Plant sales galore being held by nonprofits in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko

With many events put on hold for three years, this spring offers plant sales and plant exchanges galore! In addition, the Great Plant Sale at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will be held on site again. And Gardens Buffalo Niagara will hold a day trip to Rochester to see specialty nurseries.

Below is a list of nonprofits that are holding plant sales and exchanges in Western New York. I’m sure there are more sales and exchanges that I haven’t even heard about. If I hear of more, I will add them to our Events page, so check that page regularly.

Note that some of these sales are BYOB–bring your own box or bag (or tray). Let’s recycle.

One-Stop, Mom-Shop at Botanical Gardens

Saturday, May 7

One-Stop, Mom-Shop will be held for Mother’s Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.

You will find a wide variety of plants for sale, including hanging baskets, orchids, mini roses and succulents. Treat mom to all of her favorite plants, jewelry, soaps, scents, teas, and some bubbles from the Bubble Bar. You can even start your day off with a “MOM-osa” at the Sip and Paint. Food trucks will be on-site from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., so there’s no need to worry about stopping for lunch or dinner. The Botanical Gardens and gift shop will be open on this day only until 8 p.m.

In an effort to reduce the use of plastic and waste, the Botanical Gardens asks shoppers to take their own reusable bags or boxes to the sale to transport purchased plants. A limited number of reusable bags will be available for purchase at the sale.

NEW! Free with admission: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. only HoneyRoot Studio will be onsite for quick Mommy and Me photo sessions.

BWELL Community

Saturday, May 7

BWELL Community will host its first Garden Swap from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at Grassroots Gardens WNY, 389 Broadway, Buffalo.

Do you have extra supplies, seeds or plants you don’t want? Are there items that you need? Take your extras and see what’s available. Emere Nieves, founder & lead gardener of Gardeness Inc., will discuss the benefit of native plants. 

Great Plant Sale at Botanical Gardens

Members only on Friday, May 12; public on Saturday & Sunday, May 13 & 14

The Great Plant Sale will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 13 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14 in the Administration Building at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.

There will be an early-access Members-Only Night to kick off the sale from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 12. A registered E-ticket is required to attend. Those interested in purchasing a membership can get 15 percent off now through May 8 as part of a Mother’s Day sale using coupon code: MOM22.

Members get 10 percent off everything on any day at The Great Plant Sale.

The Great Plant Sale will feature a wide variety of hand-selected favorites from the Botanical Gardens horticulture staff at unbeatable prices. Shop for gorgeous annuals, perennials and shrubs. Bulbs from the Spring Flower Exhibit will also be available. (The bulbs used to be sold in a separate event called the Bulb Sale.) The varieties chosen for the sale are unlike most of what you would find at any other nursery.

Shoppers can also purchase a unique compost blend from Tend, Western New York’s only STA Approved compost made right here in Buffalo from local waste.

In an effort to reduce the use of plastic and waste, the Botanical Gardens asks shoppers to take their own reusable bags or boxes to the sale to transport purchased plants. A limited number of reusable bags will be available for purchase at the sale.

Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com is proud to sponsor the Great Plant Sale.

Garden Friends of Clarence

Saturday, May 14

The Garden Friends of Clarence will hold its perennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14 at Clarence Town Park Pavilion, 10405 Main St., Clarence.

For more information, email gardenfriendsofclarence@gmail.com.

Genesee County Master Gardeners

Saturday, May 14

Rain or shine, the Genesee County Master Gardeners will host their annual Spring Garden Gala from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, 420 East Main St., Batavia.

This annual plant sale features 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 drawing starts at 12:30 pm.

New this year is the Garden Garage Sale. They will have an assortment of gently used– or maybe never used– gardening items such as containers, tools, signs and garden decor.

Take 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 Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.

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

North Tonawanda Botanical Garden

Saturday, May 14

A  plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14 at North Tonawanda Botanical Garden, 1825 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda.

Native plants, shrubs, and trees grown by the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization will be for sale to the public. Planting information will be available.

A list of available plants will be listed on their website.

Contact ntbgo@hotmail.com for more information.

Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP)

Saturday, May 14

MAP’s annual seedling sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at MAP, 387 Massachusetts Ave., Buffalo.

Seedlings are $3 and all proceeds support the continued work of the Massachusetts Avenue Project.

Vegetable seedlings were grown with love at MAP and seedling purchases are SNAP eligible. Go for your seedlings & stay for the coffee, pastries, arepas, demonstrations, kid-friendly activities & community partners.

Kenmore Garden Club

Friday and Saturday, May 20 & 21

The Kenmore Garden Club will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 20 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at 939 Delaware Rd., Town of Tonawanda.

The sale will include annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and hanging baskets.

You can pay with cash or checks only.

Audubon Community Nature Center

Saturday, May 21

A plant exchange & sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Audubon Community Nature Center (ACNC), 1600 Riverside Rd., Jamestown.

You can trade in your own plants in exchange for new plants, or purchase plants outright. There will be a large selection of native plants as well as annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.

Royal Fern Nursery, locally operated and owned, will be on site with a selection of native plants for sale. Clearwater Compost will also be on site selling bags of compost.

Audubon plants are sold for $2.50 per 4-inch pot, $5 per 6- to 8-inch pot and $10 per 10-inch pot. Take your own potted plants to exchange for new plants.

There will be a tent set up to take in your plants to trade for tickets. Each ticket is worth a dollar toward plant purchases. Audubon reserves the right to reject invasive species, un-potted plants, plants in poor condition, plants in multi-species pots or plants that seem to be infested with weeds. Plants will not be accepted for exchange after 12 p.m.

Many local nurseries and garden stores donate to this event in order to provide a wide selection. These plants will be available for cash only, and will not be available to purchase as an exchange. Cash and checks are preferred for a smooth and easy check out, but credit cards will be accepted at the ACNC reception desk.

Volunteer Master Gardeners will be on hand to give advice at the advice table.

For more information, call (716) 569-2345.

Capen Garden Walk

Saturday, May 21

The Capen Garden Walk will hold a spring plant and seed exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at University Presbyterian Church, 3330 Main St. at Niagara Falls Blvd., Buffalo.

There is no fee to exchange perennials, herbs, vegetables, annuals and tropicals.

Seeds will be accepted and distributed by ARTseeds of the University Heights Arts Association.

They also accept gently used planters, garden art, vases and other garden paraphernalia for resale to benefit the Christine Brooks Garden Grant. For more information, email capengardenwalk@gmail.com.

Pelion Community Garden

Saturday, May 21

A seedling share & sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21 in Pelion Community Garden at City Honors School, 206 Best St., Buffalo. The rain date will be Sunday, May 22.

For a third year, Pelion has grown out many varieties of donated seed for the public including greens, beans, melons, squash, herbs and flowers. Other unique seedlings will be offered at a low cost. They will also make perennials and treats available.

Proceeds benefit the 2022 growing season.

Erie County Master Gardeners

Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program will hold its annual plant sale on Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28, at the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo. Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
The sale includes a choice selection of sun and shade perennials, natives, herbs, annuals, shrubs and vegetables from the gardens of Master Gardener volunteers, as well as plants donated from area horticultural businesses: annuals, hanging baskets, and houseplants. There will also be a variety of garden treasures.

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

Take your soil sample to the event. Soil pH testing will be available for $2 per sample. For more information contact 716-652-5400, ext. 176 or mgerie@cornell.edu.

Hawk Creek Wildlife Center

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 27-29

Hawk Creek Wildlife Center will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 27, 28 and 29 at the 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.

There will be a great selection of beautiful perennials for sale at affordable prices. Take a box or tote to carry your plants home; they will have a limited supply of boxes available.

Guests can take self-guided tours of the center to view animal residents and speak with naturalists for $5 donation per person from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. You can see live owls, hawks, falcons and wildcats up-close and in-person.

Proceeds benefit the nonprofit mission and animals of Hawk Creek Wildlife Center.

Gardens Buffalo Niagara day trip to Rochester

Saturday, June 4

Gardens Buffalo Niagara will hold a day trip to three nurseries in the Rochester area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday June 4. The group will meet at the parking lot in front of the Millennium Airport Hotel, Walden Galleria, Walden Ave., Cheektowaga.

These are specialty nurseries that feature items that are harder to find in different varieties than most garden centers. The trip is designed to not compete with Buffalo Niagara garden centers.

• Oriental Garden Supply, Pittsford, offers a wide variety of rare plants, shrubs and flowers.
• Sara’s Garden Center, Brockport, offers hard-to-find and new introductions of trees and shrubs, as well as fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, an outstanding selection of alpine plants, over 200 varieties of hosta, and nearly 100 varieties of clematis.
• Wayside Garden Center, Macedon, has eight acres of native trees, shrubs and perennials.

Please take a bag lunch and boxes for your purchases. The organizers will provide cookies, water, and space for your plants.

The fee is $45. Register here. 

North Tonawanda Botanical Garden

A  plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 4 at North Tonawanda Botanical Garden, 1825 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda.

Native plants, shrubs, and trees grown by the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization will be for sale to the public. Planting information will be available.

A list of available plants will be listed on their website.

Contact ntbgo@hotmail.com for more information.

5th Annual Allegany Garden Festival

Saturday, June 4

The 5th Annual Allegany Garden Festival will be held by the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at the Robert H Livingston Community Center, 188 West Main St., Village of Allegany.

The festival location is walkable from the downtown Allegany/central village shopping and dining areas, and is a short drive from a number of local area hotels. It is also a 20-minute drive from Allegany State Park.

Most of the vendors will be located indoors, with accomodations for outdoor vendors as well.

Stayer’s Greenhouse will be selling annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets. Sinn Valley Gardens will be selling annuals and perennials. In addition to the nurseries, several other vendors will be selling herbs and houseplants.

There will also be a variety of vendors providing a wide assortment of items relating to gardening, including natural products such as soaps and teas, planters, vases and pottery, handmade woodcrafts and furniture, bird feeders, garden-themed tote bags and hand bags. There will also be artists who specialize in garden art, photography, pen-and-ink art and ceramic ware.

Canticle Farms, a local non-profit Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, will be providing information about purchasing CSA shares.

A representative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County will be present to answer gardening questions.

There will be a food truck and baked goods. The Allegany Fire Department will hold a coinciding chicken barbecue on the grounds during the festival.

Additionally, the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club will be sponsoring a basket raffle and a painted garden chair raffle, as well as selling potted canna lily plants.

The festival serves as both a fundraiser to help fulfill the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club’s mission to beautify the Village/Town of Allegany, and an event to encourage people to enjoy Allegany and the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York, located in Cattaraugus County.

Garden Club of the Tonawandas

Saturday, June 4

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Garden Club of the Tonawandas will once again hold its Perennial Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 4 in Niawanda Park, 200 Niagara St., City of Tonawanda. The sale will be held in conjunction with the Weekend on the Niagara Craft Show. 

All of the plants are divisions from perennials in the gardens of club members. They also have heirloom tomato plants, grown from seed by one of the club members. Because they haven’t been able to hold this sale for three years, there will be many plants.

Go early for the best selection.