Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens adopts Kentucky Derby theme for spring plant sale

It is not every day someone approaches the city council wearing bright blue Derby Day dresses with matching fascinators and holding toy horses that neigh and gallop at the press of a button, but that is exactly what two volunteers of the Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens did this past week.

Those of you asking “why” must not know Lana Wohlers or Ina Heidemann that well. This is normal behavior for the folks charged with spreading the word about the latest events going on at the Newton Arboretum. In fact, they brandished lightsabers last year when announcing the “Star Wars” themed spring plant sale.

This year’s theme is “Dirty Derby Days,” a nod to the Kentucky Derby which is taking place at the same time as the annual spring plant sale. Of course, the Newton Arboretum has extended the event to two days, letting families enjoy all the fun 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 2 and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 3.

Newton Arboretum is also celebrating its 30-year anniversary. Heidemann said the facility is going to be celebrating its “dirty thirty” at its plant sale. The first day of the event is a pre-race sale and party with a $5 entry fee, letting participants get their first choice of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and more.

Offerings will be completely open to all — no entry fee — the next day. There are also chances to win, place and show off your garden greatness. Heidemann said guests are encouraged to walk the gardens and buy plants for their own garden to support the arboretum. The plant sale marks a big fundraiser for the facility.

“We advise you to come out and thank you for any support you can give us,” Heidemann said. “…Come out and enjoy us, come out and walk. The flowers are blooming and it’s absolutely gorgeous out there and starting to get beautiful out there. So come on out.”

The city council supported the event at the Newton Arboretum by approving a Newton Hotel-Motel Tourism Grant for $1,141.39. According to city documents, the facility has started marketing to all of Jasper County and plans to market to visits of Pella’s Tulip Time.