It felt like I was studying– frantically circling names on the plant list I’d photocopied from 100 Easy to Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens as Eric drove us to Harrison Park.

Yes, I got him to another plant sale this year and I was frank about why: I really needed a shopping assistant for this one. The Georgian Bay Garden Club’s annual sale is cheap and popular. Last year I didn’t have enough arms.

So we arrived 15 minutes early and waited in line til noon. He graciously followed me from table to table holding the box until I’d filled it, then took my selections to the counter to pay, and packed them into the trunk of our car while I carried on. Then, repeat. Three times. And all in the rain, no less.

Not everything I got is a native species (), but for about $40 total I ended up with:

• Bloodroot x 4 –
• Wild Columbine x 1 –
• Crocosmia x 1 bucketful
• Evening Primrose x 1 –
• Forget-me-not x 2 –
• Joe Pye weed x 1 –
• Dwarf Iris x 1
• Lady’s Mantle x 3
• Lamium x 2
• Lungwort x 1 –
• Purple Coneflower x 2 – (yes, I have tons but these are “Cheyenne Spirit”)
• Sedum “Autumn Joy” x 2
• Sedum with  no name, but a pretty chartreuse colour x 1
• Solomon’s Seal x 3 –
• Wild Strawberry x 2 –
• One little Jade Plant for the house
• And one more book about trees!

Well done!