[PCA] EVENT: Georgia Native Plant Society Plant Sale Sat April 22 (fwd)

[Olivia Kwong]

From: "Geri Laufer" <glaufer at atlantabotanicalgarden.org>
Date: 03/22/2006 10:48 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9th Annual Native Plant Sale on April 22, 2006
Native Plants Abound at Annual Sale in Atlanta's Piedmont Park

ATLANTA, GA - March 20, 2006 - The Georgia Native Plant Society announced
plans for their annual native plant sale to be held April 22, 2006 from
9:00 am until 1:00 pm. This year the Society is also pleased to announce
the partnership with Piedmont Park established in 2005 will continue, and
the Park is the permanent home of the sale. Plants for sale will be
displayed in an area between Magnolia Hall and the Tennis Center. Easiest
vehicular access is via Park Drive, off of Monroe Drive.

Every year gardeners converge on the Georgia Native Plant Society's annual
sale to find a wide selection of native flowers and shrubs. Savvy
gardeners know that the best plants to grow in your garden are those
native plants that have thrived in the region since pre-colonial times.
These true natives are the best adapted to our region's soil and climate
conditions, allowing them to survive drought and disease. Further, these
plants are an essential element in supporting regional wildlife, which
often cannot thrive in areas overrun by imported invasive exotic plants.
Plant stock for the sale comes from rescue projects organized by the
Georgia Native Plant Society to preserve desirable native plants
threatened by development, and from generous donations by plant nurseries
specializing in Georgia natives. Commenting on the high demand for native
plants, Plant Sale Committee Chairperson, Marcia Winchester said, "In many
cases, such sales are the only way to acquire hard to find natives, some
of which are not in cultivation by nurseries." Funds raised by the sale
are funneled back into education programs as well as research, 
conservation, and restoration projects that benefit the public. This year
Piedmont Park will be a beneficiary.

As valuable as the plant material is, the expert advice available from
members is priceless. The sale is staffed by more than 100 volunteers, and
experts can answer questions about bird, butterfly and wildlife gardening,
plant selection for specific environments, how to deal with invasive pest
plants, and a host of other topics.

According to Winchester, "Plants go fast, especially the always in demand
native azaleas. It is not uncommon to see shoppers queuing up long before
the start of the sale at 9:00 am. Last year the society made 300 native
azaleas available and all sold."

About Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS)
The Georgia Native Plant Society was founded in 1994 as a nonprofit,
charitable, and educational organization. Our goal is to know native
plants and to make them known to others. GNPS activities are designed to
promote the conservation of Georgia's native plants and habitats through
education, research and the relocation of plants threatened with
destruction. To grow a plant is to know it; therefore, we encourage the
appropriate use of native plants in gardens and in landscapes. Additional
information may be found at www.gnps.org.
Media Contact:Geri Laufer     678-5860686
glaufer at atlantabotanicalgarden.org