by Carol Barany, Yakima Master Gardener
“One minute, you’re young, hip, and carefree and the next minute you’re photographing vegetables in your garden.”
“Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy plants, which is the same thing.”
If you’re a gardener who relates to any of these memes, mark your calendars with three epic Yakima plant sales coming up in May. Your purchases will support three local non-profits whose work enriches our community.
Each of these sales is the culmination of months of planning and preparation. For the experienced gardeners working at the sales, seeing the faces of other Yakima gardeners makes all the work worthwhile. Plant sale workers are knowledgeable folks who like nothing better than talking all day about plants.
It doesn’t matter if you’re planting your very first garden, or if you’ve been a serious plant collector for decades. They are there to help.
Mark your calendars and start making your lists. You’ll find healthy plants that are well-suited to Yakima’s climate and unique growing conditions.
- MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE
1522 S. 18th Avenue, Yakima WA 98902
Saturday, May 2, 8-4
Sunday, May 3, 10-2
NO FRIDAY SALE THIS YEAR
If you shop early on Saturday, you will be part of a crowd of gardeners slowly inching through the greenhouse, shoulder-to-shoulder. There are never enough wagons and carts, and the line to check-out could be long. We are doing everything we can to efficiently serve you. We hope you can be patient!
We have thousands of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, and unique garden art items to choose from.
Click here to find descriptions of all of this year’s plants.
If you plan to buy more plants than your two arms can hold, bring your own wagon, or tote. Master Gardeners will have a supply of cardboard trays for you to take your plants home in, but their supply will eventually run out. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own carry-out container.
For your safety, if you are shopping with a child in a stroller, wait until at least Friday afternoon. Young gardeners are our future, and we celebrate and welcome them, but navigating through crowds over gravel pathways with a stroller is dicey when we first open. Since parking is limited, why not carpool with a friend or neighbor?
- YAKIMA AREA ARBORETUM PLANT SALE
1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima WA 98901
Thursday, May 7, MEMBERS ONLY Pre-sale 4-7pm
Friday, May 8, 3-7pm
Sunday, May 19, 9am-1pm
Shop for a wide range of perennials, conifers, shrubs, and native plants selected for Central Washington conditions. This sale is known for its wide selection of unusual trees, including ‘Blanchard Magnolia, ’‘Autumn Blaze Maple,’ ‘Yoshino Cherry,’ and ‘Heart Throb Dogwood.’ Plant experts and garden designers will be on hand to help you find the perfect tree for your space.
Membership has its privileges. Arboretum members can connect with fellow garden enthusiasts and be the first to shop for perfect plants at the pre-sale on Thursday, May 8 from 4-7pm. Wine and munchies will make it a party. Memberships can be purchased that day at the sale.
- NORTH YAKIMA CONSERVATION DISTRICT NATIVE PLANT SALE
FINAL DAY TO ORDER IS MAY 10
Dates of Pickup:
Friday, May 15, 9:00 – 6:00
Saturday, May 16, 8:00 – Noon
Pickup Location: 1522 S. 18th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902
The Conservation District’s sale is on-line. Click the ‘order now’ button in the upper right corner of the page. You’ll find beautiful photos of their plants along with prices. Wildflowers are in 3.5” pots. Shrubs and trees are in one gallon pots. Final day to order will be May 10. Plants that were not purchased and paid for online will be available for walk in customers on pick-up days. Supplies may be limited.
While the plants at these three sales are selected to thrive in Yakima gardens, most will require some hardening off. Hardening off involves gradually acclimating greenhouse grown plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting. This process, typically spanning a week or two, helps them adjust to changes in temperature, sunlight, and wind, which will reduce the risk of transplant shock.
Make some lists. Check them twice. But be prepared. I guarantee that if you shop any of these great sales, you’ll meet at least one plant you can’t live without, but wasn’t on your list.