Guernsey Press

Giant Plant Sale pulls in big crowd

QUEUES of green-fingered islanders lined the gardens of Sausmarez Manor as people awaited entry to the annual Giant Plant Sale.

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At the Plant Heritage Giant Plant Sale at Sausmarez Manor were three generations of the Marsh family, Marion Marsh (left) and Sam Marsh (right) with their daughter Laura Harrison, and grandchildren Sophie and Nathan. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 30874302)

Hundreds of different plants, vegetables and herbs were on offer and a plant doctor was on hand to answer any questions.

Some keen visitors had arrived up to an hour before opening time, pitching chairs and enjoying the sunshine.

‘We come every year,’ said Yvonne Kaill, who managed to find some Canna Lillies.

‘You need to have a big festival of plants like this.'

Also in line was Marianne Mallard, who had arrived one hour before the sale began in order to get a good spot in the queue.

‘This event today is an association of people who just love plants,' she said.

'This is not a commercial thing, and the people here know all about the plants.'

Organisers counted down to the exact minute before allowing the eager plant lovers to flood into the gardens for the event.

Marion Marsh had just returned from last week's Chelsea Flower Show and was hoping to find some interesting vegetables.

‘I have had some problems with seed with the lack of rain,’ she said. ‘I was seeing if there was anything interesting in the vegetable section.’

She and her family go down to the sale every year.

‘It’s a nice day out and the plant doctor is there to chat about things.’