program. For any native tree valued at $50 or more, shoppers will receive a $25 discount. The tulip poplar, Adkins Arboretum’s 2011 Native Tree of the Year, qualifies for this program.
Garden designer and consultant Eric Wittman will give three talks Sun., April 17 on interesting and underused plants in the garden. Programs include Sun-loving Perennials at 11 a.m., Shade Perennials at 12:30 p.m. and Shrubs and Trees at 2 p.m. University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners of Queen Anne’s County will be on hand to answer plant and gardening questions, and there will be a sale of gently used nature-themed books and magazines.
The Arboretum gift shop will be open and will offer books and other great gifts for gardeners. In addition, rain barrels will be available to purchase or to order. Members receive a 10% discount on plants, gift shop items and new books. New this spring, members at the Contributor level ($100) and above receive a 20% discount on plant purchases.
A sale day for members will be held Fri., April 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All members are welcome, and new memberships will be accepted. A plant sale preview walk, free with admission, will be offered Thurs., April 14 at 1 p.m. Join landscape architect Barbara McClinton, formerly of the Baltimore landscape architecture and land planning firm Daft, McCune, Walker, on this guided walk to learn more about plants for sale. Although plants will not be for sale until Fri., April 15 for members and Sat., April 16 for the general public, this walk is a great opportunity to learn about new offerings and old favorites.
Donations of garden books, field guides and gardening/landscaping magazines for the used book sale are greatly appreciated. The sale helps support the Arboretum’s library. Books may be dropped off at the Visitor’s Center between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. For more information, call 410-634-2847, extension 0 or visit www.adkinsarboretum.org.
Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. Open year round, the Arboretum offers educational programs for all ages about nature and gardening. Through its Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, the Arboretum will build a new LEED-certified Arboretum Center and entranceway to broaden educational offerings and research initiatives promoting best practices in conservation and land stewardship. For additional information about Arboretum programs, visit www.adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, extension 0.