2012 Oregon Plant Fair

By Andrea Mull

Imagine if you could attract all of your favorite specialty Pacific Northwest nurseries, combined with exciting garden art and a collection of the District Garden Clubs, all offering unique items in one place at one time. You would have the Oregon Plant Fair!!

This year the Oregon Plant Fair is Saturday, May 12. It allows attendees to peruse unique, unusual, and hardy plants. Attendees also love to find the deals and offerings provided by the Garden Clubs, and the Cottage Grove Garden Club specifically! We are one of six clubs representing the Willamette District, and with only three Fairs under our belt, we have been one of the top earning clubs.

As the Chairperson for this event, I would love to see our earnings increase, maybe even oust Eugene from the top spot! I think this is possible if we hold to a few easy goals:

1. All plant material should be healthy and vibrant. Having good plants which have been well cared for is paramount.
2. Plants should be highly desirable to gardeners: they should be rare or unusual, native or medicinal, or have a desirable trait of some kind. If you don’t know what kind or variety the plant is, it might still be usable, but named varieties are best.
3. Always wash and sterilize your pots; 1 gallon size are best. Always use sterile potting soil, never garden soil.
4. Plants sell best if they are blooming. If you have a spring bloomer, think of bringing it to a potting party.
5. All plants should be labeled with the genus species (if known), common name, and the culture requirements (full sun, shade, high water, drought tolerant). Also, helpful is bloom time, or any other specific information. If you have a color photo of the plant (especially in bloom!) send it, and we will make a laminated placard for it.
6. Plants that sell well are landscape or horticultural varieties, small trees or shrubs, flowering perennials, and unusual sedums. But don’t forget those indoor plants – most can be propagated easily.

Plants ready for the 2010 Plant Fair

Potting parties will be announced at our meetings and/or through email. Please plan to help with the Plant Fair, from helping at a potting party, to volunteering the day of the event, to providing plants, pots, or soil. This is our club’s major fundraiser for the year, plus it is a great way to get to know the other members, meet other clubs, and it’s FUN!

Our first Transplanting Workshop/Potting Party is Sunday, March 25 at 531 E Adams St. (corner of 6th and Adams). Drop in between noon and 3pm, and I will demonstrate how to successfully transplant, divide, or propagate plants for the Oregon Plant Fair. Bring work gloves and plants, and wear clothing appropriate for the weather!! Soil will be provided.