Kay Rado offered a simple explanation about why she visited the Wildwood Garden Club’s plant sale on May 17.
“You can never have too many plants,” said Rado, who lives in Chester Township.
Rado and other gardening enthusiasts had plenty of items to choose from during the club’s annual plant sale, which took place from 1 to 3 p.m. at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor.
The event featured a variety of perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees.
“Everything is out of our club members’ gardens,” said Cindi Baker, who is co-chairwoman of the group’s Ways and Means Committee. “So (buyers) will be getting really good, healthy stock that has been loved and taken care of.”
The plant sale is a longtime tradition for Wildwood Garden Club, which was established in 1984. Rado said this year’s sale marked the first time she’s attended the event.
“I’m just excited to get some new things for my garden,” she said.
Kay Rado, standing, pays for plants that she purchased at the Wildwood Garden Club plant sale on May 17. Helping her complete the transaction are, seated from left, club members Karen Ferguson and Joan Korenko. The event took place at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald)
Rado ended up purchasing three plants: a clematis, yarrow and coneflower.
“They are all very hardy plants,” she said. “They like our clay soil and they all like the sun.”
Shoppers inspect plants at the Wildwood Garden Club plant sale on May 17. The event, which featured a wide variety of perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees, took place at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald)
Since the sale is held in a single room at Wildwood Cultural Center, the club can only admit a limited number of customers at a time. Throughout the May 17 event, a line of people formed outside an entrance to Wildwood, waiting for other people to finish their shopping so they could go into the sale.
One area family that came to the event consisted of Cory McGirr, his wife Samantha, and their 6-year-old daughter Isabella. The McGirrs live in Madison Township.
“We just love looking at nice plants and trying to grow our garden,” Cory said.
The McGirrs purchased mini hostas, tall phlox, lamb’s ear and a hydrangea.
Baker said the Wildwood Garden Club tries to add some new aspects to the sale each year to keep it interesting for customers. For the 2026 event, the organization sold teacup succulents and raffled off a gift basket that contained “garden products, seeds and many other garden treasures,” according to a Facebook post.
The club uses proceeds from the plant sale to fund its programs and activities. In addition, the club sometimes makes financial donations to other nonprofit organizations.
