The Gila Native Plant Society's 14th Annual Native Plant Pre-Sale is underway. Why grow native plants in your garden? First of all, they are beautiful! Moreover, once established, native plants conserve water and require less care. Since they are adapted to our climate, they are more cold-hardy than non-native plants and can withstand our strong sun. And they support local varieties of birds, butterflies and other pollinators important to this region's vitality.
Plants may be ordered online now through April 10th on the GNPS website, www.gilanps.org, where you will find photos of the plants on offer along with information on their cold tolerance, their requirements in terms of elevation, water and sunlight, and their size when full-grown.
Plants may also be ordered in person at the Gila Native Plant Society booth at the Home and Garden Expo from noon to 5 p.m. on April 9, 2016, in the Intramural Gym on the Western New Mexico University campus. Visitors to the booth will be able to get landscaping advice from our consultants and review our reference books to help decide on their choice of plants. GNPS will be joined at the Expo by Lone Mountain Natives, one of its local suppliers.
All plants ordered online or in person will be ready for pickup on Friday, April 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the parking lot next to Gough Park at Pope and 12th Streets. Any remaining plants will be available for purchase at the GNPS booth during the Earth Day Celebration at Gough Park on April 23 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest, encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping. For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org.