Volunteers make it work – BBG’s Spring Plant Sale begins today

“It’s the mother of all plant sales.”

That is how John Manion from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens  describes the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Annual Spring Plant Sale, which will be held today, April 7th through Sunday April 9th at Brookwood Village. The event is free.

Over 100,000 plants – including native plants, roses, orchids, tomato plants, shrubs, herbs, ferns and much, much more will be available.

The number of varieties of plants are staggering.  For example, there will be 200 species of native plants on hand. Do you like tomatoes?  There will be 84 different kinds to choose from.

As longtime volunteer Susan Colvin aptly depicted the sale for plant lovers – “You see plants here you only drool over in catalogs. And there are lots of experts (BBG volunteers and staff) on hand to give you advice.”

What makes the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale all the more special is the dedication of the volunteers and the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the plants go toward Birmingham Botanical Gardens educational programs.

“Many of the native plants, for sale were raised by Birmingham Botanical Gardens volunteers, and those same volunteers will be here throughout the weekend selling them, ” stated Blake Ells, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Public Relations Coordinator.

According to Ells, the proceeds from the sale support BBG educational programs such as their flagship Discovery Field Trips programs. Up to 10,000 Birmingham and Bessemer students participate in this free science -based curriculum.  The plant sale also supports the Plant Adventures and Centennial Tree Project.

Another volunteer and native plant enthusiast Sally Price summed up why the BBG Spring Plant Sale is so special – “The majority of the people here throughout the weekend are volunteers. It’s one of the ways we keep the Birmingham Botanical Gardens free to public. “

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale is a “can’t miss” experience.  It’s more than a sale.  It is led by passionate volunteers who love the natural world and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Here are the hours for this weekend’s sale held in the parking lot behind Brookwood Village:

Friday – 9am to 7:00pm,
Saturday – 9am to 5:00pm
Sunday – 11am to 3:00pm

Happy planting!