MIDDLEBORO — With the swaths of colorful flowers and plush green leaves on display at the Oak Point Garden Club sale, none could deny that spring had sprung. 

The club celebrated its annual spring plant sale on Saturday, May 11 at the Oak Point 55 and older community in Middleboro. Doors opened at 9 a.m., but there was a line out of the door of the Oak Point Clubhouse room where the sale was held half an hour before, said club president Sue Conant. 

Through these events, Conant hopes to educate visitors about all there is beyond the most popular picks. Hostas, for instance, are a go-to for people— and hungry deer, she said. For that reason, “we’re trying to get people away from them.” 

The majority of the plants at the sale were grown by members, but herbs, annuals and hanging plants were provided by Nessralla Farms in Halifax, the club said. 

Oak Point resident Shirley Gordon scooped up some wild geraniums just before the doors closed. 

Gordon said she loves “anything that blooms” and “doesn’t take a lot of care” and tends to opt for house plants. “The farmer girl comes out of me in the spring, but when the weeds come up I get tired,” she admitted.

Oak Point Garden Club has been running for about twenty years and its 46 members maintain the community’s gardens. 

Proceeds from the spring plant sale go towards the garden club and scholarships that the club provides to Middleboro and Bristol-Plymouth county students looking to continue their education in horticulture or other plant-related fields. The club funds at least two $1500 scholarships per year, said Fundraising Chair Marianne Callahan. 

Above all, Oak Point Garden Club’s mission is to educate, affirmed Conant and Community Improvement Chair Carol Fletcher, who oversees the community gardens at Oak Point.

For those looking to add to their gardens over the summer, the garden club recommends drought-tolerant plants that don’t require a lot of water—  timely advice now that Middleboro’s summer water restrictions are in place. 

These include succulents like sedum and hens and chicks, or flowers like day lilies and irises. 

Conant hopes that the annual plant sale encourages visitors to experiment with new plants and provides an opportunity for them to get guidance on what will work in their yard.