Simcoe plant and garage sale features ‘variety’

Anne Roberts from Port Dover, on the left, said sales were brisk May 9 at the Simcoe & District Horticultural Society Plant & Garage Sale. 

Chris Abbott

Editor

A steady stream of plant enthusiasts visited Simcoe and District Horticultural Society’s annual Plant & Garage Sale on May 9, featuring 18 vendors in the Norfolk fairgrounds parking lot.

“Fantastic variety,” said Bill Yeager, a lifetime horticultural society member. “Dozens and dozens of varieties.”

Located on Culver Road (near Townsend Butchers), Yeager said he would continue selling plants through the spring.

“People come year after year and we talk plants. Plant people like to talk plants. And if anybody drops by in the next couple of weeks, they will see tons of stuff they don’t see anywhere else. I try to keep prices ridiculously low.”

“Most plants are $2, except for Hostas, they’re $5, and Solomon Seal, they’re $3,” said Susan Davidson, talking with a customer at her table. “The lilacs, they’re $1… or free, whichever you choose.”

Davidson, from the Vittoria area, did note ‘everything’s late’ this year due to colder-than-normal spring temperatures.

“Well, it’s been late getting out into the garden. A lot of the Hostas have been late opening.”

Despite cool temperatures, sales were brisk Saturday morning.

“Oh my goodness, yes,” said Anne Roberts from Port Dover, selling most of her plants, including almost all of the pollinators.

“We seem to be doing pretty good,” said Helen Uren, president of the Simcoe and District Horticultural Society, pleased to see ‘hundreds of people.’

“We’ve had a lot of people today, it’s been very successful. I think maybe the best because we’re selling a lot of stuff.

“It’d be nice if it was a little warmer,” she added with a smile. “We’ve had such cold weather, this is not too bad.”

Cold, but not the coldest spring that gardeners have weathered over the decades and decades of the horticultural society’s history.

“They’ve been having plant sales from probably 1896,” Uren noted. “We are 130 years old. And we’ve always had plant sales.”

The plant and garden sale has been held at the Norfolk Fairgrounds for the past 10 years.

“We have 18 vendors, I think, who rent for $10. And I’m not going to increase it because I’d rather more people are here, as opposed to charging more and getting less. I want it to be a community event… and it looks like we’re doing pretty good.”

The horticultural society operated five tables Saturday with members donating plants and garage sale items.

“Some stuff I’ve never seen before,” Uren said. “We’re pretty happy with that.”

Simcoe & District Horticultural Society meetings are the second Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds’ Junior Farmers building, 172 South Drive, Simcoe. Meetings are held in March, April, and September to December. The website is gardenontario.org/site.php/Simcoe. They can also be found on Facebook (@simcoehort) and Instagram. Email simcoehorticultural@gmail.com for more information.

Annual dues are $10 per person or $18/family. Numerous local garden centres offer a 10% discount to members.

Horticultural society events include garden tours, bus trips, and an annual flower show (August 8th this year).