As we peek around the corner into spring weather, it’s the perfect time to replenish your garden with plants “that have evolved and adapted to grow in this area,” says Whatcom Conservation District (WCD) Resource Specialist Emily Hirsch.
This year will mark the WCD’s 32nd Annual Native Plant Sale, held in Ferndale, where they will have 41 different species of native plants. Not only are native species easier to care for, but they also provide benefits for the surrounding environment. This event offers the community a chance to get their hands on native plants on a smaller scale at a lower cost.
Photograph by Whatcom Conservation District Staff
“It’s all a bunch of Master Gardeners and/or our staff who are knowledgeable on soil type and light type and how to plant them, so you can get your questions answered,” says Aneka Sweeney, WCD outreach and education manager.
The sale also opens up conversations about other types of environmental organizations the Whatcom Conservation District engages in, such as wildfire risk reduction, stormwater benefits, and more.
“Folks are introduced to other aspects of land stewardship that they may not have thought of or understood could be a part of their life,” says Sweeney. “We celebrate what native plants can bring into a community, but it’s also a gateway to have further conversations.”
Early native plant sales were held in the parking lot of WCD’s office building; now the event has grown so much that they need the outdoor space that places like Pioneer Park in Ferndale have to offer, where the sale will be held this year. Last year, they had over 800 customers and hope to continue growing. The sale is free and open to all to attend, and organizers encourage people with any (or no) knowledge of plants to come by!
March 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale, 360.526.2381, whatcomcd.org
