Do you have gardening questions?

The Patrick County Master Gardeners have answers, plus the group’s annual Spring Plant Sale is almost here. The May 4 sale coincides with the annual yearning to begin gardening. Fresh gardening ideas are beginning to germinate, and soon, possibilities will spring up like violets, plans will begin to take root, and questions will buzz like bees.  

For example:

Q:  How can I get started on my garden without breaking the bank?

A:  The Patrick County Master Gardeners’ Spring Plant Sale pricing starts at $1.  The event will be held from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 4, in Stuart Rotary Main Building,264 Woodland Drive, Stuart.

Q:  What kinds of plants can I get at a local plant sale without driving across two counties to a chain store?

A:  Our Spring Plant Sale has vegetable starts, herbs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns, shrubs, hostas, irises, houseplants and more.

Q:  Is there someone I can talk to about my gritty soil problems, or that spot I spotted, and the bug that’s been bugging me – without anyone throwing shade, or looking at me like I’m a blooming idiot?

A:  Our Spring Plant Sale is staffed with Master Gardeners and Trainees who will be delighted to discuss your thorniest garden issues and help cultivate workable solutions. If they don’t know, they know how to find out.

Q:  Is The Patrick County Master Gardeners’ Spring Plant Sale really the best way I can spend my Saturday morning on May 4th?

A:  Yes. Not only are all of our plants grown and donated by members of our community, all proceeds from our sales flow back into our community through sharing with other local service organizations, participating in community service projects and awarding the Christopher Newton Cobbler Memorial Scholarship.

Plant donations will be accepted on Friday, May 3, from 10 a.m. till 12 p.m. and again from 5-7 p.m. at the Stuart Rotary Main Building, 264 Woodland Drive, Stuart.

The group is especially grateful to Eli Roberson and the Patrick County High School Horticulture Department for donating to the Spring Plant Sale. Thanks also to all of our community for your fantastic support every year.

Last year, because of your support, the master gardeners were able to share the proceeds from the activities with several local service organizations, including the Patrick County Alzheimer’s Group and The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Patrick County, plus, it helped a member of the local Girl Scouts in the process to complete her Silver Award for Community Service.

The group also works directly with the community providing service and education through organizations such as Solutions to Empower People, (STEP), the Patrick County Library (Including maintaining a Seed Library), Patrick County Schools and The Landmark Center. Additionally, it maintains multiple Community Gardens in uptown and downtown Stuart and provides classes through our Learning Garden, which is moving soon to DeHart Park with times and dates to be announced.

To learn more, email pgmcassn@gmail.com