Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is presenting its 16th annual Garden Auction and Sale on May 21st at the Tillsonburg Community Center’s Lions Auditorium.
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If you are looking for garden plants or decor, mark it on your calendar. Doors open at 5 p.m.
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Some plants are donated by members of the horticultural society, some donated by local garden centers and nurseries.
“They are very generous in supporting us,” said Christine Nagy, president of the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society.
There will be a tremendous variety available at the plant table for $2, $5 or $10, including vegetable and herb plants. There will also be a baked goods table.
“Some people come in with a list looking for certain plants. If they don’t find it, they might browse the live auction tables, see it’s there and stick around to bid on it. People do browse and they get good deals – we pretty much sell out.”
Some people just come for the live auction which begins at 6 pm with longtime professional auctioneer Bev Burrill. It features annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, garden decor and more, and it is usually done within one-and-a-half to two hours.
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“Some people do it all – they do the prize table, the cash table, the baked goods table and stay for the live auction,” said Nagy.
It’s hard to nail down attendance but an estimated 250 or more people come annually.
“There’s an ebb and flow to the evening, but it’s growing every year. You can make the evening what you want.”
Live auctions have been rare since the pandemic, she noted.
“Everything is online, so this is one of the few live auctions that you can actually participate in. It’s a quick thing, but it’s a fun thing.
“Generally speaking, the prices are not unreasonable. Gardeners are pretty smart and they don’t usually bid beyond the value of the product. Usually. There have been a couple exceptions.”
Some garden items are unique, she said.
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“We have some great pieces that are donated by people who are downsizing, and they are items that are not even made anymore, or not of the quality from years ago.”
The garden auction and sale is a fundraiser for the horticultural society. Funds raised go directly to town beautification.
“I think that’s really important,” said Nagy, “because town beautification is for everyone – it goes to all the (five) parks we look after. So when people are spending money at the auction, it’s for the flowers, the shrubs, whatever we spend for the parks.”
Purchases can be paid with cash, check or debit (not credit cards). There is an ATM at the community center.
A mild winter and a forecast for a hot dry summer have made some gardeners a little nervous, said Nagy.
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“But they said we were going to have a hot dry summer last season and we didn’t, so we’re not quite sure what to make of what’s going to happen.”
Seasoned gardeners recognize their garden conditions and buy plants accordingly, she said.
“I have a very sandy soil, so things dry out very quickly. So I’ve learned through trial and error that I am better off getting plants that will tolerate a drought condition as opposed to a wet condition. Others are in heavy clay that stays wet, so that kind of comes with experience.”
Plant tags do not lie, she smiled.
“Read the plant tags – everything is tagged. We also have volunteers who are gardeners that can answer questions. If somebody can’t answer a question, they will find somebody who can.”
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