Mercer Botanic Gardens Receives Grant In Time For Plant Sale

SPRING, TX — Volunteers at Mercer Botanic Gardens are grateful for a new utility vehicle just in time to help prepare for Mercer’s largest plant sale of the year.

The Mercer Society (TMS) recently received the Metal to the Petal Utility Vehicle Grant from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust to replace a utility vehicle damaged during Hurricane Harvey.

“This grant will help us get back on track after floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey damaged our tools, greenhouses, and plants,” said TMS President Maryanne Esser. “The new utility vehicle can hold up to 80 one-gallon pots, vastly improving transport time from our greenhouses to the plant sale area.”

After Hurricane Harvey devastated Mercer last year, volunteers were worried they would have to cancel March Mart, an annual plant sale benefitting Precinct 4’s Mercer Botanic Gardens.

Instead, Mercer staff and volunteers rallied after the storm and recovered most of the TMS plant stock.

With repairs at the park also progressing, TMS planned the plant sale to coincide with the reopening of Mercer Botanic Gardens’ East Side, which has been closed since late August due to significant damage.

The public is invited to shop at March Mart Saturday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the East Side Gardens. Purchase a TMS membership to gain VIP early access to the sale Friday, March 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday, March 17 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Early shoppers have the best chance of taking home Mercer’s rarest plants not available at local nurseries. Visit themercersociety.org or call 713-274-4107 to get a TMS membership or upgrade an existing membership for VIP early access.

With leadership from Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, Mercer Botanic Gardens is a Harris County Precinct 4 Parks facility located one mile north of FM 1960 at22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble, 77338. Harris County Precinct 4 programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, sex, religion, national origin, or physical ability. Anyone seeking additional information or requiring special assistance to participate in any program should contact Mercer at 713-274-4160 or online at www.hcp4.net/community/parks/mercer.

Image: Harris County