Native plant sale to be held at James Farm May 6

The 13th Annual Gardening for the Bays Native Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 6, at James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View. Shoppers will be able to browse from a wide selection of native flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses, and stick around for naturalist tours, demonstrations, gardening tips, a Junior Gardener children's tent and more.

Sponsored by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, the event hosts local nurseries selling thousands of native plants which are adapted to the soil, temperature and elements in Delaware. Native plants are easier to maintain, and require less water and fertilizer - a benefit for both the gardener and the environment. Participating nurseries include Envirotech, Inland Bays Garden Center, Roots Nursery and Sussex Landscaping.

The Sussex Bird Club will lead a special bird walk at 8 a.m. before the sale begins. Naturalist walks will be led by Dr. Tom Lord at 9:30 a.m. and Dr. Dennis Bartow at 11 a.m. for participants to get to know the trails, plants and critters of the James Farm. Master Gardeners of Sussex County will give a presentation on pollinators at 10:15 a.m., in addition to hosting a booth at the plant sale.

Kids (and kids at heart) are invited to explore nature with hands-on activities at the Junior Gardener children's tent, featuring building a pollinator habitat and face painting. At the Center for the Inland Bays tent, Gardening for the Bays T-shirts and one-of-a-kind bird and bee houses will be on sale to support the work of the center to preserve, protect and restore the Inland Bays.

Once again, Good Earth Market will have breakfast treats and coffee for purchase for early birds, and will offer snacks and lunch throughout the day, including organic hotdogs and the Gardening for the Bays traditional sandwich, organic havarti cheese, sprouts, tomato and cucumber.

The James Farm preserve is at 30048 Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View. For more information, go to www.inlandbays.org.