Welcome Spring by Digging in the Dirt

Plant sales, workshops and volunteer events are planned along the River

It’s time to welcome Spring by digging in the dirt! To support a micro-grant program to assist volunteer groups working along the River, the Schuylkill Project is planning its next fundraiser: a plant sale to be held at the Umbria Street Neighbors Flea Market at the Ivy Ridge Train Station (Umbria Street & Parker Avenue) on Saturday, May 7 from 8:30 to 1:30 pm.

The plant sale will feature a great selection of native plants from flowers to ferns to vines. Some of the featured plants for sale are Brown Eyed Susans, Butterfly Weed, Asters and Christmas Fern. It is a way for the public or volunteer groups to buy plant material at a low cost that would typically only be offered wholesale. Flats of plant material can be pre-ordered or individual plants can be purchased the day of with the selection based on availability. Prices will vary by plant material, but the average price per plant will be $2, or a flat of 38 plants in the $60 range.

Also that day, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will present a workshop from 11am to noon on container gardening. Landscape Architect Michael LoFurno will teach why native plants provide beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, and low maintenance container gardens which help the environment. Then, later in the month on May 21, join Hal Rosner, board certified master arborist, and the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Tree Tenders new pruning club to learn the basics of tree pruning and tree pit maintenance. The class is free and open to the public, taking place at Gorgas Park at the park house at 9am.

Tired of digging in your own dirt? Come out and volunteer at any of a number of clean ups and plantings scheduled for the Spring! It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and help the environment. Check out the calendar at www.destinationschuylkillriver.org to find volunteer events along the River.