We'll soon be in the thick of plant sale season. These frill-free sales are a way to save money on perennials, annuals and vegetables, find unique varieties and learn from other gardeners. Here's a sampling of some local sales.
BIRCH ISLAND WOODS May 10-21: Shop on the farm during a nearly two-week plant sale, filling your baskets with hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, shrubs, vegetables, annuals and perennials. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Picha Greenhouse and Farms, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie; pichagreenhouses.com)
HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE May 11-13: Stock up on annuals, perennials and garden staples. Vegetable varieties, as well as hanging baskets and flower containers, will also be on hand. (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Hennepin Technical College Greenhouse, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park; hennepintech.edu)
EDINA GARDEN COUNCIL May 12-13: Commercial and member-grown plants are part of this sale of perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs and baskets. New this year: Master Gardeners will be on-site to answer questions. (10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St., Edina; edinagardencouncil.org; 952-826-1620)
FRIENDS SCHOOL May 12-14: The State Fair isn't the only thing that packs a crowd at the fairgrounds. This massive annual fundraiser (held Mother's Day weekend to benefit the Friends School of Minnesota) is popular for having more than 2,100 varieties of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, herbs and other plant varieties. Includes 250 new varieties this year. (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Av., Falcon Heights; friendsschoolplantsale.com)
CHAMPLIN GARDEN CLUB May 13: Perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, potted plants, vegetables and herbs as well as garden art. (8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Willy McCoy's parking lot, 12450 Business Park Blvd. N., Champlin; facebook.com/ChamplinGardenClub; gardeninginchamplin@gmail.com)
ARBORETUM May 13-14: Lilies, roses, hostas and more. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's annual sale of annuals, perennials, fruits, vegetables, herbs and trees is still going strong. New this year is an expanded selection of University of Minnesota-born apple and fruit trees, grapes, azaleas and shrubs. Free, but reservations are required. (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chanhassen; arb.umn.edu; 612-624-2200)
BETHLEHEM GARDEN TEAM May 14: This annual plant sale has you covered on Mother's Day with a variety of plants as well as seedlings. (10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Bethlehem Lutheran Church Minneapolis campus, 4100 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-312-3400; bethlehem-church.org)
