I went to the CNC sale today. They have several types of trees, including magnolia acuminata (cucumber tree) and magnolia ashei - two very nice native deciduous magnolias. Also they had about 4-5 types of trillium, 4 types of ferns (including Southern Shield fern), lots of phlox (fragrant!), two kinds of lobelia and many other perennials. As always, they have a TON of native azaleas, many one gallons in bud and bloom for $8 and some bigger sizes. They have one of my favorites: the plumleaf azalea which is the symbol of Callaway Gardens and blooms in late June or July. I got one there about 4 years ago and it is loaded with buds this year (and bloomed great last year). The sale goes through Saturday.

FYI for next year, The National Arboretum holds a native plant sale at the end of March every year in conjuction with their Lahr Symposium. One of the vendors was Doyle Farm nursery. They are located in Pennsylvannia just over the Maryland border, above Jarretsville. Their website lists native plant sales in the area they will be attending. (It's on their "tours and open house" link, http://www.doylefarm.com/events.html) One sale is in Fairfax VA, Saturday April 29. Others are being held at Ladew Topiary Gardens, The Baltimore Herb Festiva, etc., While they sell by mailorder its nice to see the plants you're buying. The plants I bought from them at The Arboretum, White Turtlehead (Chelone Glabra) and Nodding Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes Cernua) are growing really well. If you find any other sales in the Maryland area please post them, I'd love to know about them. :) -Helen

The trees and such are small but for $2 to $5, about what you would expect to maybe a little larger. Some of the small plants and groundcovers come in pots - I'm pretty sure the kinnickinnick does and that's a pretty decent sized plant for the price. The one's that are surprisingly small are the things like ferns, camas, etc. Then they are pretty much a leaf with a decent root system in a baggie. If the plant is supposed to be dormant in February, don't expect much size from the plant you purchase.

Thanks for bringing up an important topic. I don't have a link handy with more info, but you may be able to Google the topic if you'd like to learn more. But, it's important to use milkweed from sources local to you. Even if it's the same species. So, even if we shipped our seed or plants, it may not be the best for your area.