NOW!!! Native Plant Preorders Due for March Conservation District Sales

Some benefits of native plants are that they “are adapted to our local climate, soils, and animal life,” writes Linda Chalker-Scott, Associate Prof/Extension Horticulturist at Washington State University,  in her Sustainable Landscapes & Gardens: Good Science–Practical Application . Native plants also flower when our pollinators are ready to buzz and can handle our soggy climate, she says.

You can buy burgeoning native plants–from groundcovers to towering trees–for incredibly low prices from several Washington State county conservations district plant sales, in March. But you’d better PREORDER NOW to get the best selection!

ORDER INEXPENSIVE NATIVE PLANTS NOW!

Several nearby Conservation Districts are now taking preorders for native plants at (seriously) amazing prices. These sales are the best and cheapest way to get good, healthy native plants. 

To get the best picks, preorder ASAP. You can often pick up additional, listed or unlisted plants at the open sale, but supplies of the “hot” items are often limited.

For preorder forms, plant information, and more contact information, see the listed Web sites.

Don’t be fooled if a sale is listed as a “tree sale.” All the conservation districts offer a variety of plants–plus detailed information on plant needs (exposure, water, soil type) and ultimate size.

(Note: This list is not comprehensive. Other Conservation Districts sell at different times of year and in other counties.)

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KING COUNTY Conservation District Native Plant Sale, Renton (http://www.kingcd.org/pdf/plant-sale.pdf): Preorder forms due JANUARY 31.

Pick-up and walk-up sales dates (1107 SW Grady Way, Renton (west parking lot)):

• Friday, March 4: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Saturday, March 5: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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PIERCE COUNTY Conservation District Native Plant Sale, Puyallup (http://www.piercecountycd.org/treesale.html): Preorder forms due JANUARY 21.

Preorder pick-up and walk-up sale dates (5430 66th Ave. E., Puyallup):

• Saturday, March 5: 9 a.m.-1 p.m

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY Conservation District Native Plant Sale, Snohomish (http://snohomishcd.org/plant-sale/): Preorder forms due FEBRUARY 3.

Preorder pick-up and walk-up sale dates (Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Snohomish):

• Friday, March 4: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 5: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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KITSAP COUNTY Conservation District Native Plant Sale, Bremerton (http://kitsapcd.org/programs/tree-sale): Preorder by JANUARY 31.

Preorder pick-up and walk-up sale dates (Kitsap County Fairgrounds, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Rd., Bremerton):

• Friday, March 4: 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 5: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. 

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MORE EVENTS/SALES/GARDENS WITH NATIVES

This is off the top of my head, so PLEASE post followups with additional info!

• Free Native Plant Workshop: January 15, 9 a.m.-noon, Eagle’s Nest, Kitsap County Fairgrounds, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Rd., Bremerton
• Washington Native Plant Society (http://www.wnps.org) Plant Sale: May 7
• King County Master Gardeners Plant Sale (http://www.mgfkc.org/events/2011-plant-sale):  May 7 and 8 (tons of native plants for different habitats plus an immense selection of edibles (esp. tomatoes), rare plants, and other plants)

NATIVE PLANT INFORMATION

My three favorite online resources:

• King County Native Plant Guide (http://green.kingcounty.gov/gonative/ )
• Washington Native Plant Society (http://wnps.org)
• USDA Plants Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/stateSearch?searchTxt=&searchType=Sciname&stateSelect=US53&searchOrder=2&imageField.x=73&imageField.y=9) 

NATIVE PLANT BOOKS

Three of my favorite native plant books:

• Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, & Alaska, Pojar & McKinnon
• Gardening with Native Plants, local expert and Kruckeberg Botanic Garden (http://kruckeberg.org) founder Arthur R. Kruckeberg. CHECK OUT MSK NURSERY  (http://www.msknursery.com/) on site.
• Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants, Robin Rose, Caryn E.C. Chachulski, and Diane L. Haase