Native Plant Sale Ending
SNOW HILL, Md. – The Lower Shore Land Trust is holding a native plant sale, but the sale will be ending on April 26th.
The native plant sale is an annual sale that the trust does which is a fundraiser to support their work. It’s also their initiative to get people out in gardens, planting native plants and supporting local pollinators.
Development Director, Margot Resto said local pollinators depend on the native plants to survive.
“They create the plants, create a habitat, create a safe space, food, water,” Resto said. “Ultimately, pollinators are what keep us healthy and keep us strong, keep the planet healthy if we are thinking of clean air and clean water and food production.”
The trust will be selling native plants including: Pawpaws, Wild Blue Indigo, Wild Ginger, different Cone flowers, Fern, Witch Hazel, Wild Bergamot, Prickly Pear and different types of Milkweed.
Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Brooke Orr said Milkweed is important to monarch butterflies.
“We sell at our native plant sale, I think 4 or 5 species of milkweed, which is the only host plant, the only plant that they lay eggs and the only food source that they have. So, this plant is imperative for their survival,” Orr said.
The Lower Shore Land Trust also received a grant from the New Hampshire Audubon and is using their garden as a stopping point for migrating monarchs.
“Last year we had a garden full of natives, but unfortunately, some invasives popped in there, which happens, and we cleared out the entire garden,” Resto said. “Saved the native that were left over, replanted them over there by our building, and we’re going to be using some of the native plants from our plants sale to refill this garden for our pollinators and migrating monarchs
If you happen to miss the online sale, the trust will be having pick up days at their office at 100 River Street in Snow Hill, May 1st from 8:30am to 5pm, and May 2nd from 8:30am to 1pm.
“While picking up your plants or purchasing, you may be able to catch a glimpse of shore blooms, which is a new program in collaboration with many environmental organizations and other local partners such as City Asset, Coastal Trust, the City of Salisbury, habitat for humanity, and more. It is a certification program that you can apply to and get your garden, yard, etc. certified for, sustainable practices,” Orr explained.
Their annual pollinator garden tour will also be coming up on June 6th at Salisbury University. To buy a native plant, or attend the pollinator garden tour, visit their website.
