Dreaming of the Library Plant Sale

Plant Sale Sign at the Bethel Library

I think many of us are relieved to see green hues and warmer temperatures finally back. For me, the signs of spring I always count on in Bethel are peepers, ice cream being served on the porch again at the Sugar Shack, and the planning of the Library Plant Sale! Now with all three of these occurring, we must be past the gray and cold of winter.

  This year, the Library Plant Sale will be Saturday, June 7th, in the yard next to the Library on Broad Street. It is one of my favorite mornings of the year as people begin to gather almost an hour before the sale begins to save their spot and maybe daydream about what they may find. I am always impressed with the hardiness of our Western Maine neighbors and this continues to be the case on Plant Sale Day. Two years ago, my first year helping with the sale, it simply downpoured the whole time. But the line was still out, and the sale was a success! Like our garden plants, our community shows up each spring again and again. 

Not only does the sale celebrate the season but of course the proceeds support our non-profit library. Did you know that about 70% of our funding comes from private and business donations? Truly a community enterprise. 

Plants can be donated to the sale starting on June 6th, or reach out, and I will happily come dig them up from your garden. Tags to identify the plant and its habits are at the library. I hope you will join us to kick on the summer on June 7th!

By Eliza Hazen, Bethel Library Trustee