CLARKSVILLE, TN – Spring has arrived, and the time for enjoying the outdoors is here. If you are planning a trip to the garden center, make sure to add Austin Peay State University’s Native Plant Sale to your shopping list.
This year’s sale runs from April 1-30, and 79 native species are available for purchase online in 1–quart ($8), 1-gallon ($12), and 3-gallon pots ($18). All plants sold come from APSU’s campus, and the proceeds will benefit the university’s public arboretum.
Shoppers can pick up their plants from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 1 or 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 2, at the corner of Farris and Eighth Street on campus.
Gardens of all sizes benefit by having a diverse selection of flowers, herbs, grasses, and trees to benefit local wildlife, especially pollinators. Wes Powell, APSU’s director of landscape and grounds, recommends choosing plants with different bloom times so pollinators have food sources during multiple seasons.
In addition to offering wildlife benefits, native plants are low-maintenance and support gardens by providing aesthetics, longevity, and adaptability.
“Helping our local ecosystems can start with your own backyard, and planting for wildlife with native plants is an easy way to get started,” said Michelle Rogers, vice president of Replant Clarksville – a nonprofit organization partnered with APSU for the sale.
To learn more about the benefits of native plants, the community is invited to attend the Pollinator and Native Plant Summit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 17, at Rotary Park. The event is a partnership between Clarksville-Montgomery County’s Healthy Yards Program, Clarksville Native Garden-Habitat Club, Replant Clarksville, and Rotary Park.