RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Billed as a “Plant Sale Extravaganza,” the event lived up to its name as the River Valley Garden Club opened for business in the RMA Building parking lot on May 10.

Vice President Nancy Compton said it was challenging to estimate attendance.

“But it was packed from the moment we opened until about noon, when the pace slowed a bit,” she said.

Nearly 100 people purchased Garden Stroll tickets to tour six private gardens alongside the plant sale.

“The gardens this year were spectacular, each with a unique focus showing the creativity and dedication of the homeowners,” Compton said. “The feedback from the homeowners and garden strollers was over the top.”

Each garden also showcased a local artist, who displayed pottery, jewelry and woodturnings. Artwork in watercolor, acrylic and fabric was also on display.

Some of the most popular items at the sale included annuals, succulents, Japanese maples, and tomato and pepper plants. The event, held the day before Mother’s Day, saw the floral arrangements crafted by the club’s design team fly off the shelves. The sale also featured a raffle for a garden cart filled with garden-themed items, two tables of garden décor, and consultations with master gardeners.

 A unique attraction was an instructional table where children could make a Mother’s Day gift while their parents shopped.

“We believe that we are the only garden club anywhere that includes this special component for our families,” Compton said.

Compton praised everyone who contributed to the event.

“An event of this scope takes a prodigious number of dedicated volunteers, including the six homeowners who opened their lovely gardens to visitors, our many generous sponsors, the RMA Maintenance Department that helped with logistics, and over 50% of the club members who participated in a multitude of ways to ensure the success of this event,” she said.

The plant sale and garden tour served as the club’s major fundraiser for the year. All proceeds supported scholarships for horticulture students and grants for community projects.

More information about the club is available on its website: rivervalleygardenclub.net.