Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale

The largest annual plant sale fundraiser of 2012 will take place at the former Mazer’s Discount Home Store on Greensprings Avenue in Homewood from April 12 to 15. More than 100,000 plants will be available for purchase. More than 7,000 people attended last year’s sale, and similar crowds are expected this year.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosts both a fall and a spring sale annually. The spring sale helps further the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ mission of promoting public knowledge and appreciation of plants, gardens and the environment and also providing plant consumers with spring planting advice from expects. Also, each purchase supports a worthwhile cause.

More than 1,000 of the signature plant for 2012, the Senorita Rosalita® Cleome hybrid ‘Inncleosr,’ will be available for only $5 each.

This year’s sale will feature three special events. The annual Preview Party and Members-Only Sale will kick off the sale on Thursday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. The Preview Party will allow guests to shop early, enjoy great food, wine and a free Senorita Rosalita®.

Then, on Friday, the Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will present the first ever Tunes ‘n Blooms. Admission to the Preview Party is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Members can attend Tunes ‘n Blooms for $10 and non-members for $15. Guests can shop while Will and Sarah Mason provide musical entertainment, and drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The public sale will be Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the public sale is free, and volunteer opportunities are available. The sale is sponsored in part by Dunn Real Estate, Terra Equities, inBham, Fox 6, Leaf & Petal at The Gardens, Birmingham Home & Garden and Valpak of Central Alabama. For more information, go to www.bbgardens.org/springplantsale.