Posted: April 10, 2025
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County will be featuring native plants, with a special emphasis on those that attract birds, at their annual Spring plant sale on May 10 at Smedley Park. The selection of perennials will include dozens of native species, plus a wide range of vegetables and other edible plants, like strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb and an extensive variety of herbs.
Plant Sale shoppers gathering their purchased plants.
There's no place like home, which helps explain why native plants thrive in local gardens. Scarlet bee balm, yellow black-eyed Susans, and purple coneflower are just a few of the native plants that would love to bloom in your backyard this summer.
"Because they are native, these plants are used to our soil type and our weather conditions, and they are related to the pollinators here," explains Master Gardener Cathy St. Clair of Media. Another key beneficial characteristic is their long roots, which help them survive better than non-native plants during extended dry periods. The great variety of plants native to our area also guarantees color in the garden from early spring until well into Fall. St. Clair's favorite? "That's like asking who your favorite child is," she quips.
Compared to lawns and non-native plants and shrubs, native plant gardens require fewer resources, such as water and fertilizer. Lawns require weekly mowing, edging, and frequent watering to remain attractive. Native plants, by contrast, "just do their thing. It's not like a rose where you need to be pruning and deadheading or a lawn where you need to be out there mowing every week," she says.
In addition to a wide variety of perennial and annual plants, the May 10 sale will feature several educational displays on best practices to attract birds to the garden. "Birds bring us joy and beauty, plus they eat tons of insects, including mosquitoes," notes Master Gardener Jeanne Quintavalla of Broomall. Planting natives that attract birds also helps to counter the negative impact that insecticides, loss of habitat, and climate change are having on the local bird population, she says. Currently, nine libraries in the county feature Master Gardener educational displays and materials about creating a bird-friendly environment. Additional educational displays at the sale will cover topics, including how to promote a healthy ecosystem in the garden and, for novice gardeners, how to get started with vegetables.
The May 10 plant sale hours are 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. St. Clair, who is chairing this year's sale, emphasizes that Master Gardeners have worked diligently to address first-time kinks that surfaced at the inaugural spring plant sale last year. Most importantly, there will be twice as many plants for sale than last year. Also, more parking will be available, and to make checkout easier and faster, there will be separate lines for customers who pay with cash and by credit card.
Also new this year is the Kids Korner, which will feature hands-on activities to help children recognize pollinators and the colors and shapes of flowers that attract them.
This popular sale sells out, so plan to arrive early for the best selection. There will be a shuttle service to assist shoppers with parking.
When: Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm (while supplies last)
Where: Smedley Park, 20 Paper Mill Road, Springfield, PA
