By: Gus Nyberg, Treasurer, Friends of the Sands
Friends of the Sands will be hosting our annual Native Plant Sale on May 29, 2021, our 16th annual! These native plants, lovingly grown from seed by Friends of the Sands volunteers, are appropriate for use in all soil and moisture conditions in Newton County and nearby natural areas. Special thanks to The Nature Conservancy for the use and space of their greenhouse – and for all the volunteers who collect, clean, plant, transplant, water and prepare plants for the sale!
For area homeowners, utilizing native plants in your landscaping assists the survival of these special grasses and forbs, allowing them to thrive in the modern world. The plants provide nectar, cover, green foliage food for some animals, and a migration corridor for long-distant insects such as monarch butterflies.
Proceeds from the plant sale have been reinvested to enhance Friends of the Sands and Nature Conservancy experiences; a spotting scope and tripod allow bison docents to connect with visitors at the bison viewing area, landscaping supplies for three library wildflower plantings maintained by the Friends of the Sands, outreach and interpretive materials, and in 2020, all the proceeds were donated to Newton County Community Services to support people impacted by Covid-19.
Finally, Friends of the Sands does not put a price tag on the plants in the sale but suggests at least a dollar per plant donation. When you come to the plant sale in May, please remember all the good work Friends of the Sands provides in the community and throughout northwest Indiana landscapes and donate generously!
Friends of the Sands 