Pollinator-Friendly Plants to be Featured at Baltimore Woods Native Plant Sale
This Friday and Saturday, Baltimore Woods Nature Center, located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road in Marcellus, will kick off the gardening season with a native plant sale. For the past 29 years, Baltimore Woods has held a plant and herb sale to help local gardeners start their spring planting. This year’s sale runs Friday, May 17, 2-8pm, and Saturday, May 18, 9am-3pm. This event takes place rain or shine. There are no admission or parking fees, and proceeds from the sale support Baltimore Woods in its mission of environmental education and stewardship.
With a theme of Birds, Bees, and Blooms, the plant sale is focused on native plants that attract and provide habitats and food for birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects. Committee member Jacqueline Orzell says, “Our goal is twofold: to raise funds for Baltimore Woods and, at the same time, to educate gardeners on the importance of having pollinator-friendly plants in their yards.” Annuals, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, heirloom tomatoes, and a wide variety of perennials will be available for purchase throughout the weekend. This year’s plant selections will come from two local growers: Ballantyne Gardens and Lake Effect Nursery and Garden Center. Baltimore Woods’ own staff and core garden volunteers will be available to help with plant selection and master gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Onondaga County, and members of Onondaga Audubon Society will be on site to answer questions and offer gardening advice.
A special feature this year is the Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble, playing from 6-8pm on Friday. This performance is free and open to the public. On Saturday at 10 am, heirloom tomato expert and master gardener Pat Jokajtys of Baldwinsville will hold a container gardening workshop on the back deck of the Interpretive Center. Participants can make and take home their own tomato garden featuring herbs and one of Pat’s heirloom tomato plants. A DIY fairy garden workshop will be offered on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm. Participants will make their own magical, miniature garden filled with fairy-friendly plants and decorative accessories. Find a link to pre-register for these workshops at www.baltimorewoods.org.
Sale goers will also be able to peruse the silent auction table, enter a raffle, and purchase gently-used garden books. Picnic plates will be served up by the Garden Café for $7, and homemade baked goods will be available for purchase. The plant sale will wrap up on Saturday at 3pm after gardeners have found beautiful, native, healthy plants to attract pollinators to their yards. For more information, visit www.baltimorewoods.org.