Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Introducing Plant Wagon 2.0 (Plant Wagon 1.0 was a 2003 Kia Sedona with racks installed inside; it died nearly 2 years ago).

Since I refused to destroy the interior of the new van by installing shelves, I've only been able to carry 24 trays of plants in the van (on a tarp with seats removed or stowed in floor).

V2.0 is a 5x8 utility trailer that I built upon. In the trailer alone I can haul 72 trays (10"x20") of plants or at least 4 dozen 10" hangers.












The picture above is a whopping 96 trays of donated plants from Packard Farm.
Been a busy 2 weeks here at plant sale central, We have met a lot of nice people and sold a lot of plants. Aaron made me a new plant hauler It is a converted trailer that can hold a staggering 96 flats of plants. You can see pics on facebook at CrazyPlantLady for Children's Hospital page It's pretty sweet. We are in to week 4 and doing well. a little behind the pace to make our goal but I think this weekend will be a big push forward.

Monday, May 12, 2014

We had a Banner weekend at the plant sale. This one weekend we raised around $3600.00 Thank you for your very generous support. We had Awesome donations EACH DAY of annuals and veggies from Lori Packard at Packard Farm in Brockton , She donated approx 115 flats of items and 3 dozen hanging plants this weekend alone. I get a lot of credit for the plant sale, but Lori deserves just as much credit if not more than me! I could not do it without her. We got a nice donation from Pleasant View Gardens in NH. They grow the Proven Winners series of plants. They donated 7 hangers and 4 trays of herbs. We have had wonderful volunteers from Massachusetts Master Gardener Association each day at the sale from 11-5. They have been super kind, helpful, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly! They are pretty much going to be there each day of the sale so come by and get your plant questions answered! Of course Marlene the magnificent has been there every day providing direction, spirit and enthusiasm and embarrassing stories about me. It was Mothers Day weekend and for MY mothers day gift I got to have help from my son Evan and my daughter Abby. Plus Mr Crazy Plant Lady Aaron..again someone else who does not get enough credit for all he does to make the sale work. He collects most of the donations, does all my IT and web work, Opens the sale each Friday and closes it each Sunday. Puts up with dirt in the kitchen, my anxious moments about what is growing (or not) and his willingness to embrace and make happen my crazy idea of a Costco sized plant sale. A few pics of a lovely Sunday at the Plant sale.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

This is the 2014 plant cataloge for the perennials I have at home and the tomatoes I have grown for the sale,
Not all the plant are immediately. If you are looking for a specific plant please email me mtarver "at"crazyplantlady"dot"org    replace the parentheses with the @ symbol and the . symbol

Woo hoo,
 It is May 4th, the 3rd day of the plant sale is today. Opening weekend is always a little rocky -getting re organized,back in the flow and getting the procedures down again but it is getting there slowly but surely.
 We have all ready had  8 Massachusetts  Master gardeners association volunteers.. here is a link to their help page www.masshort.org/expert-advice  They have been GREAT ! So enthusiastic about the cause and so very knowledgeable! We are very fortunate to have them. And the best news is we expect to have them almost every weekend! So come down and bring your plant and garden questions! Maybe buy a plant while you are here~!

Marlene the Magnificent is back and is giving it her all to help us! She is enthusiastically being our circus barker and drawing in  the crowds! Helping sell plants,helping me do math( HA HA! If you know me you know it is not my best ability and I am likely to give you the wrong change with out her help! ) And being our all around right hand! I was telling the story of how we were lucky enough to  have Marlene find us...she saw a post on Garden Web new England Gardening forum and walked in to Costco in Avon where we hold the sale. She had some pots and potting soil. She wanted to know how she could help..and now for 5 years she has been my cheerleader,sounding board,spark plug and best friend.

I wish I had thought to take pictures of opening weekend..but I have not...I will do that today and share them with you tonight.

We have tried to have a kid project this weekend that has failed badly.... there are just not enough kids coming by... we were having them plant a sunflower seed for any donation.

We are missing our Costco Sing Guru Eric D and will be happy to see him back from a well earned
vacation on Monday so we can get a few needed signs printed!
We need a sign for our super sponsor fairy godmother Lori Packard at Packard farms in Brockton Packard Farm Facebook page is here if you need directions! Lori generously donates 90% of all our blooming annuals and veggies. She is a rock star and we are lucky to have her!
So far she has given us: Pansys,petunias,cosmos,snapdragons alyssum,,lettuces,beets,broccoli,parsley,cauliflower,purple cabbage,onions,pansy hangers,and tomatos we have early girl and sweet 100's at the moment.  Who know what she will donate next? Come by and find out!

We have a selection if perennials as well.. assorted Hostas,sedums,neptas,asiatic lilly, some forsythia shrubs,perennial allysum,bugbane,silvernettle . to name a few. I have 100's of perennials that will be making their way to the sale over the coming weeks..some are just to small so sell now since the weather has been so unhelpful.. So if you are looking for something  specific just comment here or email me mtarver@crazyplantlady.org  and ask!

We will have hangers from Proven Winners for Mothers day weekend..( hurry these are limited) and  the week after that we should have heirloom tomatoes and basil and HOT peppers.
 We are not on track yet to meet our fundraising goal..so If you could pray for us to do so that would be awesome!
I will see ya tonight with some pictures!