Don’t ‘box in’ your garden’s potential

This weekend’s plant sale offers local expertise and homegrown value

Jacqueline Lamar sent a photo of her flowers blooming in her Jacksonville front yard on Snap Jax.

St. Augustine, Fl – This Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, the St. Johns County Extension hosts a plant sale that’s more than just a shopping trip—it’s an opportunity to grow smarter.

Unlike the big-box garden aisles, where plants are often trucked in from out of state and selected for mass appeal (not necessarily local success), this sale features locally grown plants hand-picked for Northeast Florida’s climate. From landscape plants and veggie seedlings to Florida-friendly natives and handmade garden art, everything for sale has been nurtured by trained Master Gardeners who know what thrives here—and what doesn’t.

Big retailers may dominate in volume, but when it comes to value and plant performance, this weekend’s sale wins hands-down. You’ll get research-based advice straight from UF/IFAS experts, plus access to free workshops, soil information, and tours of the Demonstration Gardens.

It’s personalized guidance you won’t find at a chain store—and proceeds support the very volunteers who make our gardening community stronger. Stop by Friday or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and bring your garden questions—you’ll leave with answers and better plants.

The UF/IFAS St. Johns County Extension Office is located at: 3125 Agricultural Center Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32092


About the Author
Mark Collins headshot

After covering the weather from every corner of Florida and doing marine research in the Gulf, Mark Collins settled in Jacksonville to forecast weather for The First Coast.

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