What little Michelle and Floyd left in your garden may have gone with the winds of Francis and Ivan, not to mention the months of drought. So, restock your garden THIS Saturday, Feb. 5, during the Annual Horticultural Society of the Bahamas (HSB) Plant Sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bahamas National Trust “Retreat Gardens”, Village Rd. opposite Queenﾴs College.
PLANTS range in price from less than a dollar to more than $100, depending on size and rarity. HSB members grow the plants and label them for sale, with 15 percent of the price going to the HSB treasury. “The Plant Sale is one of our most popular events, and one of ourbest fund raisers,” says Former Pres. David Higgs.
Of special interest each year at any HSB sale are dozens of dramatic bromeliads, from tiny Tillandsias or “air plants” to gigantic hybrids with a five-foot leaf spread. HSB members now often donate inexpensive bare root plants for the Societyﾴs sales.
HSB President Cindy Wilde, who chaired the HSB Plant sale for many years, recently had the honour of a bromeliad being named after her by top US GrowersDennis and Linda Cathcart of Tropiflora (Sarasota, Fla.): Neoregelia ﾓCindy Wilde’. HSB member Beryl Sheasby, famous for ﾓBerylﾴs Tillandsias’ at BNT Jollification also was honoured with Neoregelia ﾓBeryl Sheasby.’ Mrs. Sheasby always brings boxes of immaculately groomed bromeliads to the HSB sale.
“NO plants will be sold before 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5,” according to Mr. Butler. He urges HSB members to bring plants on Friday and as early as possible on Saturday. Since 1999, plant hunters have started lining up shortly after 8 am outside the BNT Gates.
“Weﾴve kept the extended hours because of popular demand, but it is still smart to be one of the first in line for the opening. The best stuff goes fast,” reports Former President Eric Butler, co- chairman of the popular plant salealong with Dorothy Bowleg.
The lines are expected to beshorter than ever at this yearﾴs Horticultural Society of The Bahamas Plant Sale, as the new check-out system matures, say HSB officials, with tickets resembling plant show tickets. Many of the plants on sale are descendants of HSB show winners.
HSB members bring truck loads ofplants for sale with part proceeds going to the Society. Orchids from Flamingo Nurseries and unusual plants from The Garden of Eden also are featured, along with many water plants, ever more popular, grown by member Marina Greaves.
“Helping beautify the nation is one of our goals as a Society, now in its 22nd year” says Mr. Butler. He adds that the plant sale check out system is streamlined. “You just tear off your ticket and pay as you leave, with no long lists to check off,” he explains. Parking is available at Queenﾴs College. Shoppers are urged to bring boxes and bags for their purchases. Some help is available for transporting large plants.
Former HSB President Cynthia Gibbs reminds, “Some people bring trucks of plants to sell and take home a truck load of other memberﾴs plants. Itﾴs great fun. People even fly in from the Family Islands for this sale. Unusual plants, and lots of good advice, are offered every year at the HSB sale: Orchids, air plants on driftwood, rare fruit trees and shrubs, rare palms, roses and flowering trees, herbs and bedding plants.”
A special feature again will be rare palm seedlings with sales benefiting the Trust. There is no admission charge.
“HSB includes more than 100 members, including all the garden clubs, top horticulturalists and growers from many of the Family Islands, so this will be another plant sale to remember,” says Errol ‘Dukeﾴ Strachan, award winning director of the National Youth Orchestra. He supplies substantial numbers of plants to the sale each year.
Founded in 1984, the HSB features a field trip each year and produces a massive “Show of Horticultural Excellence” every other year. Meetings are held monthly, usually in the gardens of members.
By Sara S. Parker, BRI
