This popular free event is the Indiana Native Plant Society’s biggest fundraiser and our most effective way to reach the public. It takes place annually on the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
2020 Native Plant Sale & Auction
“Garden for Wildlife!”
Saturday, May 9, 2020
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
NEW LOCATION!
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Warehouse
3655 East Raymond Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203
Schedule
9:30 a.m. Pre-sale presentation (NO LATE SEATING, PLEASE). Fee $10 (payable at the door); the fee entitles ticket holders to hear the talk, begin shopping 15 minutes before the general public, and receive a $10 discount on any auction purchase.
10:00 a.m. Plant sale and book sale open to ticket holders from pre-sale presentation.
10:15 a.m. Plant sale and book sale open to the public.
11:15 a.m. Live auction begins and continues until every general sale plant is sold (about 12:30 p.m.).
Sign Up to Volunteer for This Event
Download a Flyer to Post in Your Neighborhood
Print Handouts for Your Local Garden Event
The KIB Warehouse is on the southeast side of Indianapolis, near the intersection of East Raymond Street and Sherman Drive. On mapping software, the spot is labeled with the old owners, Majestic360.
What to Expect
Watch a Video about the Plant Sale & Auction
The Saturday morning of the sale, people line up to get in, many carrying bags and boxes in which to spirit away their treasures. When the doors burst open at 10:15 a.m., their behavior resembles a swarm of locusts. Admission is free.
Tables around the room carry native plants in all sizes of containers, individually priced, and organized by whether they need shade or sun. INPS volunteers are on hand to answer questions and tally up the takings. Refreshments are available for a nominal fee.
Shoppers can also browse the Book Sale for handbooks and references on native plant gardening. A portion of the proceeds goes to INPS.
When the auction commences, competition for the rarest specimens can be heated. As INPS’ erstwhile auctioneer Rolland Kontak used to say, “There are no friends at an auction!”
The best part of the auction is learning about all the native plants you never heard of but just gotta have! Each auction plant is introduced by volunteer experts (thank you Hilary Cox, Kevin Tungesvick, and Sue Nord Peiffer, who have played this role for years) while the auctioneer keeps things under control. The action winds down by about 12:30 p.m. with leftover sale plants auctioned off table by table.
Between shopping and learning, the INPS Plant Sale & Auction makes for a day well spent.
Pre-Sale Presentation
The Plant Sale & Auction is preceded by a 30-minute talk on a topic related to gardening with native plants (e.g., rain gardening, attracting pollinators, landscaping for birds, invasive plants). The nominal fee for this presentation entitles you to enter the sale 15 minutes before the official opening, plus gives you an offsetting credit on your auction purchases.
Sue Nord Peiffer gives expert testimony on the merits of auction plants.
Where the Plants Come From
Many native plant sale items are donated by individuals and local nurseries specializing in native plants. Others have been rescued by INPS volunteers from natural areas that are undergoing development.
Let us know which plants you intend to donate
Donations may be dropped off at the venue the Friday evening before the sale between 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. or the morning of the sale between 7:00 and 9:30 a.m. They will be sorted and priced by volunteers. Clear labels are appreciated! The best specimens and rarest plants are set aside for the auction.
Commercial operations wishing to sponsor or donate to the sale should contact plantsale@indiananativeplants.org by April 1.
