Service: Spring Plant Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Rajvee Sanghavi

Photos by Cathy Ha

 

UCR contains one of the largest and unique botanical gardens in the UC system with thousands of species of plants for visitors to examine and admire. On April 5-6, people had the chance to take one of these fascinating plants home during UCR Botanical Gardens’ biannual plant sale. The first day of the sale, April 5, the gardens opened to members of the gardens (which included workers, donors, and other affiliates) at 9 a.m. and then to the general public at 11 a.m.

 

After a cold and rainy week, the weather pulled through and warmed what began as a cloudy and overcast day.  Everyone from the elderly to small toddlers came; children attended small workshops while mothers fished through the vegetation looking for herbs or houseplants. This family-friendly occasion also offered up workshops for both the adults and small children alike, from pruning roses to learning about grape tomatoes which were easier for the small children to handle. 

 

There was a huge variety of plants on sale, such as cacti, orchids, and rain lilies. Additionally, there were numerous volunteers who helped to facilitate and carry out the sales; many students from University Honors came to help out. Some pruned and cleaned the plants while others worked to sort the vast array of plants into manageable categories. The profit that is made through sales like these will go toward the maintenance of the gardens, which the staff hopes to expand in the future.