It’s that magical time of the year again: we’re gearing up for the annual Rockway Gardens Plant & Bulb Sale!

 

This member-favourite event has long been a highlight on GardenKitchener’s calendar, withstanding numerous challenges over the years, including extreme weather events and pandemic restrictions. While tweaks to its format have been made here and there, the essence of the sale always remains the same: it’s an exciting way to discover unique spring bulbs and plants, while supporting our local horticultural community! Learn everything you need to know about this year’s event here.

In case you missed it, the glorious weather and splendid selection made last year’s sale one to remember. The sheer number of attendees (both members and non-members alike) resulted in the event selling out in record time! We were thrilled with the overall popularity of the sale, but the increase in numbers highlighted a need for us to make some adjustments.

 

Allow us to shed some light on why the Rockway Gardens Plant & Bulb Sale is so significant and unique…

 

Each year, the Rockway Gardens team designs a stunning new spring bulb display that incorporates a wonderful variety of tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, and other unique bulbs, including many that are not commonly found in local nurseries. This approach allows GardenKitchener to promote horticultural awareness by showcasing the expertise of the Rockway Gardens team, and educating the local community about the wonder of plant diversity.

Once the spring bulbs have finished blooming, it’s time to make room in the beds for the upcoming summer designs. With limited storage capacity, the Rockway Gardens staff gather up all of the viable bulbs, and prepare them to be sold to members of the community. The goal is to clear out as many surplus bulbs as possible to create space for next year’s new varieties.

The sale also offers a delightful selection of plants, including vegetables and perennials that have been grown by the Rockway team. Similar to the bulbs, these are surplus plants that the team needs to sell in order to make space for the summer displays. It’s a great place to stumble upon a hidden gem that will add an extra touch of magic to your garden!

It’s important to note that the bulbs that make up the annual sale are not purchased for the intention of reselling. They are sourced specifically for Rockway’s displays. Because of this, the quantities of each bulb vary depending on how they were used in the garden designs, and the number that survived the season.

Volunteers work hard every year to assign purchase limits for the sale that balance two goals: ensuring as many people as possible have an opportunity to purchase the bulbs they want, and guaranteeing that all of the bulbs will ultimately sell (to open up necessary storage space).

 

Every year we learn something new to make the next year’s sale even better.

 

This year, we’ve taken a lot of feedback into account and have incorporated additional bulb purchase limits. We can’t guarantee that every attendee will walk away with their favourite bulb in hand, but we hope it will help as many people as possible enjoy the sale, while still meeting our goal of seeing every bulb find a loving home.

We’re also (re)introducing a ticketing system to make wait times easier and reduce long line-ups. Starting at 7:30 a.m., GardenKitchener members will be invited to collect a numbered ticket, marking their place in line. Entry to the sale will happen in staggered batches, starting at 9:00 a.m. Non-members will be invited to collect a numbered ticket starting at 10:30 a.m.

 

So Mark your Calendars: The 2024 Rockway Gardens Plant & Bulb Sale, presented by GardenKitchener, is scheduled for Saturday, May 25th!

 

To make your experience as enjoyable as possible, remember to:

  • Arrive early to secure your number and position in line!
  • Be open-minded: there’s a wonderful variety of breathtaking bulbs to choose from!
  • Keep in mind that the sale’s popularity is a testament to the support and enthusiasm of the GardenKitchener community! A successful sell-out in 2024 means another spectacular bulb display in 2025!

Stay tuned over the coming weeks for more details. We can hardly wait!