The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Annual Plant Sale will be online only this year. It is scheduled from September 25 to October 10. You can shop for new plants from home.
The UT Arboretum Society’s plant sales are some of their biggest fundraisers of the year. They help support the arboretum’s community education, trail improvements such as its Nature Book Trail, and children’s programs, a press release said.
The online plant sale will give you a chance to enhance your garden this fall.
“Fall is always a wonderful time for planting as it gives your plants time to establish great root systems for the spring,” the press release said.
For two weeks, you can browse the selections of perennials, trees, and shrubs available from vendors Tennessee Naturescapes, Riverdale Nursery, and East Fork Nursery of Sevierville.
“The three vendors offer a wonderful selection of plants including dogwoods, unique conifers, both evergreen and native azaleas, hydrangeas, milkweed, beauty berry, and a wide variety of pollinator plants to name just a few,” the press release said.
Quantities are limited, so the Arboretum Society suggests shopping early.
Beginning September 25, you can log on to https://utas-plant-sale.square.site/ to shop and make payment. All payments must be made by credit card online in advance. No sales on the pickup days are possible, the press release said.
When you order, you will be provided a link to choose a pickup time on either Friday, October 16, from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Arboretum Society members will have your plant orders ready for pickup. This is a no-contact pickup system. When you arrive at your scheduled time, you will come to designated pickup spots, and your order will be brought to your car, the press release said.
“This is an amazing opportunity which allows the public to shop for an extended period of time without gathering in large groups on one day,” the release said. “People will also have access to a wonderful selection of plants from three outstanding nurseries all at one online site.”
The Arboretum has curtailed many of its normal day-to-day activities, but people can still work in their yards this fall and plant new plants, the press release said. The UT Arboretum Society said it is grateful to its vendors for making this opportunity possible.
“The UT Arboretum Society hopes the public will support these loyal vendors as many of their plant sales have been canceled this season,” the press release said.
Many events have been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, is one of 10 outdoor laboratories located throughout the state as part of the UT AgResearch system. AgResearch is a division of the UT Institute of Agriculture. The Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research, and public service through the UT Herbert College of Agriculture, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension offices, with locations in every county in the state.
To learn more about the Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org. For more information on the plant sale, contact mcampani@utk.edu.
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