Garden Club's Plant Sale Will Raise Money for Upkeep of Local Park

The will hold its annual plant sale on May 11 to raise money for the upkeep of and the Alameda malls.

Douglas Montgomery said the club spends an estimated $5,000 each year to take care of the Douglaston park and the Alameda malls along Northern Boulevard.

“Because of budget cuts, we are not getting much from the Parks Department,” Montgomery said. “We’re spending more than $5,000 from our coffers to take care of Catharine Turner Richardson Park. That’s why we have to do fundraisers. Otherwise, we’d run out of money.”

He said the garden club, not the Parks Department, is charged with the park’s upkeep.

This year’s plant sale will include a variety of potted plants, hanging baskets, bougainvilleas, hibiscus trees and orchids.

Plants will be provided by Bayside’s Keil Bros, Inc.

Last weekend, the club raised $1,000 at its tag sale. Montgomery said the group raises its budget for the park through the tag and plant sales as well as private donations.

The club will also take part in a bake sale as part of “It’s My Park Day” on May 19 at Montgomery’s office, which is located at 40-60 Douglaston Parkway.

Volunteers will then head over to Catharine Turner Richardson Park to weed and plant dogwood trees.

This week’s plant sale will be held at 132 Park Lane from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.