Thousands of plants to be available at Plant Fair

MOUNT VERNON - All hands are on deck this week as the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation prepares for Saturday, when 10,000 plants will be available for purchase at the Plant Fair at the Skagit County Fairgrounds.

This 32nd event features an expanded plant selection, educational sessions, a plant clinic, free tool sharpening, small-animal displays by Skagit 4-H, live music and 70 vendors - 20 more than last year.

It will run 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free admission and parking.

All of the plants to be offered are propagated, grown or tended by the master gardeners in local gardens.

Featured plants include 54 tomato varieties chosen for climate suitability and quality. Also available are vegetable plants, herbs, flowers, shrubs, trees, berries and native plants.

Vendors will offer garden accessories, gifts and plants. There will also be five food trucks on site, serving everything from sweet treats to full meals.

Master gardener Kari Ranten said she expects the event to draw about 3,500 visitors.

"People come year over year," Ranten said. "They look forward to it, they mark their calendar for it ... I was chatting with people in line, and one woman said, 'This is the only holiday I celebrate - Plant Fair Day.'"

Every week, the master gardeners tend to the Washington State University Skagit County Master Gardeners Discovery Garden west of Mount Vernon. This week is no different, except everyone is extra busy.

"It's high anxiety," said master gardener Debbie Lassiter. "There's so much going on, but we're really organized this year ... This group is the best at volunteering. It really is."

Ranten agreed and said the event is worth the amount of work put into it.

"Once the doors open, the joy of all of that is just incredible," Ranten said. "The customers are happy, the master gardeners are happy. The plants are happy."

Ranten said she recommends that visitors bring a wagon or a wheelbarrow for transporting goods.

"It's a logistical lift to get 10,000 plants from here and other locations to the fairgrounds," Ranten said. "But it's a well‑oiled machine. It's pretty amazing."

For more information about the Plant Fair, visit skagitmg.org/home/events/plant-fair.

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