Student volunteer Mirka Machalkova of the Czech Republic (left) and local volunteer Julie Perez admire one of the 1,400 native plants available at the Friends of the Botantical Gardens Plant Sale on May 9 on the Ursuline grounds in Paola. (Kevin Gray / Republic@republic-online.com)
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Ursuline plant sale brings in the green
By Kevin Gray, Staff Writer
An occasional glimpse of warming sun and cheerful flowering plants helped brighten the spirits of both bundled customers and volunteers at the Annual Spring Friends of the Botanical Gardens Plant Sale on Friday and Saturday hosted by the Miami County Master Gardeners.
“The money earned from the sale will go right back into beautifying the Ursuline grounds,” said Ken O’Dell, who grew the approximately 1,400 native plants.
“Our goal is to make $4,000,” he said. “With that, we can buy mulch, fertilizer and more annuals to keep the grounds going for years.”
The sale exceeded expectations and netted $13,000, of which the Master Gardeners earned just under $5,000, Master Gardener Patty Armstrong said.
O’Dell has nurtured a green thumb by taking care of all aspects of the growing process, including grafting and propagating.
“I always grow rare and unusual native plants, such as the White Fringe tree, that you can’t find at any retail nurseries,” he said. “But I couldn’t do it all without the help of the Master Gardeners. They do all the work.
“The Master Gardeners plan to continue the sale next year, and we hope that when Ursuline sells, the new owners will allow us to continue the gardens.”
printable version
e-mail this story
“The money earned from the sale will go right back into beautifying the Ursuline grounds,” said Ken O’Dell, who grew the approximately 1,400 native plants.
“Our goal is to make $4,000,” he said. “With that, we can buy mulch, fertilizer and more annuals to keep the grounds going for years.”
The sale exceeded expectations and netted $13,000, of which the Master Gardeners earned just under $5,000, Master Gardener Patty Armstrong said.
O’Dell has nurtured a green thumb by taking care of all aspects of the growing process, including grafting and propagating.
“I always grow rare and unusual native plants, such as the White Fringe tree, that you can’t find at any retail nurseries,” he said. “But I couldn’t do it all without the help of the Master Gardeners. They do all the work.
“The Master Gardeners plan to continue the sale next year, and we hope that when Ursuline sells, the new owners will allow us to continue the gardens.”