FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 24, 2009
CONTACT: Lisa Blackburn, 6264052140 or [email protected]
Fall Plant Sale Slated for Oct. 10–11
SAN MARINO, Calif. – Whether planning ahead for spring or looking for autumn color to enjoy right now, gardeners will find plenty of inspiration at the Fall Plant Sale on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10–11, at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Hours for the sale are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Experts know that the secret to a beautiful garden is to get started in the fall, laying the groundwork for great blooms throughout the year. The event will feature a bountiful selection of fall foliage plants and autumnblooming flowers as well as bulbs, perennials, and shrubs to plant now for blooms in the spring and summer. Many unusual and hardtofind varieties will be available. Landscape architect Shirley Kerins, the manager of the annual sale, notes that changing lifestyles and landscaping trends have created a growing demand for new and different varieties of plants. “A lot of homeowners are reconsidering their highmaintenance lawns, and easycare groundcovers are becoming a popular alternative,” she says. “One of my favorites that we’ll be featuring at the sale is Herniaria glabra, or Rupture Wort. That unfortunate name has given it a bad rap. It ought to be called Dark Green Carpet, because that’s exactly what it looks like. You can walk on it, and it never needs mowing.” Other great groundcovers for sunny locations, says Kerins, are Lotus maculatus, with feathery silvergray foliage and bright golden flowers, and Sutera cordata ‘Snowflake,’ which boasts masses of tiny white blooms almost year ‘round. Both also work well in hanging baskets. For shady areas, Kerins likes several varieties of Ajuga, such as ‘Chocolate Chip’ and “Catlin’s Giant,” both with rich chocolatey brown and green foliage. For a droughttolerant gardens, succulent groundcovers are an excellent choice and many varieties will be available. Among the standouts is Sedum makinoi ‘Limelight,’ with dainty round chartreuse leaves that spread out in a low, dense mat. Bright yellow flowers appear in summer. Colorful perennials, shrubs, vines, herbs, and bulbs will also be available in abundance. A few to look for: the autumnhued Mina lobata, a twining vine with flowers that shade from red to orange to yellow; the blueflowered Salvia ‘Argentine Skies’ and the dramatic Salvia discolor with jetblack blooms (stunning when planted with silverleafed plants, says Kerins); Plectranthus ciliatus, with its Fall Plant Sale at The Huntington Page 2 striking green and burgundy leaves; the “autumn fern” Dryopteris erythrosora, which bears glossy bronze fronds in the fall; and the stunning Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, a vine that produces gemlike clusters of berries in hues of blue, purple, and teal. Its remarkable appearance, says Kerins, can make a big impact in even the smallest patio. Knowledgeable Huntington staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about plant selection and care, as well as to offer advice on other practical fall gardening topics such as soil improvement, pruning and dividing, and tackling pest problems. Admission to the sale area in the parking lot is free. For additional information call 6264052100 or visit www.huntington.org.
# # #
[Editor’s note: highresolution images are available on request.]
About The Huntington The Huntington is a collectionsbased research and educational institution serving scholars and the general public. For more information, visit online at www.huntington.org
Visitor Information The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., and is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Admission on weekdays: $15 adults, $12 seniors (65+), $10 students (ages 12–18 or with fulltime student I.D.), $6 youth (ages 5–11), free for children under 5. Group rate $11 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission on weekends and Monday holidays: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, $6 youth, free for children under 5. Group rate $14 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of each month with advance tickets. Information: 6264052100 or www.huntington.org.
# # #