MASTER GARDENERS Pam Shouse, center, and Debbie Tichenor explained the plants included in the Monarch Butterfly Waystation kit to long-time Woodford Countian Todd Leatherman, who plans to plant one at his home on Steele Road. The annual Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners Plant Sale was held Saturday, May 9. (Photo by Scott White)
MASTER GARDENERS in green tee shirts staffed the check-out table at their annual plant sale on Saturday, May 9, where they also directed shoppers to plant type areas and spent a lot of time answering questions. (Photo by Scott White)
The Woodford County Master Gardeners, a program operated through the University of Kentucky Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service, held its 14th Annual Plant Sale last Saturday morning at the Red Barn at Woodford County Park. The parking lot, barn and lawn area were packed with shoppers looking for a variety of plants, including natives, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and even Monarch Butterfly Waystation Garden plant kits.
Most of the large variety of plants were $2. Offerings included everything from Cayenne peppers and cucumbers to zinnias and calendulas.
Master Gardener Debbie Tichenor, chair of the plant sale, said over 3,000 plants were sold to 400 shoppers.
“We are thankful to have a community that supports our initiatives,” she said. “Our goals are to teach planting native plants for pollinators and especially threatened Monarch butterflies, bringing awareness to the import of planting trees, restoring our environment, gardening in your backyard and eating well by growing vegetables and herbs.”
Tichenor said the funds generated by the plant sale help support initiatives designed to further their mission. Some of the programs the Master Gardeners have supported include programs in Woodford County Public Schools, Buckley Wildlife, Trees Woodford, 4-H Plant Camp and the Huntertown Community Interpretive Park.
There are about 64 current Master Gardeners in Woodford County, of which Tichenor says 30 are very active.