Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will host its annual Autumn Native Plant Sale on Saturday, September 12 outside of the Visitor Center from 10 am to 3 pm, featuring over 100 species of native trees, grasses, vines, shrubs, and flowering plants. The sale is open to the public, and all proceeds benefit Hawk Mountain’s conservation and education programs.
Native plants available for purchase include asters, goldenrods, milkweeds, coneflowers, brown-eyed susans, and more. Plant sale volunteers will help make the sale enjoyable, educational, and as convenient as possible; they will carry purchases to buyers’ cars, store them until the end of the day’s visit, and offer great gardening tips. Additionally, garden volunteers will be present to help visitors with plant selection and care.
The sale also provides a great reason to explore the Sanctuary’s trails and scenic overlooks, since the Autumn Hawkwatch will be in full swing and migrating hawks can be seen soaring in increasing numbers. Mid-September is the peak of broad-winged hawk migration, Hawk Mountain’s most numerous migrant, so big flights are possible.
While browsing through the sale, Hawk Mountain asks visitors to follow CDC guidelines and other recommendations for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks will be required for entry and only a limited number of shoppers will be let in at a time. Hiking etiquette tips can be found at https://www.hawkmountain.org/visit/visiting-info/admission-hours, along with information about new protocol. Hawk Mountain encourages attendees to purchase advance tickets and bring a copy to the gate, or non-members may pay the trail fee with exact cash. Tickets are sold by week and can be purchased at hawkmountain.ticketleap.com.