ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Bay College greenhouse is preparing for its annual plant sale on Friday, May 3.
“This is our 24th year,” said Bay College biology instructor and greenhouse supervisor Brian Black. “The sale basically provides us resources to continue to do this here in the greenhouse each year.”
In addition to tomato and pepper starts, herbs, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and other plants, the sale will primarily feature native perennial wildflowers. According to Black, native plants are adapted to the local climate and require minimal care after they’ve been established.
Native plants also serve as habitats and food sources for many wildlife species.
“The ones that you hear about the most these days are pollinators, which are very much threatened by our use of pesticides and parasitic mites that have infested our bee populations,” said Black. “Providing a habitat for those native pollinators I think is an especially important thing we can do, and there aren’t a lot of sources for native plants people can garden with in the area.”
After the sale, more than two-thirds of the plants grown at the greenhouse are donated to local organizations.
“We donate to habitat restoration projects and community gardens,” said Black. “We regularly donate many, many plants to the Hiawatha National Forest for restoration projects, both in the Au Train area and down in Stonington. We’ve provided plants to schools and scout troops. I think it’s a tremendous service that we can provide for the community, and getting native plants out there is the right thing to do.”
The plant sale will take place in the Bay College biology lab from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The biology lab is located in Room 116 of the Math/Science Building. Click here for a map of the campus.
Prices range from $1 for an individually potted plant to $25 for a flat. Flats and carts will be provided to transport plants to vehicles.
