Since 1938, the Ridgefield Garden Club has shaped the city’s look and feel through community projects and education.
The club asks the community to support and take part in those efforts by participating in the annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2,at the Greely Building at 304 Pioneer St. in downtown Ridgefield.
The sale will feature native plants, hanging baskets, trees and shrubs, herbs, sun and shade planters, homegrown vegetable and flower starts, indoor plants and more. Proceeds directly support the club’s programs across the community.
“This is also our only fundraiser for the year,” Club Treasurer Mitzi Staker said.
Native plants take center stage
Shoppers can expect one of the largest selections of native plants the club has ever offered, with a strong emphasis on native species that support local ecosystems.
“Native plants provide the exact right nutrition at the exact right time for our native insects, birds and animals,” Staker said. “They have evolved together for thousands of years to create that harmonious dance.”
That connection is especially visible in Ridgefield’s surrounding habitats, such as local parks and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, where animals and insects depend on seasonal plant cycles.
“There’s a bird called the Swainson's thrush,” Staker said. “It migrates far away and comes back in the spring, and the thing that it needs to refuel its body after that long flight, to get ready to mate and have babies, (are) salmon berries. The flight is timed to arrive in the Pacific Northwest just when salmon berries are fruiting.
Beyond ecological benefits, native plants are often easier to care for than imported varieties. They are adapted to local soil, rainfall patterns and temperature swings, reducing the need for irrigation and chemicals.
“It's always better to pick a plant that naturally wants to grow in a place than to try to force something to fit in a place it just doesn't,” Staker said.
For beginners, the club encourages a simple approach: match the plant to the environment and pay attention to soil health and watering habits.
“Too little (water) becomes apparent pretty fast,” Staker said. “You get brown, crispy leaves, and they tend to droop. Too much water can be a little trickier because leaves can droop then, too, but they won't be brown. Stems can get squishy and soft, and the tips of your leaves may yellow. That’s a symptom of overwatering.”
Volunteers will be available throughout the sale to help visitors choose plants suited to their spaces. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos of their yards or gardens for advice.
This year’s selection of native plants will include over 70 unique species. Gardeners looking to support local pollinators and birds can find Oregon grape, considered a keystone species to the Pacific Northwest.
Flowering currants’ pink flowers make the native plant a popular choice for humans and hummingbirds looking for nectar.
“It'll be covered in beautiful little pink chain blossoms,” Staker said. “They’re blooming right now. If you're driving and you see these gorgeous pink blooms on the side of the freeway right now, it's flowering currant.”
Those looking to spruce up their home's interior can also find indoor plants for sale.
A fundraiser with community impact
Beyond spreading native pollinating flowers across the community, the annual plant sale fuels a wide range of projects that shape Ridgefield’s public spaces and environmental efforts.
The club has played a major role in planting and maintaining areas such as Davis Park, where two sets of native plant installations established by the club will soon be turned over to the city for long-term care. Members also maintain downtown planters and hanging baskets, contributing to the city’s appearance.
The club significantly contributes to the city's aesthetics through its planting and maintenance efforts. The club established two sets of native plant installations in downtown Ridgefield’s Davis Park, soon to be transferred to the city for ongoing maintenance. Additionally, members are responsible for maintaining the hanging baskets and planters located throughout the downtown area.
“We also collaborate with the City of Ridgefield to spearhead a program to remove invasive ivy from our parks so that native plant species can return and provide habitat for native insects and wildlife,” Staker said, noting much of the effort takes place in Abrams Park.
The club’s work extends into private spaces through a grant program that helps residents plant natives in their yards.
“We provide up to $200 for them to purchase and install native plants in their own gardens,” Staker said. “We're just starting our third year of offering these grants. I believe that we've done over 40 of these grants to date.”
Education is another growing focus. This year, the club trained dozens of residents to support native mason bees, releasing thousands into the community.
“The mason bees are amazing,” Staker said. “They only live for six weeks, and all they do is pollinate all day.”
New initiatives are also taking root, including an after-school gardening program aimed at local students, reflecting strong demand for hands-on learning. Staker said the club’s partnership with Union Ridge Elementary School has already become a hit.
“There were slots available for the 25 kids, and within two hours, there were kids on the waiting list. That's the demand out there,” she said.
With expanded space at the Greely Building this year, organizers expect turnout to exceed previous years and allow for a broader selection of plants and garden-related items. The club raised over $14,000 at the plant sale in Abrams Park last year, with about 700 to 800 attendees, according to Staker. The club expects over 1,000 attendees for this year’s plant sale.
Readers can learn more about the annual fundraiser and the club’s initiatives at ridgefieldgardeners.org.
