2022 Milwaukee area plant sales are starting, many with a focus on native greenery
Plant sales aren't just about beautifying gardens or growing vegetables.
One of the Milwaukee area's biggest sales is about saving monarch butterflies, as the Friends of the Monarch Trail sale has moved to the Greenfield Park Pavilion and added presales. The organization said 2022 will be its biggest year ever with 10,000 plants to sell,
"Together, we can make a huge difference," Monarch Trail founder Barb Agnew said by email. "The added benefit is a front row seat to the butterfly’s spectacular migration."
Other sales emphasize wildflowers, which help native wildlife and crowd out invaders, while many events raise money for gardens or other nonprofits.
Here's a look at this year's plant sales in the Milwaukee area.
Burlington Area Garden Club
Annual plant sale features locally grown perennials, 8:30-11:30 a.m. May 14. The sale is held rain or shine, with recycled garden items available for purchase. All proceeds support scholarships for students, and grants to local gardening projects. Riverside Park Pavilion, 517 Congress St., Burlington. burlingtonareagardenclub.com
Cedarburg Garden Club
Perennial Plant and Houseplant Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 4. The club plants and maintains public gardens in the Cedarburg area, and is open to anyone. Cedarburg Cultural Center Parking Lot, W62-N546 Washington Ave., Cedarburg. cedarburggardenclub.com
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Daylily Society of SouthEast Wisconsin (DSSEW)
Daylily Sale, 7:30 a.m.-noon June 4. Daylilys are priced from $7 to $25. Held at the Brookfield Farmers Market at Brookfield Central High School, 16900 W. Gebhardt Road, Brookfield. For gallery of photos and flower descriptions visit www.dssew.org/
Elm Grove Beautification Committee
Native plant sale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 4. Perennials will be sold at $5 each; herbs at 2 for $5. Sendik's parking lot, near the Park-n-Shop sign, downtown Elm Grove. elmgrovewi.org
Fox Point Garden Club
May Market Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 14. Purchase perennials, wildflowers and homemade baked goods. Longacre Pavilion, 7343 N. Longacre Road, Fox Point. foxpointgardenclub.com/
Fresh Coast Guardians
This group, which aims to protect Lake Michigan, sells native plants at a reduced rate. The MMSD Rain Garden Plant Sale is pre-order only, and the deadline is April 12. Plants are sold in bundles of four for $10, or $2.50 per plant, unless otherwise noted online. Pickup is June 11 at MMSD, 260 W. Seeboth St. freshcoastguardians.com,
Friends of Wehr Nature Center
Native Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 4-5. Pre-order and in-person shopping. Select from native flowers, grasses and sedges suitable for southeastern Wisconsin. The fundraiser supports the friends group, which strives to improve Wehr's natural areas. Some plants will be available only by ordering in advance. Deadline for pre-order is April 29. Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W. College Ave., Franklin. (414) 425-8550; friendsofwehr.org/plantsale/
Herb Society Wisconsin Unit
Herb and Artisan Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21. The fair features herbs and plants for sale, and three herbal seminars scheduled during the day. Learn about "Teatime in the Garden for Increased Well Being" with Jane Hawley Stevens, "Gardening for Hummingbirds" with Michael and Kathi Rock, and "Ferns, the Hidden Herbs" with Rory Petry. Visit the Tea Room serving teas and homemade baked goods, and vendors and artisans selling soaps, teas, medicinals and garden art.
Fair entry, parking and the herb talks are free. Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. herb-society-wisconsin.org/
Horicon Marsh
Wildflowers for Wildlife Native Plant Sale, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 21. Shop for plants in-person, with hands-on activities, bird and butterfly watching, and nature walks. Pre-order is available until April 1, with pickup May 21.
Proceeds benefit the marsh, its education programs and trail maintenance.
Horicon Marsh Education & Visitor Center, N7725 Highway 28, Horicon. horiconmarsh.org/event/wildflowers-for-wildlife
Milwaukee River Advocates
The Riverwest environmental co-operative will hold its Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 and 8 at 3278 N. Humboldt Blvd. Gardener’s may purchase plants in-person, or pre-order plants to pick-up on the sale days. Receive a 5% discount when you pre-order by April 12, otherwise all pre-orders must be received by April 20. Pre-order is recommended since a limited assortment of plants are available the day of the sale. Request the pre-order form via email at milwriver@gmail.com For more information call Kristine, (414) 418-9561.
Monarch Trail
The milkweed sale is from noon to 4 p.m. May 7 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 8. Pre-order collections, special bags and flats ahead of time online with pickup at the regular plant sale. Pre-order online at parkpeoplemke.org by April 20. Single plants and other monarch-related items are available on event days.
Among items available will be poke milkweed, which grows in the shade, and a chance to buy milkweed that would be planted on the Monarch Trail at the County Grounds.
The sale will be at Greenfield Park Pavilion, 2028 S. 124th St., West Allis. For more information visit themonarchtrail.org.
Norway Area Garden Club
Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14. Perennials, annuals, veggies and house plants. Held rain or shine. Flightline Interiors, 7919 S. Loomis Road, Wind Lake.
Ozaukee Master Gardeners
Heirloom & Herb Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to noon May 28. Vegetable plants, flowers (annual and perennial), hand-raised tomato plants and heirloom varieties. Concordia University Fieldhouse, 12800 Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. For a full list of plants available at the sale visit www.ozaukeemastergardeners.org
Pewaukee River Partnership
The group's native plant sale is pre-order only, with pickup from 9 a.m. to noon May 14. Order deadline is April 22. Plants are sold in 2.5-inch pots and are priced at $2.60 per plant; orders of 12 plants or more are $2.40 per plant.
Pickup is in the village parking lot, next to Noah’s Pizza, 220 Oakton Ave., Pewaukee. Order form is available by emailing Lcshong@milwpc.com (enter plant sale in subject line of email), or call Charlie, (262) 443-6737.
Richfield Historical Society
The group's plant sale will run from April 1 to May 31. The order form is to be posted April 1 at richfieldhistoricalsociety.org/.
Roots and Branches
The Group strives to improve the natural environment of West Bend. Its plant sale is noon to 7 p.m. May 13, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14. Prices for perennials are $6 per gallon pot, annuals are $15 for a 4-pack flat, or $4 for a 4 ½” pot. Cash, check and credit cards accepted. Corner of Main and Vine St., across from City Hall, 1115 S. Main St. (262) 335-5083; rootsbranches.org
Spring City Garden Club of Waukesha
This plant sale features perennials dug and potted by club members, as well as yard art and a shabby chic boutique.
The sale is 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 4. Cash or checks are preferred, but credit cards will be accepted. St. John Neumann Catholic Church grounds, 2400 Les Paul Parkway, Waukesha. springcitygardenclub.org
Urban Ecology Center-Riverside Park
Native Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 22. Shop in person under the tent to the west of the warehouse, or shop online through May 19 at the Prairie Future Seed Company website www.prairiefutureseed.com and pick up on the day of the sale. 1500 E. Park Place.
VIA Bloom and Groom 2022
Flower Sale, 10 a.m. to noon May 14. Flowers and plants range in price from $1 to $6. There will be a purchase limit of $30 from 10 a.m. to noon, and after noon, you may return to purchase more plants. Trowbridge Square Children’s Play Area, 1530 S. 38th St. viacdc.org/event/bloom-groom/
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee 2022 plant sales focus on nature, butterflies and charities
