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Garden events feature heirlooms, native plants and much more By Rhonda Nowak Apr 24, 2022 12:15 AM A A This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his buttery fingers… – Mary Oliver, “Peonies” in “New and Selected Poems,” 2004 Mary Oliver (1935-2019) is an award-winning poet whose work was inspired by nature. She is a poet for all garden enthusiasts because she captures the minute details of plants through close observation and then transforms her sharp insights into beautiful, flowing language. In “Peonies,” one of my favorite poems by Oliver, I imagine her rising early to greet the flowers and then lingering in the garden, watching: “… and they open — pools of lace, white and pink — and all day the black ants climb over them … craving the sweet sap…” Oliver’s poem reminds us to “cherish our humble and silky life,” and I agree that one of the best ways to do that is to spend long periods of time gazing at peonies, and plants in general. This week, I want to share some opportunities to do just that at upcoming plant sales and garden tours in our area. After experiencing a dearth of garden-related events during the past two years, I’m all the more grateful for an opportunity to see what other plant growers have been up to. Mark your calendar, gardeners! You can gaze at peonies and many other heritage plants at the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s annual Heritage Plant Sale, happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 30 and May 1, at historic Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, Central Point. (I recommend getting there Saturday because plants sell quickly.) SOHS will offer more than 40 varieties of plants that have been growing for decades at the farm, including lilacs, peonies, irises and asters. Pollinator-friendly, native, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant plants will be for sale, as well as a variety of heirloom tomatoes. Up for raffle is a gorgeous framed succulent garden. Admission to the SOHS Heritage Plant Sale is free. For more information, visit www.sohs.org. Fry Family Farm will host its first annual Plant Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on two weekends: April 30 and May 1, as well as May 7 and 8 at Fry Family Farm, 2184 Ross Lane in Medford. The Frys have joined up with Runnymede Farm, Abby Lane Farm, The English Lavender Farm, Siskiyou Seeds and other local growers to offer a huge variety of annual and perennial flower, herb and vegetable plants and seeds. Food and drinks will also be for sale. The Frys have provided local, organically grown produce since 1990. Their Community Supported Agriculture program provides members with seasonal produce each week throughout the growing season. Fry Family Farm was recently featured in a documentary series called “Farm to Families,” which can be viewed on their website. Admission to the plant fair is free. For more information, visit www.fryfamilyfarm.org . Pollinator Project Rogue Valley will have a Native Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at The Pollination Place, 312 N. Main St, in Phoenix. A large variety of native plants and seeds will be offered for sale by Pollinator Project, Klamath Siskiyou Native Seeds, Jackson County Master Gardener Association, Klamath Native Plant Nursery and Dry Earth Nursery. Pollinator Project Rogue Valley is a volunteer-led organization working to “inspire, engage and educate about the ecological importance of wild pollinator species and the diverse native plant communities essential for their survival.” While you’re at the plant sale, take a self-guided tour of the pollinator garden on the premises. Admission to the plant sale is free. Parking is limited, so be prepared to walk a block or two to get there. Be sure to check out the list of native plants for sale that will best fit your growing conditions. The list and more information about the sale can be found at www.pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org . (The list will be available April 24.) Plant perusing doesn’t have to involve purchasing. The Soroptimist International of North Valley group will host its 2022 Gardens for Good garden tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14. The self-guided tour will feature 8 beautiful gardens in Medford, Talent and Ashland. Some of the gardens were featured on the Soroptimist’s virtual tour in 2020, so here’s your chance to see them in person. Proceeds from the tour will fund Soroptimist projects and scholarships that assist local women in achieving their educational and career goals. The cost of each garden tour ticket is $20. Tickets can be purchased from May 1 to 13 at any Rogue Valley Grange Co-op or the Blue Door Garden Store in Jacksonville. Tickets will be available on the day of the tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Roxy Ann Winery. For more information, visit www.soroptimistinnorthvalley.com/ . The Family Nurturing Center of Medford’s Farm and Food Program will host reserved tours of The Bard’s Garden from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 27, June 10, June 17, and June 24 at Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, in Central Point. The Bard’s Garden is filled with flowers, herbs, vegetables, berry bushes and orchard trees mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. The Bard’s Garden is part of the FNC’s Farm and Food Program, which provides organically grown food for local families in need. As an FNC volunteer, I established and have maintained the garden for six years. Donations for self-guided garden tours help support FNC’s farm program. An optional English tea for two is available. Reservations are required. For more information and to reserve a tour, visit www.literarygardener.com . Rhonda Nowak is a Rogue Valley gardener, teacher, and writer. She is the founder and gardener of The Bard’s Garden at Hanley Farm in Central Point. Learn more at www.literarygardener.com, and email Rhonda at [email protected].