Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s (BHML) native plant sale on Saturday, June 1, was an instant success. Ten minutes before the sale began, three dozen anxious shoppers had gathered outside the roped-off area, ready to start buying and, seven minutes into the event, headcounts were over 50. The checkout line didn’t drop to fewer than 10 in waiting for the first half hour of the sale.

About 400 plants were up for sale, donated by 10 growers, and divided into sections for wetlands plants, shrubs, herbs, sun-loving, shade-loving and part sun/part shade – the largest category. Also being sold were vegetables, raspberry plants, yum yum, and a table full of native ferns. 

“The primary goal today is educational, the fundraising is secondary,” said Liz Lussier, grower and event co-organizer along with Leslie Volpe. “The 70/30 rule is less of a rule and more of a recommendation,” said Lussier. The 70/30 rule suggests landscapes be planted with 70% native plants and 30% cultivars. “Most of the plants here today are native to New England and often need to be re-introduced, but there are also non-problematic cultivars, which we’ll have at our next big plant sale.”

Carol Myers of Southport bought May apple plants and evening primrose, receiving advice and growing tips from Lauren Stockwell, botanist, environmental consultant, and one of the growers for this event. Most event buyers were able to speak with the growers supplying the native plants, learning about their habitats and the ecosystem services they provide. “It’s nice to see interest is growing,” said Stockwell in response to the event’s good turnout.

Growers for the sale have agreed to implement best practices for reducing the harmful spread of destructive insects and disease by bare-rooting and rinsing transplants, planting transplants in bagged soil, and using only sterilized pots and plant labels.

“This event is more casual. Traditionally, our plant sale is every other year, but today we’re hosting a ‘mini’ sale, a bonus sale, with no firm goal having been set. “We might bring in $1,000 today, and proceeds go to the library’s annual operating fund,” said Savannah Fields, BHML development manager. The biennial nature of the sale is because most plants can’t be divided every year.

“This is a community event, and we couldn’t do it without our wonderful volunteers, who pretty much do everything. They dig up the plants, divide them, bring them here and set them up. They share their knowledge on how to grow, propagate, and care for them. And how to take care of our pollinators,” said Marta Peters, BHML board member and cashier for the event.

The library is full of books, both physical and digital, on native plants. Find up-to-date research papers and guides on re-wilding, or use the library’s computers and wi-fi to browse the University of Maine cooperative extension resources.