BATESVILLE — Master Gardeners from throughout Independence County have been preparing for their annual plant sale for the past several weeks. They have been working in their own yards and gardens, as well as in those of family and friends, digging up plants and repotting them into smaller containers that can be sold at the sale.
The Independence County Master Gardeners’ annual plant sale is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Batesville National Guard Armory, 1690 White Drive. The public is invited, and there is no admission charge.
“The doors will open at 8, but there is usually a line before that,” said Beth Gooch of Batesville, chairwoman of the digs committee. “So we encourage people to get there early.”
Gooch was among a group of several Master Gardeners who gathered recently to dig up ornamental grasses growing at the Batesville home of Lily Harris, who is a sister of Cindy Gillmore of Cord-Charlotte, one of the group’s newest members.
“We are going to divide this up and put it in smaller pots,” said Rose Ann Houston of Olyphant, president of the Independence County Master Gardeners.
Gooch said grasses “are fairly new to our plant sale.”
“In addition to the grasses, we will have annuals, perennials, daylilies, hosta, herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs,” Gooch said. “We will also have pollinator plants such as bee balm.”
Houston said the sale will feature hanging baskets, gourd houses and birdhouses as well.
“Asa Whitaker [of Mooreland], who is our vice president, makes these birdhouses for us,” she said. “I think some of them have been painted by schoolchildren.
“We will also have a children’s corner. That’s always popular. Children can come and plant something in a container and take it home with them.”
Gooch said proceeds from the annual plant sale “help fund our beautification projects throughout the county and our educational projects.”
“We maintain a rose garden at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Batesville and provide landscaping at the city park at Newark, the Independence County Cooperative Extension Service building in Batesville and the Batesville Aquatic Center,” Gooch said. “We also maintain the herb garden and two beds at the White River Community Garden in Batesville.”
Houston said one of the Master Gardeners’ newest educational projects is the Growing Master Gardeners grant for elementary schools in Independence County.
“One $200 grant will be available for grades one through five, with one award granted per district,” Houston said. “The purpose of this grant is to encourage students to learn about and develop an interest in horticulture. The project must use student involvement to establish a learning center/garden on the awarded school campus and/or purchase greenhouse supplies or beautify the awarded school campus.”
Nathan Reinhart, agent for agriculture and staff chair of the Independence County Cooperative Extension Service, who also serves as adviser to the Master Gardeners, said the local Master Gardeners gave back 2,320 hours to the community in 2018.
“They continue to do a great job for the community year after year,” he said.
Other officers of the Independence County Master Gardeners are Judy Allen of Batesville, second vice president; Rita Clark of Cord-Charlotte, secretary; and Cathy Shonk, also of Cord-Charlotte, treasurer.
For more information on the Independence County Master Gardeners or their plant sale, call the Independence County Extension Office at (870) 793-8840.