MGC Plant Sale Recap

88th Annual
Maplewood Garden Club Plant Sale
May 2025

This Spring the Maplewood Garden Club held its 88th Annual Plant Sale at the Maplewood Community Pool on May 8, 9, and 10.  MGC members braved the beautiful sunshine, rain (Friday), and cool Spring temps to provide the community yet another successful MGC Plant Sale. 

The annual plant sale is the only fundraiser held by MGC each year, offering exceptional plant material, the unusual or rare plants and below market prices to the gardening community.  The funds raised enable us to generate the resources that support the ongoing projects and activities donated to the Township, some of which include: Scholarships to Columbia High School Seniors, Rutgers University Students, and Township employees for continuing education programs at Rutgers University; the Dickens Village Conservatory; the Durand-Hedden herb garden; the Hilton Rain Garden; Maplewood Library book donations; Maplewood Township greenhouses; the Memorial Garden behind Town Hall; holiday decorations at the railroad station and on various municipal buildings; and numerous gardens around town.

The Club has long term relationships with some of the best growers in the country,  under the guidance of expert and master gardeners, dedicated volunteers begin potting-up bare root perennials in mid-winter, nurturing them in the MGC nursery garden cold frames and municipal greenhouses.

Here Comes Sunshine

As usual, Thurs- day’s sales boomed, but the cool, rainy day on Friday slowed things down quite a bit. Thank goodness—the sun and warm weather returned on Saturday, and with it the shoppers!

None of this would have been possible without the true dedication of my team members that worked for many months behind the scenes to make sure that this three day Pop-up Garden Center would all run smoothly.

Kathy Kohlman -Treasurer
Bill Kohlman – Facilities Manager
Joanne Beckerich – Seedling, Cutting, Caladium, Setup, & Layout Designer
Laura Nial – Bare-root & Perennial Queen
David Nial – Tropical Propagation
Christina Ainge – Cash Boss
Judy Cronin -Cash Boss & After-Sale Host 
Diane Collins – Graphic Design
Dennis Cronin – Van Plant Transportation, & After-Sale Host
Liz Demkin – Coleus Propagation, Mother’s Day Baskets, Cacti & Box Lady
Jennifer Richardson – Coleus Propagation
Karen Donovan – Meals for Volunteers & Social Media Influencer
Maria Mulkern – Meals for Volunteers
Veronica Demkin – Basket Lady
Penelope Demkin – Basket Lady
Aleeda Crawley – After-Sale Manager