WILBRAHAM — The much-anticipated Spring Plant Sale, hosted by the Wilbraham Friends of the Library in partnership with Wistariahurst Museum, is now underway — and pre-orders are coming in fast.
This flourishing partnership began three years ago when Toi Graham, a master gardener in charge of overseeing the library’s landscaping improvements, suggested selling leftover stock from Wistariahurst’s Fall Plant Sale. “We created a WFOL Fall Sale in less than two weeks,” said Jo Ayers, chair of the plant sale. “The fall sale of perennials was very successful. Toi asked about doing the pop-up sale for the annuals in the spring. We’ve continued offering these plant sales every fall and spring since. Toi starts all the seedlings in her greenhouse and graciously tends to them until the sale date. Wistariahurst Museum and the friends share the profits.”
While the number of plants sold each year isn’t tracked, the goal is clear. “We hope to make at least $500 each for the Wilbraham Public Library and Wistariahurst Museum,” Ayers said. “Of course, we hope to surpass last year’s profit.”
Orders opened recently and are already coming in quickly. “We do have a limited number of plants and filling out the form early is suggested,” Ayers advised. “Orders are filled by the date they were dropped off.”
Order forms are available at the library and online at friendsofthelibrary.org and the Wilbraham Public Library website. Details are also posted on Facebook and Instagram. Payment by cash or check made out to WFOL must be included with the order form and submitted to the library’s front desk.
“There’s no limit to how many plants you can order, but because we have a limited number, we’ll contact you if we can’t fulfill your full request,” Ayers said.
Proceeds support a variety of library programs, including guest speakers, author discussions, online lectures, craft activities and the summer reading program. “The library offers so much more than books, and many people don’t realize just how much is available,” Ayers said.
WFOL is also seeking volunteers to help maintain the library grounds, which have seen major improvements over the past four years. “We’re always looking for people to volunteer an hour or so a week to help in the gardens — training is included,” said Ayers. Interested volunteers can email WFOL.info@gmail.com for more information.
