Stephen F. Austin State University's Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Gardens will host its annual Garden Gala Day Plant Sale and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., in historic Nacogdoches.
The sale will feature a variety of hard-to-find, "Texas-tough" plants, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs and trees with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly selections, as well as exclusive Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ introductions. The featured plants are extensively trialed before being offered to the public and are produced by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Gardens staff members and volunteers.
This popular event benefits the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Mast Arboretum, the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden and Gayla Mize Garden, along with educational programs hosted monthly at the gardens. Educational programs provided at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Gardens reach more than 15,000 participants annually.
The Earth Day celebration features educational booths and activities for kids of all ages, including yoga and tree ID hikes, free local food, a drum circle and more.
The outdoor festival is sponsored by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Gardens, the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, The Environmental Awareness Movement student organization and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Campus Sustainability Committee. The celebration is an opportunity for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students and the Nacogdoches community to join in furthering the vision of a sustainable campus and community.
Parking will be available at the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, 2428 Raguet St., and visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon for their plants.
For more information and a list of available plants, call (936) 468-4129 or visit two weeks before the sale.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!