WINNECONNE – Carol Beiser went
to work in her yard one day last week, bent on beating the
predicted rain.
With her tools in hand and pots at the ready she worked
to dig some asters for the annual mega plant sale she and
about 20 of her closest friends hold each spring.
She stood up to take a breather and surveyed her large flower
garden and the work ahead of her. The perennials were coming
in and, by the looks of things, were intent on taking up
lots of space.
"They can take over," Beiser said. "Most
of us (cull) what we have excess of."
Beiser, who is known for her pretty flowerbeds at the Beiser
family farm on State Highway 116 just outside Winneconne,
was one of the five original "petal pushers."
These ladies came up with the idea of sharing the bounty
of their gardens in one huge plant rummage sale each spring.
"It's fun. We have a good time getting together,"
Beiser said.
That first sale was more than a decade ago. And just like
the plants they cultivate, the group of ladies has grown
and blossomed into about 20 enthusiastic gardeners from
the Winneconne area.
They used to take turns holding the spring flower and plant
sale at one another's homes.
But the sale has become so popular that the hostesses were
left with trampled yards when the sale was over. This year
they decided they needed a larger venue. They rented a shelter
at Marble Park, said Roxy Schultz.
"It seems like no matter how many we put out, we get
rid of them," Schultz said.
In addition to more than 100 varieties of sun and shade
perennials, the ladies will sell garden whimsies, decorative
pieces and old garden furniture. Each year as more women
have joined, the variety of perennials has grown. Last year
the women sold more than 2,500 plants, raking in more than
$5,000. Some of the women donate the proceeds to various
charities but many of them use the profits to defray their
gardening expenses, Schultz said.
They try to keep prices low – about $1 or $2 per plant.
The day is less about making a profit and more about spreading
the wealth by sharing their plants, Beiser said.
The plants they sell might go for about $3 or $4 at a greenhouse,
Schultz said.
The growers, many of whom have had their gardens featured
in garden walks, will be available to give tips on growing
and plant care. |
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