Rooted in Community: Highlights from Our 18th Native Plant Sale
- Beth Sheppard
- May 12
- 2 min read
Updated: May 13
One of our volunteers commented after the third truck load of plants was offloaded at our office in Snow Hill, “Isn’t it amazing to think all these plants are going to be planted in our community!”
Yes, it is amazing and we feel gratitude for all the interest and growing support. New shoppers, long time supporters, as well as visitors who drove up and said, ‘I never knew about this’. Our 18th Annual Native Plant Sale is a refreshing way to share the value of pollinators and habitat restoration for anyone willing to plant a garden.
This year, our 18th year of hosting the sale, we sold over 3,500 individual plants. Our selection included over 130 different species of perennials, grasses and shrubs. While offering a greater variety of plants is valuable, what matters most to us is educating ourselves and the community about the many native plant species found in Maryland.
We gather information from the Maryland Biodiversity Project, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, university extensions and other native plant nurseries along the coast. One resource I’d like to share is the Maryland Native Plant Society MPS. If you are getting more and more interested in the relationships between your new native plants and what individual plants do for the ecology of your garden, you may be interested. Check out their website.
Additionally, there is a new Lower Eastern Shore Chapter for us to participate in.
Here is a plant atlas found on their website: Maryland Plant Atlas
Also, a guide to which natives bring what species of butterflies: BUTTERFLIES OF MARYLAND: A BIOLOGICAL SUMMARY AND CHECKLIST
We can all benefit from the shared plant successes and experiences. One of my favorite parts of the Lower Shore Land Trust Native Plant Sale is the stories you bring. Keep observing and learning.
