Gila Native Plant Nursery to have spring plant sale April 3-4

Contributed Article

SAFFORD – Landscape your yard with native plants! Plant your own pollinator garden or plant the ultimate, carefree desert landscape with cacti & succulents.

On Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, The Gila Native Plant Nursery will have native plants for sale to the public, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Hundreds of native and drought-tolerant plants will be available for purchase, including a variety of native desert trees, cacti succulents, native grasses, and pollinator plants. “We will have some plant varieties that we haven’t offered before, so make sure you come see what’s new,” said Steve Plath, Gila Native Plant Nursery Manager.

The plant sale will take place at the Circle D Ranch in EAC Discovery Park at 1651 W. Discovery Park Blvd. in Safford. “We have moved the location from the greenhouse in Discovery Park to the Circle D Ranch to provide more space and better parking options,” said Melanie Tluczek, GWP Executive Director. “We will also have face painting, snow cones provided by The Shiver Shack, and other fun activities.”

As part of this year’s plant sale, we are also offering an exclusive pre-sale event on Thursday, April 2, for supporters who have donated to the Gila Watershed Partnership at the $100 level or above. Those members will have the opportunity to view and purchase plants at a 10 percent discount while enjoying music, hors d’oeuvres, and sparkling cider in the old-time ranch atmosphere. Steve and Julie Plath will be available to provide personalized consultations on planting and care. If you are interested in joining the GWP membership program at $100 or above to be eligible for this special pre-sale event, contact Julie Davis at (928) 424-3886 or julie@gwpaz.org. We would also like to thank our sponsors, Sorensen Financial and Anneta Smith of Tierra Antiqua Realty for their generous support.

The Gila Native Plant Nursery was established in 2013 to help provide native plants and trees for habitat restoration. The nursery has grown to provide contract grows for clients requiring specific plants, and also provides southeast Arizona residents with a local source of native plants, including pollinator and low-water-use species. Along with the Gila Watershed Partnership, their founding partners, the Bureau of Land Management – Safford Field Office and Eastern Arizona College Discovery Park continue to provide significant and ever-present support. To learn more about the Gila Native Plant Nursery, go to www.gwpaz.org/nursery.

For questions or more information, contact Steve Plath at (928) 424-3886 or steve.plath@gwpaz.org. All proceeds from the plant sale help support the Gila Watershed Partnership.

How to get there: Enter the EAC Discovery Park Campus at the south end of 20th Avenue in Safford. Drive up the hill, through the parking lot and cross the railroad track. Drive down the hill, past the greenhouse. Turn right after greenhouse and follow the dirt road all the way to the Circle D Ranch House.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered at Eastern Arizona Discovery Park Campus, The Gila Watershed Partnership (GWP) is a boots-on-the-ground, field-based conservation organization. GWP confronts issues in the Upper Gila Watershed that include polluted rivers, soil erosion, invasive weeds, loss of habitat, drought, fire, and flooding. GWP works with diverse partners to implement projects that direct resources to the root of these issues while employing and purchasing locally to benefit the economy and community.