The Okanagan Valley is getting into the swing of spring, and it’s the perfect time to pick up some plants.
The Similkameen Garden Club found that to be the case recently, the annual garden sale on May 4 turned out to be a big hit.
“We had probably over 1000 people come by,” said Bob Terry, club president. “Everybody really enjoyed it, we had really nice weather out, everybody was having a great time.”
The sale raised over $700 for the club, with $200 coming from direct donations, and another $200 from this year’s addition of a garage sale table.
“Each of the plants we usually sell for about a dollar each, the odd one for $10,” said Terry. “Everything was donated, all the plants, the garage sale items, and the prizes.”
This year’s prizes included a metal owl made from recycled horseshoes, two driftwood pieces with flowers growing from them, and a hand-carved bluebird. Everyone who came by the sale was able to enter the draw for prizes.
The club takes care of the planters that line Keremeos’ Main Street, and has since the club’s inception in 1995. They handle the planting of the flowers, the weeding, and the general care and maintenance of planters through the year, and use the garden sale to fund their work.
READ MORE: Similkameen Garden Club plant sale on Saturday
“All of the money goes towards the club, for extra dirt, and if we have to replace some plants,” said Terry. “It also covers things like coffee and water after we finish a day of weeding too. The village pays for the plants at the end of the year, but this covers for anything extraordinary that comes up.”
The money also goes towards bringing speakers to the community. The next speaker the club is presenting Jason Croutch of Fraser Valley Rose Farm to give a talk on Saving and Sharing Garden-Worthy Roses on June 12 at the Seniors Center at 7 p.m.
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