Summer is over, and green thumbs are celebrating the return of fall.
To help usher in the change, the Wood County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is hosting its annual fall plant sale from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at 175 Gov. Hogg Parkway in Quitman. An early bird, members-only sale is planned from 4-6 p.m. Friday.
“With the heat and drought this year we, as well as our customers, have lost plants in our landscapes. Fall is the best time for planting in Texas, so that means our sale is the best time to stock up. We’ll have a variety of shrubs and trees, annuals and perennials, and even a selection of houseplants to enjoy all winter,” said Lin Grado, garden manager.
A focus this year for the arboretum, a recent recipient of the Quitman Chamber of Commerce’s first beautification award, is offering plants that can withstand local conditions.
“We’ll have plants that have survived this summer in gardens – several different Texas natives including beautyberry, Texas rock rose and frostweed,” Grado said.
Some pass-along plants, such as hoja santa, South American crinum, white daisy mums and spider plants, also will be available, she added.
The sale also will include a variety of bulbs, such as amaryllis and red spider lilies, as well as fall color and herbs that can survive colder temperatures.
Arboretum memberships, which include benefits such as discounts at plant sales, start at $25 and may be purchased at the door both days.
“We hope people will come out and enjoy our fall sale, which is always an important funding event for the arboretum. Proceeds help us keep up the property, so that it remains a much-loved feature of the community for years to come,” Deanna Caldwell, president of the Friends of the Arboretum said. .
The group cares for the historic Stinson House and 23 acres of natural trails and gardens featuring gazebos, pergolas and educational displays.
For more information about the arboretum and its activities, email woodcountyarbo@gmail.com, call 430-235-5461 or visit the Wood County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens on Facebook.