Get growing at Clark County plant sales and garden fairs

‘April showers bring May flowers” seems particularly applicable to this soggy season. If the aphorism holds true, it means we’re due for a stunning profusion of blooms. Here are plant sales and garden festivals in nearly every corner of Clark County where you can snag some color and greenery to transform your yard and garden into a vibrant, verdant paradise.

A few tips to turn you into a plant-sale pro: Come armed with checks and cash because not every location will accept payment with debit or credit cards. Expect to pay $1 or $2 for a teensy 1-inch vegetable or plant start or $3 or $4 for a larger start. Other plants are in the neighborhood of $5 to $15. Hanging baskets range from $15 to $25. Be prepared to load your own purchases into your vehicle, although some places may offer assistance. Many sales are open to walk-ins but some locations are sticklers about appointments. Before you go, check for details at the links provided, where you can find plant lists and additional instructions.

Ridgefield

Clark Public Utilities Home and Garden Idea Fair: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Admission is free.

The event features 200 vendors and exhibitors, including a full-size landscape display and vegetable starts, plants, hanging baskets and garden art from local vendors and nurseries. The Salmon Creek Farmers Market will also offer local market vendors on the midway. The Kids’ Zone offers free activities, safety demonstrations and nature-inspired craft projects. Guests can walk through the ADU Cottage Neighborhood to learn about accessory dwelling units or visit the EV Garage to learn about electric vehicles. Parking at the event center is $6 cash or get free transportation on a shuttle bus from the Fisher’s Landing or 99th Street transit centers. Bring donations of nonperishable food items for local food banks or cash for Operation Warm Heart, a program providing heating grants to families in financial crisis. Visitors can also bring burned out screw-in compact fluorescent light bulbs for recycling. Get details at www.homeandgardenideafair.com.

Vancouver

The Vancouver School District will offer plant sales at four schools featuring (depending on the location) flowers, hanging baskets, ornamentals, vegetables (including organic, non-GMO or heirloom), fruits, native plants and herbs. All proceeds support student clubs and classes. More information and plant lists for each school can be found on vansd.org/plant-sales-2023/. All sales are drop-in.

• Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
• Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Payment by cash or check.
• Columbia River High School, 800 N.W. 99th St., Vancouver: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Payment by cash or check.
• Vancouver Flex Academy, 2901 General Anderson Ave., Vancouver: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6. Payment by cash or card.

Battle Ground, Brush Prairie

Battle Ground School District will offer plant sales at three locations featuring (depending on the location) hanging baskets, vegetable starts, herbs, strawberries, pollinator packs, table planters, flowering patio pots, perennials, annuals, grasses, tropical plants, zonal geraniums, primroses, house plants and succulents. Payment is accepted by cash, check and credit cards at all sales. Some sales are by appointment and some sales are drop-in. Visit bghs.battlegroundps.org/annual-battle-ground-public-schools-plant-and-greenhouse-sales-coming-soon/ for details and links to plant lists at each location.

• Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education (CASEE), 11104 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday only for NatureScaping members and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for the public. Everyone who attends the sale on Saturday must register at naturescaping.org. The sale continues from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for walk-ins (no appointment necessary). Checks and cards are accepted.
• NatureScaping of Southwest Washington Wildlife Botanical Gardens Bare Root Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials Sale, 11000 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The sale is open only to NatureScaping members from 9 a.m. to noon and to the public from noon to 4 p.m. Registration is required for all Saturday attendees at tinyurl.com/theplantsale2023. Walk-ins are welcome from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday (no appointment necessary). The sale features trees and shrubs, bee cocoons and a garden photography raffle. Prices are $7 for shrubs and $15 for trees. Proceeds benefit NatureScaping. Learn more at naturscaping.org.
• Battle Ground High School, 800 W. Main St., Battle Ground: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6.
• Prairie High School, 11311 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver: 3-6 p.m. May 11, 12, 15 and 16 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13. In addition to the standard plants, visitors will find orchids, birds of paradise, monstera and cannas. Check facebook.com/groups/913281576485117/ for a complete list of plants.

Hazel Dell

• The Salmon Creek Lions Club and Foundation is selling hanging baskets and flowers for sun and shade as well as tray packs of annuals and perennials and zonal geraniums. Prices range from $5 to $48. Proceeds benefit Lions Sight Foundation of Clark County and The Clark County Lions Hearing Foundation. Order by phone at 360-798-1850 or online at salmon-creek-lions-club.square.site. Some items will also be available to walk-ins. All flowers must be picked up between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 6 at the Hazel Dell Dutch Bros, 9913 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave.
• The Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County and Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program Mother’s Day Plant Sale is by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13 at the 78th Street Heritage Farm, 1919 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. Sign up at www.mgfcc.com. Walk-ins are welcome from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14. The sale features perennials and annuals, vegetables and herbs, trees and shrubs, houseplants and hanging baskets, mixed flower pots, used tools and garden supplies, bagged potting soil (1.5 cubic feet for $5). Attendees should bring their own carts or wagons. Only service animals are allowed. Parking is free and ADA parking is available. Payment is accepted via card, cash or check. Proceeds support WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener Program and horticulture education grants.
• In conjunction with the Master Gardeners Mother’s Day Sale, the Vancouver Chrysanthemum Society will sell rooted chrysanthemum cuttings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 13 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 at the 78th Street Heritage Farm. The cuttings will be available outside of Greenhouse 5 for $3.50 each. The mum sale will feature 14 flower forms, including varieties not available in garden centers. Mum experts will be on site to offer advice.

Woodland

• Woodland High School, 1500 Dike Access Road, Woodland: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6. Drop-ins are welcome. The sale features vegetables, geraniums, bedding plants, succulents and hanging baskets. For a complete list with prices, visit www.woodlandschools.org/whs-plant-sale. Payment is cash or check.
• Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens Lilac Days, 115 South Pekin Road, Woodland, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through May 14. Admission is $5 for adults and children 12 and under free. The theme for 2023 is “Hats from the Past” and many hats from the collection will be on display in the new barn museum and in the historic house. The Klager House will be open for tours 1-4 p.m., depending on volunteer availability. Guests can purchase tickets to the quilt raffle and buy lilac cuttings and other plants. The gift shop also sells lilac- and garden-themed items. Get details at lilacgardens.com.

Camas

Camas Plant and Garden Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 13. Find vegetable starts, hanging baskets, herbs, plants, trees, garden art and gardening supplies from local growers and vendors. The fair includes a Kids’ Zone with crafts, a petting zoo and face painting; live music and entertainment; and food vendors along Northeast Fourth Avenue in downtown Camas, near many shops and eateries. Garden experts will be on hand to answer questions; stop by the booth at Fourth Avenue and Cedar Street for the list and vendor map. A holding area will be available where volunteers will watch your purchases until you are ready to drive in and pick them up. Scouts from local troops will lift and carry heavy items; donations for their services are a fundraiser for summer camps. The fair draws thousands of visitors so be prepared to park and walk a few blocks. Free parking is available in the lot between Sixth and Seventh avenues and Adams Street. Visit www.cwplantfair.org and www.facebook.com/camasplantandgardenfair for complete information.