Giant Plant Sale: Help AIB, Hospice by helping yourself to flower bargains
April 19, 2013
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
If you admire the improvements done by America in Bloom throughout Santa Paula and support the efforts of Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group, you’ll be able to help them both by helping yourself to flower bargains - thousands of flowers! - at this weekend’s Giant Plant Sale.
There will be thousands and thousands of plants available for purchase at the annual sale to be held at Faulkner Farm, AKA University of California Hansen Learning Center, located at the corner of Briggs and West Telegraph roads. The sale will be held Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., where you can bring a truck and bring your friends to flower shop all day.
According to Gary Nasalroad, who serves on both the America in Bloom and Hospice boards of directors, “Four nurseries have donated to our sale and there will be thousands of plants all priced at about 70 percent of what you’d pay elsewhere.” The sale will feature annuals, perennials, vegetables, hundreds of varieties and sizes of plants and flowers; even spices perfect for windowsill hugging pots.
Nasalroad noted America in Bloom has not only done beautification projects throughout Santa Paula, including at schools and gateway areas, but it has also provided sidewalk planters (some with the financial support of the Rotary Club) and hung dozens of flowering baskets
“When we’re through we’ll have 240” flowering baskets. But although basket sponsorship opportunities are available, Nasalroad said America in Bloom projects “come with a price... and the Giant Plant Sale is not only our biggest fundraiser, but it’s our only fundraiser.”
America in Bloom and Santa Clara Valley Hospice, the latter that offers an array of always free services to those with life-threatening illnesses and their families, will share all proceeds. Hospice also has a lending library, hospital equipment loan program, transportation to medical appointments and more provided to the residents of the Santa Clara River Valley.
Nasalroad said Fides-Oro, Ball Horticulture and DoRight’s Plant Nursery - Diane and Dudley Davis of DoRight’s are America in Bloom founders - are providing the flowers and plants, and the mulch is being donated by Crown Disposal Company. Admission is free to the Giant Plant Sale, the largest such event in Ventura County.
