Plant sales, exchanges set in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko

Many garden groups in Western New York are holding plant sales and plant exchanges in the coming weeks. Here’s the list I have so far; there might be more sales to come. Check back to our Events page often to see what’s new.

And when you’re looking for plants, please don’t forget our local garden centers!

Garden Friends of Clarence

Garden Friends of Clarence will hold a perennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15 in the large pavilion at Clarence Town Park, 10405 Main St., Clarence.

North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization

The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization (NTBGO) will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 15 at the garden, 1825 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda. Enter the parking lot and follow signs to drive left to the greenhouse for socially distanced assistance.

They will offer a non-native ‘Humpty Dumpty’ dahlia, but the rest of the plants are native species local to our area and raised from either locally sourced seed or purchased from a reputable native seed source.

Plants to be offered are:

• Red Dahlia ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and Purple Dahlia $12 each or 3 for $30.
• Buttonbush $12 each or 3 for $30
• Monarda (bee balm) $5 each
• Butterfly milkweed, New England aster, tickseed (coreopsis), and others $4 each or 3 for $10

Selection and quantity are limited.

They will probably have other plants as well, which will be posted on their Facebook page as the date approaches. 

Spring Garden Gala in Batavia

The Genesee County Master Gardeners will hold their annual Spring Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County office, 420 East Main St., Batavia.

This annual plant sale will be held on the front lawn and offer a variety of perennials, many of which are from the gardens of Master Gardeners. There will also be a selection of house plants. Arrive at 10 am for the best plant selection.  No early birds please.

Visit the basket auction for garden art, gift certificates and a variety of themed baskets. Gently used garden books will also be for sale. The basket auction will be held inside the CCE building so you might have to wait your turn to check it out. The basket auction drawing starts at 12:30 p.m. The organizers won’t be able to accommodate people inside during the drawing. Winners will be called the following week.

Drop off a soil sample from your garden or lawn for a free pH test.  A half-cup sample of your garden soil in a clean container is plenty. 

Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer your gardening questions during the sale.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the educational outreach of the Genesee County Master Gardener Program.

In keeping with NYS Guidelines, occupancy limits will be observed.  Please wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. The organizers will be collecting contact tracing information.

Get more information here, contact Jan Beglinger at (585) 343-3040, ext. 132, stop by the extension office, or go to their Facebook page. 

Master Gardeners in Buffalo

The Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County will hold a plant sale Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29, at First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, Buffalo (across from Kleinhans).

Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

In addition, there will be a basket auction on Friday, May 28.

The sale includes a choice selection of sun and shade perennials, natives, herbs, annuals, shrubs and vegetables from the gardens of CCE Erie Master Gardener volunteers, as well as plants donated from area horticultural businesses that include annuals, hanging baskets and houseplants. There will also be a variety of garden treasures.   

Master Gardener volunteers will be available throughout the sale to provide advice on selecting and growing plants.

In keeping with NYS guidelines, occupancy limits will be observed. Please wear a face covering. 

See more information here or call (716) 652-5400, ext. 176.

Kenmore Garden Club in Tonawanda

Kenmore Garden Club will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 21 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22 from 9 to 2 at 939 Delaware Rd., Town of Tonawanda.

Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and hanging baskets will be available at reasonable prices. Cash or check only.

Lessons from Nature

Lessons from Nature‘s Annual Perennial and Native Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at 170 Pine St., East Aurora.

Amanda’s Gardens and Lessons from Nature will offer the largest selection of natives in WNY. There will be perennials and natives for sun to shade.

Audubon Community Nature Center

A plant exchange and sale will be held from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at the Audubon Community Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Rd., Jamestown. 

Take plants from your yard to trade for new plants or take cash to purchase a wide variety of plants. Free to attend.

See details here or call (716) 569-2345.

Countryside Garden Club in Elma

The Countryside Garden Club of Elma will hold a perennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 22 at 1910 Bowen Rd. (corner of Girdle Road and across from Elma Library), Elma.For more information, email kjdwigun@aol.com.

Samuel Capen Garden Walk in Buffalo

The Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk will hold a plant and seed exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22 at University Presbyterian Church, 3330 Main St., Buffalo.

The event will include the sale of garden paraphernalia to support the Christine Brooks Garden Grant.

East Aurora Garden Club

The East Aurora Garden Club will hold its perennial sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 29  at the Grey Street Plaza, 123 Grey St., East Aurora.

Niagara Frontier Botanical Society

The Niagara Frontier Botanical Society will hold a native plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 5 in the outdoor pavillion at Randall Baptist Church, 6301 Main St., Williamsville.

There will be native plants from Niagara Frontier Botanical Society’s members’ gardens, along with garden plants.

There is plenty of parking, outdoor space and restrooms. Please take your mask.

Ransomville Garden Club

The Ransomville Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale annual on Saturday, June 12 at the Ransomville Library, 3733 Ransomville Rd., Ransomville. The sale will start at 9 a.m. and continue until they are sold out. There will be a trailer load sale around 2 p.m. to sell off leftover plants.

There will be a parade at 11 a.m. and a BMX demonstration from New Jersey afterwards.

South Towns Gardeners

South Towns Gardeners will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 12 at the Burchfield Nature Center, 2001 Union Rd., (corner of Clinton St.), West Seneca.

The sale will include garden decor.

There will also be a basket raffle.

Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale

The Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27 on the front lawn of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.

Admission is free.

Buy beautiful one-of-a-kind art for your garden.

In addition to the art, the event will feature:

• Live music
• Food trucks
• Green groups
• Basket raffle
• Avenue of Plant Societies – Representatives from area plant societies will be on hand to answer your questions.

The event is part of Gardens Buffalo Niagara.

Summer Bulb Sale at Botanical Gardens

While supplies last, the Summer Bulb Sale will be held during  Garden & Grub from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 8, 15 and 22 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.

Admission to the sale is free.

All the bulbs from the Spring Exhibit will be bagged for the Summer Bulb Sale. Bags will be $12 each. All bulb bags are made up of common and unique varieties.  Available will be:

• Tulip Mix – Orange and yellow
• Tulip Mix – Purple, pink, white
• Spring Mix – Muscari, hyacinths, daffodils – mixed colors and varieties

New additions to this list

Alden Garden Club

The Alden Garden Club will hold its annual plant and garden art auction in the parking lot shelter at the Alden Community Center, 13116 Main St., Alden.

It will be held Wednesday, May 19 with a preview at 5:30 p.m. and auction at 6 p.m. The rain date is Thursday, May 20  with the same hours.

Please take your own chairs.

Countryside Garden Club of Elma

Countryside Garden Club of Elma will hold its yearly perennial sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 22 in the lot at the corner of Bullis Road and Rice Road, Elma, across from the Elma Public Library.

Friends of Kenan Center Herb Club

Friends of Kenan Center Herb Club will hold a plant sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 5 at the Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport. The sale will be under a tent on the lawn behind the carriage house/theater.

Hawk Creek Wildlife Center

A huge plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 28 to 30 at Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 1963 Mill Rd., West Falls. (Mill Road runs between Route 20A in East Aurora and Route 240 / Davis Road in West Falls.) There is plenty of off-street parking.

The sale continues while supplies last. Go early for the best selection. Take advantage of the vast selection of perennials starting at $3. They also have a limited selection of herbs, annuals and vegetable plants.

They recommend taking a box or tote to take your plants home; they will have a limited supply available.

The gift shop will be open and self-guided tours of the Wildlife Center will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $5 per person. Don’t miss this chance to see live owls, hawks, eagles, and wildcats up-close and in-person.Help keep plastic out of landfills. They reuse flats and pots. If you have any, take them with you to the sale to be used next year.