Master Gardeners to hold plant sale, pollinator festival June 8 at Deep Run Park

The Henrico Master Gardener Association will hold its annual Spring Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at the Recreation Center at Deep Run Park, at 9900 Ridgefield Parkway. Admission is free.

Master Gardeners will sell plants from their gardens at discounted prices as well as floral arrangements and gently used gardening items at the Garden Treasures table. The event also will include educational displays; musical entertainment by William “Tripp” and Jenny Johnson, of the Cary Street Ramblers; and the Sandtopia Food Truck.

Master Gardeners will present displays about native and invasive plants, pollinators and insects as well as answer questions at a plant clinic table. They also will offer presentations and information about programs of the Henrico County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Henrico Master Gardener Association. Junior Master Gardeners will lead hands-on children’s activities, including a story time, a program about vermiculture and a photo booth, where families will be able to take pictures of their children posing as butterflies.

Exhibitors will include the Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, Plant Virginia Natives, Wild Ones, LERN (Local Ecotype Richmond Natives), Virginia Herpetological Society, Dandelion Springs Apiary, Keep Henrico Beautiful and Riverine Master Naturalists. The Division of Natural Heritage of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Department of Forestry will discuss the James River Buffer Program.

Henrico Master Gardeners are volunteers who act on behalf of Henrico Extension as educators within the community. They receive specialized training in environmental horticulture through Virginia Cooperative Extension. The annual plant sale benefits Master Gardener programs and horticulture scholarships. Information on becoming a Master Gardener is online and will be available at the event.

In 2023, the plant sale drew more than 1,000 visitors who purchased over 3,000 perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and houseplants of about 400 varieties.

“The Henrico Master Gardeners’ annual plant sale offers high-quality, homegrown plants at low prices while also providing a fun and educational experience for everyone,” event co-chair Nadine Oswald said. “We are excited to showcase a wide variety of plants and gardening items along with engaging activities for children and informative displays for gardeners of all ages.”

More information on the Henrico Master Gardener Association is at henricomg.org.