Stop and Smell the Roses, and Buy Some If You Like

It's early September. The weather's cooled, kids have returned to school, and gorgeous, professionally grown plants have become cheap again—at least for Wheaton residents.  Brookside Gardens annual sale returns Saturday, featuring a large variety of plants it grew this summer in its beautiful gardens as well as mature plants from the Proven Winners vendor.

Doors open to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sep. 11th, and close at 3 p.m. That is, unless you're a Friends of Brookside Gardens member, in which case—as you probably know—you can start browsing at 8 a.m., and check out with a 10 percent discount at the register.  Not a member?  No worries.  You can still join day-of, no hassle, and receive the discount.  

There's reason to think about signing-up, because there's reason to do a fair amount of shopping. This, the sale's 14th year, should prove memorable.  Besides well-established Proven Winners perennials, the sale will feature Kousa Dogwood trees, and a variety of hydrangeas.  Plants start at only six bucks.

And all proceeds support the continuance of the Brookside Gardens, and its programs, including the currently open Wings of Fancy exhibit displaying the butterfly life cycle—from fuzzy caterpillar to flying adult butterflies—from around the world.  Be sure to check it out while you're there.  You may even want to look up what kind of plants you should buy to attract the particular species of butterfly that most interests you, which is made available in the exhibit. 

The sale will be held rain or shine just outside of the Visitors Center at Brookside Gardens located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue.