Southport Magazine

Spring has sprung and and plants sales will be popping up like tulips during the coming months. From Encore Azaleas to Butterfly-friendly plants, everyone will certainly find something perfect to add a little beauty to the yard. 

Gardeners can get a jump on spring planting by shopping at the Kiwanis 21st annual plant and flower sale scheduled for Saturday, April 1 from 10 am to 1 pm in the parking lot of the St. James Community Center.

​Many landscape bushes, perennials, annuals, and herbs will be for sale, including the popular Encore Azaleas, which bloom twice a year. Pre-ordering (with delivery) is available by contacting Larry Trainor at ltrainor13@yahoo.com or (443) 253-7145. 

​Profits from the sale will support the many youth service programs the Kiwanis Club of Southport-Oak Island oversees for the children of Brunswick County. Visit SOIKiwanis.com to learn more. 

The Brunswick County Extension Master GardenersSM Volunteer Association (BCEMGVA) will hold four Plant Sales in 2023 featuring different plants for each sale and offering a wide variety and the best selection for that season or theme. In 2023 BCEMGVA will present a series of plant sales focusing on plants suitable for containers, plants ready for spring planting, plants beneficial for pollinators, and plants for the fall season.

1. BCEMGVA is offering a Spruce-Up Your Containers Plant Sale on March 24, featuring colorful annuals, herbs, and greenery specially selected for containers that will brighten your entryways and outdoor spaces all season long. In late March, many gardeners are anxious to get out in their gardens and start planting, but late season frosts can still harm tender plants and ruin gardeners’ hard work. However, it is a great time to engage your green thumb by sprucing up containers on the front porch and patio. These smaller gardens can easily be covered or moved to a protected location if late season freezing temperatures threaten our area.
2. April heralds spring and the BCEMGVA Spring Plant Sale returns on April 28. This popular plant sale features a large selection of blooming shrubs, perennials, and greenery that thrive in the Southeast Coastal North Carolina environment. This is our largest plant sale of the year with an emphasis on early blooming perennials, herbs, shrubs, and many Master Gardener favorites.
3. In conjunction with National Pollinator Week and just in time for the Monarchs, numerous butterflies, and pollinators, on June 22 the BCEMGVA Pollinator/Native Plant Sale will feature Milkweeds, summer blooming perennials, and other critical pollinator beneficial plants celebrating the importance of pollinators in the food chain. This sale offers plants endorsed by Monarch Watch, the North Carolina Butterfly Highway, and the North Carolina Native Plant Society as critical to sustaining our butterfly and pollinator habitat.    
4. Plans are underway a Fall Plant Sale in September. This plant sale is in the planning stage with date and plant list to be determined. This sale will offer fall color plants and plants suitable for fall planting.

              Visit bcmgva.org for the latest information, dates, and times for each of these sales. Plant lists for each sale will be posted on the website closer to each plant sale date.

               Check bcmgva.org for updates or sign up for the Plant Sale email list.