Do you find yourself dreaming of colorful gardens, birdsong, and warmer fresh air this time of year? Are you looking forward to tiptoeing through some tulips? While we can’t make spring arrive any faster, we can encourage you to dream and plan your garden.
Our annual tree sale is now underway. We carry nothing but plants hardy in this climate, being Minnesota tough and sturdy. We’re pleased to offer one of the first small trees to announce the arrival of spring: the redbud. It is a handsome small tree that has pink flowers in spring before the leaves emerge. This strain is grown from seed collected at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and is highly tolerant of urban pollution.
If that’s not to your liking, fear not, there are six other trees, four shrubs, a rose, and a vine offered through this year’s sale. There’s ‘Fat Albert’ Spruce, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ Apple, and ‘Royal Raindrops’ Crabapple. We have Northern Pin Oak, River Birch, and Blue Beech, all three native to Minnesota.
The rose is ‘High Voltage’, a fragrant, ever-bloomer with brilliant yellow, double flowers. It has an upright, vase-shaped habit and can stand alone as an accent or in back of the border. It will be in full bud when you pick it up on May 2, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Rounding out the offerings is ‘Mandarin’ Honeysuckle. It is a vigorous vine that merrily drapes over fence or shed, producing brilliant orange flowers throughout the growing season. It will grow in part shade to full sun and is loved by birds, bees, and butterflies.
Order deadline is April 17. Pick-up is May 2, 9:00 – 1:00. You choose your pick-up location, either in St. Paul or Maplewood, when you place your order.
The annual tree sale is our only fundraiser. Show your support for our work by purchasing some great plants for your yard or making a donation to a neighborhood park. If you donate them, park staff does all the work and you get a tax deduction, all in the name of beautifying our community.