This weekend, the Cottage Gardeners of Marblehead & Swampscott is hosting its annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale at St. Stephen’s Church at 67 Cornell Road.
According to Plant Sale Co-Chair Colleen Connor, the proceeds from the event “go directly back to the town for the three gardens that we are in charge of and responsible for installing and upkeep for the whole year.” The three gardens she referenced are at the Okos building, Hooper Garden and Devereux Beach.
“I’d like people to make the connection that their money isn’t going to anything other than what they’re going to see at the corners of our gardens,” Cooper said.
The Plant Sale raised about $6,000 last year, which was the most the club has ever made. This year, Connor said, “we’re trying to outdo ourselves,” and she hopes to bring in even more money than last year’s total.
She emphasized that something which sets this plant sale apart from others is that “these are 3 gallon buckets with plants in them and soil in them, and they’re all coming from Marblehead soil, so you know it’s going to grow in Marblehead.” Cooper added that, since the Plant Sale sells mature plants that have been growing in members’ gardens, the plants tend to grow well.
“I’m not saying they are all hundreds of years old, but they’ve been growing in someone’s garden for at least 10, if not 40, years,” Cooper said. “And it’s kind of special because you’re not only just growing plants for yourself, but you’re growing someone’s grandmother’s plants or someone’s great aunt’s plants. It kind of goes from family to family to family, some of these plants, and I don’t know, it’s kind of unique and spiritual on some level, so that is cool.”
The event will be May 10 from 8 a.m.-noon, but Connor is advising community members to get there as early as possible since many desired plants may sell out quickly. She said Cottage Gardeners sold out of all plants last year around 11:30 a.m.
Connor also recommends people bring cash because “it’s a little easier to deal with,” and there isn’t reliable Wi-Fi at St. Stephen’s, which may impact the Cottage Gardeners’ credit card machine.
For more information on the Cottage Gardeners, visit its website: cottagegardeners.net.
