The Thrill of the Hunt
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Alfred Lord Tennyson almost had it right. In the spring, it is a gardener's fancy, not a young man's, that turns to thoughts of love. However, ours is not a lightly taken venture into romance, nor is the desired object another person. Oh, no. As spring approaches, gardeners become consumed with green-eyed lust for all things flora. Fueled by an ever-growing list of upcoming plant sales, our desire bursts forth in full bloom with the daffodils and tulips. We mark the dates in our calendars, pull together our plant lists and squirrel away dollars in anticipation.
When the day arrives, we descend upon the sale, breathlessly eager to see what new treasures we will find. The doors open and we file in, our eyes widening with pleasure as we inhale the sweet fragrance of green.
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When our paths cross, we pause to chat with friends. Like partners in a dance, our eyes slip from resting upon each other's face to careening away to scan flats of plants and vendors' booths, mentally adding to our lists. Ultimately, the botanic pull gains strength; conversations end abruptly as we scatter to follow our hearts' desire of the moment. No one feels pangs of guilt; we barely notice breaches of social etiquette.
Our pace slows. We have accumulated more plants than we can carry, we've exceeded our budget and we've reached satiation. Our faces relax and lose the madman demeanor. But only temporarily. We know it will return. There is no cure, only brief respites between metered doses of leaf and petal, willingly accepted and savored at each gardening event.
See you at the next plant sale. I'll be the one with the glassy, green glare.
How to shop like a pro:
- Assess and create. Identify the holes in your garden created by winter weather and gardening mishaps and compile a list of "needs." This can be a list of specific plant names or a compilation of descriptive terms (tall, slim evergreen) and cultural conditions (full sun, moist soil). This is not to say that you can not, should not, deviate from your list. Goodness, that would be an impossible feat! But a list will increase the odds that your purchases will include plants with a pre-determined home in your garden, as well as impulse buys.
Shopper loaded with plants at the
Berry Botanic Garden plant sale.
- Conduct reconnaisance. Some plant sale organizers publish vendors' names in advance. Some of these vendors will have catalogs to read and web sites to visit, both of which will paint a picture of their specialty and provide hints of what they will bring to the sale. It will also help you determine in what order you want to visit a vendor's booth. My plant sale activity resembles that of a pinball in an arcade game, bouncing around from vendor to vendor, ending at the hold table only to start all over again.
- Choose your moment of attack. The first hours of the first day are always the most crowded with the choicest plants disappearing quickly. However, if you don't attend during this window of time, all is not lost. Vendors will often restock during a sale, especially if it is a two-day event. Sometimes you can get as good a selection early on the second day; the bonus is that the sale is often less crowded. Shopping the last hour or two may net you bargains as vendors mark down stock just before closing at some events. If in doubt, ask veterans of the sale for the best times to shop.
- Be a Glamour "Don't". Wear comfortable shoes and opt for a backpack or fanny pack instead of heels and a purse. Your feet will thank you and your hands will be free to grab more plants.
- Prepare for the long haul. Some sales have wagons on hand for shoppers to use, but they are as in demand as the hottest plants; don't presume one will be available. If sale organizers permit it, bring a wagon or cart from home (check with organizers in advance). The best sales will have a plant hold area, but a cart gives you the extra carrying capacity and eliminates a trip or two (or three or four) to the hold area. A cart, however, can make maneuvering crowded aisles a challenge. Please practice patience and courtesy.
- Divide and conquer. Shop with a friend. An extra set of eyes and hands will help both of you net the finds you desire. If you split up, you can cover twice as much territory as you would on your own.
- Allow a momentary lapse from garden design rules. Plant sale vendors with their array of choice plants allow us the opportunity to indulge in the Onechi School of Design (as in One of Each). Reserve the purchases of plants for hedges and sweeps for nursery trips.
- Use a critical eye. Choice plants are only choice if they are also healthy, well-rooted plants. Give newly rooted plants extra container time before planting into the garden.
- He who hesitates… If you think you want it, grab it, especially if the vendor has limited stock on hand. You can always put it back if you change your mind, find something better, or need to whittle your haul down in order to avoid taking out a second (or third) mortgage to pay for your purchases.
- Be a Curious George. Peak into others' flats of plants. Allow them to peak into yours. Gardeners may not be willing to give you their plants, but they are always willing to tell you what it is and direct you to the vendor's table.
- Know when to quit. Set a limit, be it garden space, budget or time restrictions, carrying capacity or physical exhaustion. Or choose all of the above and go with whichever one comes first.
- Overindulgence happens. Good intentions are rarely a match for the power of plant sale fever. Accept it, forgive yourself, and give in to the pleasures and beauty your plant gems will provide.
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Article by Lisa Albert
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