An event anticipated by many Mid-Missouri residents, the date to get your native plants, has been announced.
The annual Bradford Research Center Native Plant benefit sale will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13.
The event will include informative booths and demonstrations, indoor presentations, and Missouri native plant and shrub vendors. The plant sale is free and open to the public and 15 percent of all proceeds will be used to benefit the Missouri Prairie Foundation.
"Native plants are a critical part of the ecosystem that we all live in," Bradford Superintendent Andrew Biggs said. "Not only can attendees buy plants for their home garden during our plant sale, but we also have two presentations lined up with very interesting and timely topics."
Kevin Rice, an assistant professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, will speak about attracting and maintaining predatory and pollinating insects at 10 a.m.
Terry Woods, a research specialist at the South Farm Research Center, will follow with a discussion about collecting, processing and planting milkweed seed at 11 a.m.
The vendors will offer a variety of plants for individuals to choose.
If you wish to preorder plants and have your order ready for pick up at the event, you can preorder from the following vendors:
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery ([email protected], 573-496-3492)
Gaylena's Garden ([email protected], 573-694-4338)
Claire's Garden ([email protected])
Forrest Keeling Nursery ([email protected])
Prairie Hill Farm ([email protected], 573-864-9597)
Ozark Soul ([email protected], 816-809-4062)
Other vendors include: SunRise Gardens, Pure Air Natives and Hawthorn NPS. All preorders must be made by April 9.
"By placing the plant vendors and experts in the same place, at the same time, we really hope to give interested individuals the best opportunity possible to learn the how and why all of these things work together," Biggs said.
The Bradford Research Center is at 4968 Rangeline Road in Columbia. For more information about the Bradford Research Center, visit bradford.missouri.edu or call 573-884-7945.