 Blooms for Books
by Dawn Anderson
Celebrate Spring! Plan to attend the Cedar Mill Library's 7th annual Plant Sale, held in the library's parking lot on Saturday, May 12, from 9 am to 3 pm.
“What started as a small event in 2006, earning $1,888 for the library, is now a year-around community-building operation. Library volunteers Cori Bacher and Lisa Sleasman have done a great job organizing the plant sale for the last four years. Sales in 2011 increased to $4,562,” says Peter Leonard, Library Director.
It's all about recycling at the plant sale. Cori holds six pot recycling collection days at the library each year, on the first Sunday of the month, March to June and October-November, from 2-4 pm. She accepts plastic nursery pots and good condition terra cotta and ceramic pots, garden and nursery plants and garden tools, books and magazines. Cori also has a selection of perennial plants, from her big plant sale inventory, available for purchase at these events.
The donated pots are used to pot-up donated plants for the plant sale. Cori says,”We hold several plant work parties at my tree farm during the fall and spring. Volunteers pot up the plants and groom them so that they are vigorous and healthy in time for the sale.” Cori and her team have over 2,500 organically grown perennials, natives, shrubs and trees ready for this year's sale. Gallon plants are $4, with a huge bargain area of plants at $2 each. And since the supplies are donated and the labor is all-volunteer, 100% of the sale price of these plants goes to support library programs!
While Cori is taking care of these donated plants, Lisa works with New Leaf Greenhouse in Cornelius, who provides pre-order plants, and Pumpkin Ridge Gardens in North Plains, who supplies vegetable and herb starts at the plant sale. Lisa prepares the pre-order form and coordinates the volunteers who help at the plant sale. Lisa says,“To guarantee your plant selection, you can pre-order until Tuesday, May 8.” Order forms are available at the library and on the library's website at library.cedarmill.org
This year, Pumpkin Ridge Gardens is bringing an even larger selection of their beautiful, organically-grown annual, perennial and vegetable starts, including many grown especially for the library plant sale. "Look for edible flowers as a special category, and vegetables especially suited to our cooler summers,” says Lisa. In addition, Pumpkin Ridge will be featuring vegetables and herbs central to the diverse cuisines of the Cedar Mill community. And, the library's crack team of amateur horticulturists will be available to answer any gardening-related questions you may have—and help you put together a Mother's Day gift Mom will love.
Second Edition Resale Shop, the ongoing fundraiser for the library, will have fun garden accessories, clothing, garden supplies, ceramic pots, containers, bargain-priced terra cotta and tools. There will also be a gardening bookshelf full of classic titles and magazines available for sale.
The Village Gallery of Arts is presenting their 3rd “Art Challenge” show. A portion of their art and craft sales on May 12 will be donated to the library.
So take part in the event that has dozens of volunteers, thousands of plants, and hundreds of pots and books. Attend the Library Plant Sale. Every plant you buy beautifies your yard, feeds your family AND helps support programs at the Cedar Mill and Bethany libraries. Proceeds go to services for children, book purchases and other programs. See you at the library on May 12th! For more information, contact Dawn at 503-644-0043 or visit the library's website at library.cedarmill.org
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