Friday & Saturday, May 9, 10, 2008

Plants to Attract Birds, Bees and Butterflies to Your Home & Garden
Expert Advice, Gifts, Food, Free Garden Designs

The Berkshire Botanical Garden welcomes gardeners and plant lovers to a nurturing event at the 31st Annual Plant Sale Friday, May 9, 10am-5pm and Saturday, May 10, from 9am-5pm in Stockbridge, MA. Early buying Friday from 8am-10am (free to garden members, non members pay $10).

"This season our theme is 'The Nurturing Garden: For Birds, Bees, Butterflies and Best Friends,'" says Horticulture Director, Dorthe Hviid. "We'll have many new plants to help attract wild birds, bees and butterflies, and a special area just for alternative gardening practices and products."

On sale will be thousands of infallible perennials and annuals, rare and unusual plants, organic and heirloom herbs and vegetables, mixed containers for sun and shade, gardens in a box, rock gardens, woodland and native plants, new culitvars and choice trees and shrubs, all in time for Mother's Day. Visitors receive free garden designs and planting advice from onsite experts.

The Garden's gift shop will offer a special 25% -50% sale on selected items. On the day of the sale, members receive a 10% discount on Garden plant purchases and volunteers will be on hand to help sign up new members.

Featured vendors will include: Fly-By Rooftops offering birdhouses with living roofs; Battle Hill Forge with decor and ornaments; David Burdick Daffodils; The Farmstead's raised beds and accessories; Lauray of Salisbury with orchids, begonias, cacti and succulents; Monkshood Nursery offering potted herbs and vegetable starts; Debra Pope will have hypertufa troughs and planters; Project Native will be selling perennials and seeds, and Rustic Woodcraft will feature arbors and furniture. Just Smashing will offer home and garden mosaic decor and SoMa Catering will provide food and refreshments.

One of the oldest in the country, the Berkshire Botanical Garden's Annual Plant Sale supports its educational programs for both children and adults. Admission to the garden is free both Friday and Saturday. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic lunch and explore the Garden's 15 acres and 3,000 plant varieties and tour the Garden's newest exhibition, "Homes for Birds," a visually beautiful bounty of one-of-a-kind bird houses created by regional and international artists and craftsmen and curated by fine art dealer Joyce Nereaux.

On June 7, the Garden will unveil, "Cultivate," an exhibition of ten newly commissioned works of art created exclusively for the Berkshire Botanical Garden. "Cultivate" is a season-long exhibition and a companion to MASS MoCA's new show "Badlands." Both will be curated by Denise Markonish.

For a list of plants available for sale click here, or further information please call 413-298-3926.
.