Record sales levels topped the charts of the Nehalem Bay Garden Club annual sale this year. Plants of all types and sizes were offered and they flew off the shelves. The most exciting news of this sale is all of the proceeds are given to community programs with similar missions as the Nehalem Bay Garden Club (NBGC).
Since 2020 alone the Club has awarded grants totaling $12,300. Past recipients include Alder Creek Farm, Food Roots, Hoffman Garden, Tillamook Early Learning Center, and Wheeler Waterfront Park. During the pandemic we wanted to help with food security and included Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church for their Senior Lunches and Food Pantry and North County Food Bank. The Club will be accepting applications for 2024 grants this fall.
For about 40 years, this annual sale has been a tradition for the North Coast gardening public. Not only are the plants grown in the North Coast climate, they have been carefully raised by club members and timed to be ready for the start of our gardening season. Whether ornamental or edible, there is something for everyone.
Our generous donors for the 2024 sale include: Blooming Junction, Louise Bogard, Candi Merrill, Terri Maragos. Flamingo Jims, Dirty Birds, Lower Nehalem Community Trust, Alder Creek Farm, Manzanita Fresh Foods, Nehalem Bay Winery, Nehalem Lumber, White Clover Grange, Neah-Kah-Nie Honor Club Society Members.
The sale, always held Mother’s Day weekend, is historically the safe frost free mark in our weather pattern for our region for tender annuals.
Each year, garden club members begin with seedling starts in the dead of winter and grow these for the sale. Weekly Tuesday work sessions (Tuesdays) through late winter and into spring bring club members together for sale preparation digging, dividing and repotting a wide variety of plants from member’s yards as well as from properties of generous donors in the region. The club operates a small greenhouse and leases a larger hoop house for plant production.
Perennials, depending on the species, thrive if they are divided on average every 3-5 years. The work sessions are spent preparing these for the sale and working elbow-to-elbow in the soil builds camaraderie between members and offers another opportunity for learning. Not only do we all share and learn from each other, we also have had specialists visit at our monthly meeting to provide learning and tips on other garden practices.
One area of note that the club is leaning toward is drought tolerant plants and Xeriscaping. As the climate changes we recognize the need to conserve water. In fact, one of the projects the Club has supported financially is a move toward drought tolerant plant demonstration garden at Wheelers Waterfront Park. Later this fall look for the signs on plants that require less water once established. Water is a precious resource. Together we can conserve natural resources for a better planet.
An unsolicited visitor to our Sale this year was Juli Straton, a well known local who produced a video about NBGC and the Sale. Take a look for more information about the club. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoYDQ7sl8us
The NBGC celebrated 74 years of existence in 2024. The mission of Nehalem Bay Garden Club is to cultivate knowledge and love of gardening through educational programs and activities; to aid in the protection of the environment, native plants and wildlife; and to support public service through garden related organizations and volunteer opportunities.
Monthly meetings are September through May the 4th Tuesday of the month at Calvary Bible Church in Manzanita. Please come join the club, or just drop in for a single meeting topic if that suits your interest. Consider joining the spring work parties to prepare for the sale. Many hands make light work and laughter and fun often ensue.
The Club organizes local garden tours in the summer. The first one is Wednesday, June 11th at 11am at the Wonder Garden in Manzanita next to the library and across from the Hoffman Center. Designer, Ketzel Levine will be there to show us around the Garden. Bring a sack lunch if you want.
For additional information, or to be added to the club’s mailing list, contact Barbara McLaughlin at barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net