Report on the Muscatine Spring Plant Sale - May 6th
Last Saturday’s Spring Plant Sale at the Muscatine Environmental Learning Center, which we shared with the Muscatine Master Gardeners and the Muscatine Garden Club, was a great success for many reasons. First, Discovery Park Shelter #2 was a much better place to hold the sale than the shelter that we’ve used in previous years. Second, there were lots of interested buyers, so many so that few plants were left unsold by noon. Third, an estimated 30-35 CVIDS members brought super plants for sale, and everyone pitched in with the chores, making it easy. Fourth, CVIDS members had an excellent opportunity to chat with the avid gardeners in the MMG and MGC. Last but not least, the weather committee did a pretty fine job. We enjoyed lots of sunshine and warmth, even though the breeze was at times a little cool for some of us. Many thanks to all of you who took part in the Sale and to Lyle for the photos shown here. A special “Thank You” goes to Heather Harroun, who worked with Deb Bentley, CVIDS member and president of the Muscatine Garden Club, and with the president of the Muscatine Master Gardeners Club to bring about this exciting new event.

The unsold plants were taken to Iowa City and donated to Altrusa International of Iowa City, whose plant sale is next weekend. Altrusa International of Iowa City is a 100-year-old chapter of Altrusa International. Their mission is to improve the lives of women and children through advocacy and support of literacy. They support a variety of community endeavors and provide scholarships to female high school graduates pursuing a college education. Other projects that they have supported are Habitat for Humanity, Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Iowa City Public Library Foundation, Little Free Libraries, support of students gaining their GED through Kirkwood Community College, book donations, Shelter House, and many other worthy community endeavors. They have partnered with UNESCO in one of our most rewarding programs, supporting and funding Little Free Libraries in the Iowa City community.