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Armed with wagons, bins and wheelbarrows, thousands of gardening buffs flocked to the 27th annual Paul Martin Perennial Plant Sale at Jackson Park on Saturday to gather an array of botanical treasures.
The enticing deals and unique plant selections had eager attendees lining up hours before the doors opened at 8 a.m. to guarantee first dibs.
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“It’s like Christmas morning,” said James Chacko, executive director of parks and facilities for the City of Windsor.
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Chacko said some people even began queuing up as early as 5:15 a.m. for the sale, which featured a variety of annuals, herbs, vegetables, tropical plants, perennials and shrubs.
By the time Chacko arrived around 7 a.m., he said there was “already a lineup well past Catholic Central High School,” which is about a five-minute walk down the road.
He counted more than 1,670 people at the event, but said nearly 1,000 flooded into the greenhouse within the first 40 minutes of opening.
Last year’s plant sale — the first at the new greenhouse facility on the edge of Jackson Park — drew around 1,200 people.
“You could see people running towards some plants,” he said.
“I think you always get those people who really have their eye on a certain plant or tree. It’s a great event that just gets everybody excited for spring.”
Fifty volunteers from the Windsor parks and recreation department were on standby to assist gardeners of all skill levels.
“It’s just another really nice way for people to come out and engage with the horticulture staff,” said Chacko.
“I think we probably have almost a thousand years’ worth of experience and knowledge in the building today.”
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Chacko said city gardeners have been busy growing plant material over the last couple of months in preparation for the popular annual sale.
“We haven’t really increased our prices over the years,” he said.
“So I think people have the opportunity to get good deals on some unique plants that you’re not otherwise going to be able to find.”
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This was the second year the sale was held at the new greenhouse at Jackson Park. The city shut down the former facility at Lanspeary Park in 2022.
“Lanspeary was home to this department for years and years and was beloved, but it’s such a big difference being in a nice, new, modern space,” said Chacko.
“The greenhouse is twice the size of the yard. For events like this, it make things so much easier for people to move around and it certainly makes life much easier for all the gardeners every day that are here working and growing the plants and taking care of the tropicals that everybody loves to see.”
All funds raised from the plant sale go towards the Paul Martin Garden at Willistead Park.
Chacko said the horticulture team has been busy crafting this year’s garden design, with plans to begin planting sometime in the next couple of weeks.
mmazak@postmedia.com
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