Sowing the Seeds of History

Plimoth Patuxet Museums will host its Spring Heirloom Plant sale on May 20, 21, 27, and 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day. This event, a longtime favorite among the gardening community, boasts a bountiful selection of more than 70 types of heirloom species, including the Museum’s favorite heirloom herbs, vegetables, and flowers that are grown in the 17th-Century English Village. Over the past several months, the Museum’s horticulture staff and volunteers have propagated thousands of plants for the sale and for the Museum’s gardens. Visitors to Plimoth Patuxet Museums will see a progeny of plants that have been part of the history of this region and are well suited to thrive in this particular climate and soil. In the 17th-Century English Village, visitors will find vegetables and herbs that the Pilgrims would have brought over on the Mayflower. The Historic Patuxet Homesite exhibit highlights plants native to the area that are important to Indigenous culture.

Dr. Fred Dunford, the Museum’s Horticulture Lead and Public History Educator, notes some of the unusual vintage names of some of the plants that will be available at the Heirloom Plant Sale, including Pitseed Goosefoot, Agrimony, and European Feverfew. “These plants provide a sense of history as they have been handed down through the generations,” said Dr. Dunford, who is an archaeologist and gardener. “We’re so happy to share this incredible variety of heirloom plants with local gardeners. Every garden has a story and we hope that the story of history will continue with this unique plant sale.”

The sale will be held in Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ main parking lot, and knowledgeable horticulture staff will be on-hand to answer questions, discuss heirloom plants, and provide expert gardening tips. Proceeds from the sale will support the mission of Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

Admission to the sale is free. For more information and to view a full plant list, visit https://plimoth.org/events/spring-heirloom-plant-sale