The backyard of the Ross property was adorned with potted Japanese maple trees, Venus flytraps, papyrus and a variety of other plants during the Hobby Greenhouse Club plant sale May 29-30. The sale raised money for the club’s charitable programs, including a $1,000 scholarship awarded to one Cape Fear Community College horticulture student each year.
Don Butzin, the club’s former president, said the sale also supports a $500 horticulture scholarship at Brunswick Community College and a Brunswick 4-H plant identification competition. Last year, the club sponsored a field trip to Airlie Gardens for kindergarteners at Snipes Elementary School.
Dutzin said the tri-annual fundraising day is a fun event for the Hobby Greenhouse Club members.
“We get our hands dirty,” he said. “We have fun with it.”
The sale was also kid friendly. Children wandered through the plants and spoke with vendors.
“It keeps the children distracted while parents shop,” Dutzin said.
Elaine and David Rahimi were among the vendors.
“We’ve been in the same spot for a long time so we’ve grown a lot of plants through the years,” Elaine Rahimi said. Rahimi’s 30 years of gardening experience were evident in the lilies and bromeliads, also known as ice plants, lined up by her table.
“The ice plant stays low to the ground and looks great in rock gardens,” she said.
Bruce Baldwin strayed away from traditional flower pots. He planted his bromeliads in a ladle and a piece of driftwood and hung them up high.
“He’s really creative,” Rahimi said.
She is also partial to butterfly ginger lilies.
“They’re very, very fragrant,” she said. “They start blooming a little late and they keep blooming until frost.”
For gardeners who want a more subtle smell, Rahimi recommends fragrant day lilies.
“When you get a bed full of them, you can really smell it and it’s nice,” she said.
The Rahimis have been involved in the garden club for 10 years.
“The years fly by,” Rahimi said.
David Rahimi enjoys growing water hyacinths.
“I have an in-ground pool that I converted to a rain water reservoir and the whole pool was full of them,” David Rahimi said.
The Rahimis raised $2,600 for the club during the April 10-12 plant sale.
“That sale coincided with the Azalea Festival,” Rahimi said. “The whole club made over $14,000.”
Several gardeners brought edible plants — like basil and thyme — to sell. Other tables featured giant elephant ears and tomato plants. Jasmine irises and water hyacinth floated in a black plastic pool outside the entrance of the greenhouse. Purple foxglove blooms and red hibiscus flowers added splashes of color among the greenery.
The next Hobby Greenhouse Club plant sale is planned for Sept. 11-12. For more information, call 910-392-9486 or visit www.hobbygreenhouseclub.org
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