Baltimore Woods plant sale goes virtual

For over thirty years, Baltimore Woods Nature Center has hosted a plant sale to help supply local gardeners with high-quality native plants for their landscapes. This year, due to COVID-19 recommendations and safety concerns, the traditional in-person event scheduled for May 29 and 30 has been re-imagined as a virtual sale. The nature center will be taking pre-orders from May 7-27 with curbside pickup at Baltimore Woods Nature Center on June 12 and 13.
A generous selection of native trees, shrubs, and perennials supplied by Ballantyne Gardens in Liverpool will be available for pre-order as well as several varieties of organic and heirloom tomatoes grown by master gardener Pat Jokajtys. To assist community members in choosing the right plant for the right place, native plant expert and plant sale committee member Jacquie Orzell will answer questions about plant varieties via emails sent to [email protected]. Hand-crafted bird houses made from reclaimed wood by volunteers will also be offered.
According to Whitney Lash- Marshall, executive director for Baltimore Woods Nature Center, “Many people are turning to gardening as another way to get outside during this stay-at-home period. When gardens are lush with native plants, it’s a win for the pollinators, too. Birds, bees, and butterflies are just some of the creatures that rely on these plants for food and shelter. We can all feel good about taking care of ourselves and our environment right now.”
Visit baltimorewoods.org to browse the plant selections and pre-order via email or mail starting May 7. Payment can be made by credit card or check. All orders and payments must be in by Wednesday, May 27, and plant pickup will take place at Baltimore Woods Nature Center (4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus NY) on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13. Orders will be processed in the sequence they are received. For questions, call 315-673-1350.
Sponsored by Nucor Corporation, a long-time partner of this event, the annual plant sale is an important fundraiser for the nonprofit organization, helping to raise essential funds to maintain the nature preserve and support Baltimore Woods Nature Center in its mission of environmental education.