CIB cocktail party May 2 kicks off Gardening for the Bays Native Plant Sale May 3

Festivities start early this year in celebration of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays’ 20th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Gardening for the Bays Native Plant Sale Saturday, May 3.

A special pre-sale cocktail party will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 2, under the tent at the James Farm Ecological Preserve on Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View. Tickets are $30 for the party.

Guests will be treated to delicious bay-centric dishes made by Executive Chef Matt Cornelius of Off the Hook and Just Hooked restaurants and invited to sample a specialty blackberry wheat beer brewed just for this event. There are two varieties of blackberry that are native to the Inland Bays watershed.

Nature Design of Bethany Beach will give guests a sneak peek during the party at a sampling of plants that will be offered at the Native Plant Sale. Guests will have to opportunity to purchase them that night. Another feature of the evening will be a small auction of fun garden-themed items.

To purchase tickets go to inlandbays.org. For more information, contact Jenn Jones at development@inlandbays.org.

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a nonprofit organization established in 1994 to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays and its watershed. With its many partners, the CIB conducts public outreach and education, develops and implements restoration projects, encourages scientific inquiry, and sponsors research.