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Garden in the City Extra: Lurie Garden Plant Sale, Great Way To Go Native

 Plant a piece of the Lurie Garden at home.
Plant a piece of the Lurie Garden at home.
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Facebook/Lurie Garden

DOWNTOWN — Lurie Garden has been something of a leader in the native plant movement, so it's no surprise that its plant sale Saturday is heavy on native varieties, with a particular emphasis on those that support birds and pollinators.

Milkweed, butterfly weed, coneflowers and prairie smoke are among the available plants, as well as a handful of non-native perennials like the "jolly bee" geranium and a number of tomato plants.

Don't know your goatsbeard from your beardtongue? Don't worry, Lurie provides photos and handy descriptions online of each plant for sale, so you can pre-shop before you head Downtown. The garden's staff and volunteers will also be on site to answer questions.

Pro tip: Quantities of plants are limited. There's only 10 each of palm sedge and the aforementioned goatsbeard and fewer than two dozen of several other varieties.

The sale opens to the general public at 10 a.m., but members are given an hour's head start at 9 a.m. Not saying there's going to be a Lilly Pulitzer for Target-like rush on the palm sedge, but if you have your heart set on one, plan accordingly.

Prices range from $5 to $15 per plant; cash and check only accepted as payment.

The event lasts until 3 p.m. and also includes a special lecture on "A Butterfly's Life" at 11 a.m. The talk is free but registration is required.

Lurie Garden is located off Monroe Street, between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. The plant sale will be held in the walking plaza west of the garden.

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