By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
Editor’s Note: In the event of bad weather Saturday, there is a plan in place. In the event of severe weather, the plant sale would be moved back in one-hour increments. If the severe weather persists and the event is cancelled, plants would be available for sale at the Inaugural Garden Tour on May 15th at Prattvillage Garden.
The Autauga County Master Gardeners Association 25th Annual Plant Sale will take place this Saturday at Prattvillage Garden from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The Prattvillage Garden is located in the first block of First Street in historic downtown Prattville.
The event will give people the opportunity to buy an assortment of plants, ranging from evergreens and shrubs to perennials, annuals, and herbs. All plants are grown by certified and trained master gardeners from Autauga County.
“We had to cancel the plant sale last year due to covid, so we’re extremely excited to bring it back this time around. Usually, we have a line of people waiting to enter in the morning, and we’re hoping to have that kind of turn out again this year,” said Debbie Boutilier, President of the Autauga County Master Gardeners Association.
There will also be educational opportunities for people who are interested in the event.
“We’ll have some handouts and demonstrations that will show the importance of pollinators in our local ecosystems. That can include bees, wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a host of other species. Providing for them is important, so we really encourage people to take part in those educational opportunities,” Boutilier said.
Event goers can also bring their own to plants to have them identified and inspected. There will also be classes that will demonstrate how to properly plant your flowers, shrubs, etc.
“It’s really just an overall great way to come out and support our gardeners while learning the necessary ways to properly take care of your plants,” Boutilier said.
The Master Gardeners Association is a non-profit organization whose funds go right back into the community. They operate two public gardens in Prattvillage and the Demonstration Vegetable Garden. All vegetables grown in their garden are donated to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center. Other funds help them operate educational events and their monthly lunch and learn program.
For more information about the Autauga County Master Gardeners Program, contact the local extension office at 334-361-7273
