Native plant sale draws hundreds in spite of less than balmy weather
by Abby Grimmett, posted April 17, 2008
Cold and snowy “spring” weather didn’t stop the Columbia community from discovering Missouri’s native wonders. Saturday, April 12, MU Bradford Research and Extension Center held its second annual Native Plant Sale.
More than 200 people from around Columbia visited the farm to discover Missouri native plants and shrubs and learn about caring for their landscapes.
The event featured four vendors including Missouri Wildflower Nursery, Hamilton Seed, Forrest-Keeling Nursery, and the Missouri Native Plant Society. All were on hand to educate customers about their wide variety of products.
The most popular items at this year’s event included Virginia bluebells, violets, and cornflowers. Tim Reinbott, Bradford Research and Extension Center superintendent, said those plants were popular because of their ability to withstand the recent weather fluctuations.
“Even though it’s still early, they bloom quickly, and it’s a great way to get your flower plot started,” Reinbott said.
Native plants are flowers and shrubs that are found naturally in Missouri. Reinbott said many plants that we commonly see are introduced from Europe or Africa and as a result, they are less tolerant to drought or heavy rain.
According to Reinbott, interest in native plants is exploding due to their tolerance to high temperatures and rainfall. But the superintendent does have some apprehension about this year’s growing season.
“My biggest fear is that once it quits raining, that will be it,” Reinbott said.
If this happens, he recommends that gardeners keep their plants and shrubs saturated with the right amount of water.
Reinbott also said that native plants are easy for those who do not have much experience in gardening because once established, they require little or no fertilizer, less water, and are more resistant to insects. They also adapt to different levels of sunlight.
Reinbott felt the event was a huge success and plans to continue it each year to give customers the opportunity to talk to experts.
“The purpose of the event is to promote natural plants along with providing education that can benefit landscapers and home owners,” he said.
Thresa Chism, senior secretary at the Center, attributed the event’s success to the various advertisements used this year. Many ads were seen in papers and heard on radio stations.
The native plant sale correlates with another event at the farm. On June 26, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Center will host a Native Plant Field Day. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the native plants in full bloom and learn how to use them for not only landscaping, but for conservation purposes as well.
For more information, visit http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/ or contact Tim Reinbott at 573-884-5554
