Master Gardeners extend plant sale hours

A steady stream of customers clad in raingear patronized the Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners' seventh annual plant sale at Arena Park's Conservation Shelter on Saturday.

But in order to make the sale worthwhile, the gardeners decided Friday that Saturday's hours would extend to 7 p.m. instead of noon and that for the first time they would open Sunday at 10 a.m., working until 3 p.m.

"Last year we only had one day of bad weather. We've not yet had a mob like we've had in the past, but our diehard gardeners are out here today," said plant sale cochairwoman Anne Foust.

Precautions taken against the weather included a large, blue tarp tacked on the west side of the shelter to cut down on wind and keep the area a little warmer.

Ordering plants for the sale began in the fall. By January Master Gardeners partnered with Southeast Missouri State University horticulture students for the second year, transplanting the tiny plants so they would grow and develop.

"Some were transplanted twice," Foust said. She didn't know how many plants were under the shelter and along its perimeter, but it was well-stocked with varieties ranging from hanging baskets, 12-inch pots, small and large potted plants.

Set up for the sale began Thursday morning and continued until 2 p.m. Friday for 3 p.m. opening. Tables, awnings and hanging devices were set up and all the plants moved in. Police stayed on site for three nights. Boy Scout Troop 11 helped the Master Gardeners set up and helped provide curbside service to customers' cars. Plants were transported to vehicles by wagon or, for smaller orders, in cardboard trays.

A loyal patron for the past few years, Lisa Weiss purchased plants from the Master Gardeners because "I have friends who are Master Gardeners, and it's a way of supporting the university. My husband went to school at SEMO and I have one child attending and another who will be starting there," she said. "I've never had trouble with their plants."

Foust and Weiss discussed their sorrow for farmers who lost corn and other crops because of the weather. "This was not a frost, but a hard freeze, damaging down to the root," explained Foust.

Weiss said, "The only thing I had planted was broccoli, and it was under milk jugs."

The two agreed this summer will be terrible for vegetables and fruit.

"There's still hope for hostas and other perennials," said Master Gardener Nancy Bahn. "You can cut off the top, the dead part, and more than likely they'll come back. Trees and bushes on the other hand, should not be pruned until the end of May or "at least until they have enough time to put out that auxiliary leaf," Foust said.

Foust advised gardeners who purchased plants Saturday to keep the plants in the garage and not plant them until after tonight. For those covering existing plantings, she said not to use thin plastic, but sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads and other items made of fabric. Plants that are watered will survive better.

Plants left over from the sale can be purchased at the University Greenhouse on Bertling Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 1.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133