What's New This Year?

New plants

There will be over 400 new varieties at the sale, each marked with the NEW sign. Some highlights:

• Nine lilies in the Perennials section plus a half-dozen martagons in Rare Plants
• Over three dozen hostas chosen by our hosta expert
• Several apple varieties, including columnar apples that are super for smaller spaces
• Hanging basket tomato and strawberry plants; great for gardeners with limited space
• Seven magnolias, including ones bred in Green Bay
• A dozen succulents, nine coleus, and too many roses to list
• Thirteen tomatoes, including ones developed by local plantsman Art Boe for short, cool growing seasons. These have long been unavailable.
• Ramps! The native perennial onion relative.

Seed Savers Exchange at the sale

Seed Savers Exchange will be located indoors (east of the central staircase) by the Vegetable section. They’ll be selling lots of seeds, including a few vegetables too fragile and cold-sensitive to do well as plants at the sale. They’ll also be holding workshops and sharing info on seed ­saving in the Garden Fair. See their list of seed list here.

Succulents have moved

The Succulents have moved to the front of the Annuals section. For too many years these great plants languished in the back of the big room, so now they’ll be right there to greet you when you arrive.

Main gate open, all systems are go

The main gate to the Fairgrounds (on Snelling Avenue) will be open and parking should be easier because Living Green Expo is scheduled for the weekend before the plant sale. Things will be more as they were in 2010.

Garden Fair

Lots of new offerings in the Garden Fair, including mushrooms you can grow at home and information on bee-friendly plants. We’re also offering  workshops on a range of topics.

Remember: the sale opens at 9 a.m. on Friday.