The proceeds from CHS plant auctions in the spring and fall help support annual scholarships for horticulture students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Preparing for the 2013 Spring Plant Auction
by Leslie Shields

As the spring plant auction approaches and you start to dig plantlets from your garden and solicit them from neighborhood nurseries, please consider the following:

* Please prepare donations early so they can adjust to life in their pots. Notice I said “pots.” Problems can arise when plants arrive in paper cups, plastic bags and food containers. One difficulty is that the plant does not look like it is worth much. Also, there is a greater chance that soil will be spilled. We do not want to wear out our welcome at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon, where the auction will be held.

* Resist the urge to make small divisions. A couple of substantial plants will bring higher prices than many small ones. If you find yourself with lots of babies of a particular garden plant, perhaps you are not alone. Such a plant may not easily find a home.

* Think creatively. The auction is the Friday before Mother’s Day, which is an opportunity to make something special of donations. Consider giving your plants a nice container or basket or any treatment that might transform it into a gift. Judy King, a frequent donor of plants from her Farmington garden, led us in that direction with several treasures that sold well last spring. It would be lovely to have some unique items this spring.

* Ask your local nursery to donate to the auction. Remind nursery owners that donations are tax deductible and a good way to advertise to our members. Get or create a list of donated plants along with the nursery’s name and address so it can receive the proper credit.

* Pitch in. We always need volunteers to help set up and take down chairs and tables, receive, mark and display the plants, deliver plants to bidders, and clean up. Doors open at 5 p.m. for volunteers.

* If you are donating plants, plan to arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. Please provide a list of your donated plants, along with your name and address.

* Most important, join us at the auction and help grow the CHS scholarship fund that supports horticultural students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Fall Auction Report
by Leslie Shields

What would we do without our auctioneers? Kevin Wilcox of Silver Spring Nursery in Bloomfield, Chris Koppel of Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, John O’Brien of O’Brien Nurserymen in Granby, Maryanne Gryboski, David Smith and Judy King did a fantastic job of selling, educating and entertaining the plant-o-philes who attended the fall plant auction Sept. 21, 2012, at the Tolland County Agricultural Center (TAC) in Vernon.

Donations from the nurseries listed above, as well as from Gilbertie’s Herbs of Westport, Junkis Farms in East Windsor, Twombly Nursery of Monroe, Woodward Greenhouses of Chaplin, Hop River Nursery of Bolton, White Flower Farm of Litchfield, Draghi’s of South Glastonbury, Gotta’s Farm and Cider Mill of Portland, Summer Hill Nursery of Madison and Garden Sales of Manchester were greatly appreciated.

In all, $3,490.48 was raised from 63 registered bidders among 84 attendees and will be added to the fund that provides scholarships for students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

CHS members who contributed plants included David Smith, Judy King, Ginny Gingras, Ethel Fried, Elizabeth Morin, John Farrow and Elisabeth and Laurie Werling.

Volunteers involved in collecting donated plants included Joanne Luppi, Fairlee Latawic and especially the “digging with David (Smith)” group headed by Nancy Brennick and including Joan Stubenrauch, Lynn Donnelly, Kathy Donahue and Pat Murawski.

Volunteers helping with the pricing of the donations for the sale table included Fairlee Latawic, Phyllis Greene, Joanne Luppi and Ginny Gingras.
Cashiers included Phyllis Clark and our new treasurer, Christine Pane. Karen Ellsworth provided the food. Betty Gehris, Judy King and Lynn Cavo recorded bid prices.

We also must thank Richard Kuzmak for providing the charge machine, Ginny Gingras for making sure that we had a working microphone and being a liaison with the TAC, and Pat Jurovaty for taking care of the signs. A big thank-you goes to Sarah Bailey and the Master Gardeners: Linda Kozlaski, Liria Arnedo, Linda Honde and Christine Daly for setting up the hall and breaking it down, some of whom acted as “runners” to deliver the plants to the winning bidders. Other volunteers included Connie Parks, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Carol Mumford, Jackie Granata, Gemma Baker, Elizabeth Morin, Ellen Bender, Donna Bergman and John Farrow.

Final thoughts:
• Please support those businesses that contribute so generously, especially in the current economy.
• Please consider volunteering to help at the spring auction on April 19, 2013, 7 p.m. at the TAC in Vernon. Mark your calendars now for another fun evening.

Bidders’ Bounty: 2012 Spring Auction 
by Leslie Shields

Despite being held later than usual, the spring auction was a success, with a passel of plants, many beautifully potted, being whisked away to new garden homes.

About $4,100 was raised from 88 registered bidders at the May 11 event at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon. Proceeds will help support scholarships for three students at the University of Connecticut and two students at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

 Auction runner Don Lukaszek delivers plants to their new owners. Photo: Colleen Fitzpatrick Michelson

The undertaking would have been impossible but for our many hard-working volunteers. They included Sarah Bailey and the master gardeners, for setting up and breaking down the room; Joanne Luppi and Phyllis Greene, for directing the team of Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Fairlee Latawic, Faith Geist, Carol Mumford, Ken Stubenrauch, Nancy Brennick and Richard Kuzmak as they managed plant donations; Bob Mallory and master gardeners, for delivering plants to bidders; Fairlee Latawic and Sarah Bailey, for tracking bid amounts; Fran Schoell, Joanne Luppi and Phyllis Clark, for cashiering; Karen Ellsworth for feeding the crew; and countless other volunteers.

Our wonderful auctioneers were Kevin Wilcox of Silver Spring Nursery in Bloomfield and Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, who also donated plants, and Maryanne Gryboski and Bob Shipman. David Smith and Judy King auctioned treasures from their gardens, as well.

Other contributing nurseries included Garden Sales, The Plant Group, Cricket Hill, Meadow View Farm, Camp’s Greenhouse, and Agway of Southington. As you shop this season, please remember to support the nurseries who donated so generously to this important fundraiser. 

Finally, I’d like to thank the many bidders who helped make the event a success. I hope to see you at the fall auction Sept. 21at TAC.

Anne Holcombe (left) and Joan Stubenrauch fill a cart with plants dug from David Smith’s Litchfield garden.  Photo: Ken Stubenrauch 

David Smith pots up plants from his garden with help from (left to right) Fran Schoell, Faith Geist, Joanne Luppi and Donna Eriksen.  Photo: Ken Stubenrauch 

  Steve Totten gets a little “frondly” with his auction find.  Photo: Colleen Fitzpatrick Michelson

The proceeds from CHS plant auctions in the spring and fall help support annual scholarships for horticulture students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Preparing for the 2013 Spring Plant Auction

by Leslie Shields

As the spring plant auction and sale approaches, I’d like to pass along the following requests and suggestions:

* Please prepare donations early so they can adjust to life in their pots. Notice I said “pots.” Problems can arise when plants arrive in paper cups, plastic bags and food containers. One difficulty is that the plant does not look like it is worth much. Also, there is a greater chance that soil will be spilled. We do not want to wear out our welcome at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon, where the auction will be held.

* Resist the urge to make small divisions. A couple of substantial plants will bring higher prices than many small ones. If you find yourself with lots of babies of a particular garden plant, perhaps you are not alone. Such a plant may not easily find a home.

* Think creatively. The auction is the Friday before Mother’s Day, which is an opportunity to make something special of donations. Consider giving your plants a nice container or basket or any treatment that might transform it into a gift. Judy King, a frequent donor of plants from her Farmington garden, led us in that direction with several treasures that sold well last spring. It would be lovely to have some unique items this spring.

* Ask your local nursery to donate to the auction. Remind nursery owners that donations are tax deductible and a good way to advertise to our members. Get or create a list of donated plants along with the nursery’s name and address so it can receive the proper credit.

* Pitch in. We always need volunteers to help set up and take down chairs and tables, receive, mark and display the plants, deliver plants to bidders, and clean up. Doors open at 5 p.m. for volunteers.

* If you are donating plants, plan to arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. Please provide a list of your donated plants, along with your name and address.

* Most important, join us at the auction and help grow the CHS scholarship fund that supports horticultural students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

The 2011 Fall Auction: Dark and Stormy (and Successful)
by Leslie Shields

It was a dark and stormy night, but it was no mystery that those who braved the weather had a good time at the 2011 fall plant auction and bought some fabulous plants.

The Sept. 23 auction at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon netted $3203.06 from 53 bidders and the sale of table plants. The money helps fund CHS scholarships for students at the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

The event turned into a fun and informative evening, thanks to the wit and knowledge of talented auctioneers Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, John O’Brien of O’Brien Nurserymen in Granby, and Kevin Wilcox, owner of Farmington Valley Nursery in Avon. Bill Turell of Garden Sales in Manchester rejoined the group after too long an absence. These generous plantsmen donated not only their time but also many great and unusual plants.

Other businesses that donated  plants included Zen Teks, Kurt Weiss, Tower Farm and Cheshire Nursery, Gotta’s Farm Stand and Draghi’s Farm Stand. Garden Barn provided a gift certificate.

As thoughts now turn to the spring auction on May 11, 2012, at the Tolland County Agricultural Center in Vernon, please

-- support the businesses that contribute so generously to our auctions each year, especially in the current economy; and

-- consider volunteering at and attending the spring auction.

For more information about the plant auctions, e-mail Auction Committee co-chairs Fran Schoell or Leslie Shields at connhort@aol.com.