Plant Sale
The plant sale will be open to ARS 2025 Spring Convention delegates on Thursday, June 5, 2025. On Friday, June 6, 2025, the plant sale will be open to delegates and general public.
June 5 2024 3:30-5:50 pm: Opening of Plant Sale at Wolfville Farmers Market (5 minute walk from Devour Studios) to ARS 2025 Spring Convention delegates
June 6 2024 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Plant Sale at Wolfville Farmers Market, open to the public
Our Vendors
Bunchberry Nurseries is a specialty garden centre located in Upper Clements, Nova Scotia. We specialize in alpines, heaths/heathers, dwarf conifers, rhododendrons and other shrubs, grasses and a vast assortment of perennials. We welcome everyone to come and visit our spectacular display gardens and to browse our impressive selection of plants and accessories for sale.
In 1995, Bunchberry Nurseries started out on a small piece of property in Berwick but moved to Upper Clements, Nova Scotia in 1997 for the extra space and a significantly better climate. The nursery began as a wholesale provider for other nurseries, located mostly in Atlantic Canada, but since 2006, now operates a successful retail business.
Jill Covill is the owner and president of Bunchberry Nurseries. Jill attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro and completed her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Guelph. She graduated with a major in Horticultural Science. She also holds an International Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture. Before launching her own business, Jill perfected her trade, working in nurseries in Switzerland, Ontario and here in Nova Scotia.
SALES: The retail nursery is open during the growing season and by appointment or chance for the remainder of the year. In addition to our extensive collection of plants, we also sell garden tools, accessories and garden furniture.
PRESENTATIONS: We periodically conduct seminars on various gardening techniques, hold workshops and organize events with special guest speakers throughout the season.
CONTRACT: Bunchberry Nurseries also does contract propagation and growing. Recent orders have been for biofiltration plants including rushes and sedges (Cyperaceae family) for rain gardens, constructed wetlands and bioswales.
Bunchberry Nurseries will have Japanese Maples, Dwarf Conifers, Heaths & Heather …. And more at the ARS Spring Convention 2025 Plant Sale!
Green Optics is a small business run by Jamie Ellison, focusing on specialty plants, photography and plant presentations. Green Optics propagates and grows plants from Jamie’s personal collection. He is an insatiable plant collector focusing on interesting and specialty plants and has recently started to hybridize Rhododendrons where he lives and gardens in Canning, Nova Scotia. He has written articles in horticultural periodicals and has recently co-authored a book with Todd Boland titled “Gardening for Acidic Soils”.
Insigne Gardens is a small, 25 year old Halifax nursery, run by plantsman Ken Shannik. It is not a walk-in nursery but operates by mail order, pre-order and stands at local plant sales. Ken propagates from his personal collection and those of his partner/hybridizer John Weagle. He specializes in rare and unusual perennials and bulbs from Arisaemas, hardy Cyclamen to rare snowdrops, his own selected Hellebores, Roscoeas and many other delectables. There is definite focus on woodland perennials. He also propagates evergreen azaleas including John’s Scotian Series, the various Menziesias of the late Barry Starling in a wide range of colours, Rhododendron lepidote species and hybrids, unusual shrubs and rare trees in small sizes.
Thanks go to generous plantsmen friends and plant hunters around the world, with whom they both collaborate, the range and quality of material should please.
Jack Looye bought his first Rhododendrons in the Fall of 1978 from Arthur Oslach in Niagara-On-The- Lake, Ontario. At that time, he was introduced to the Niagara Chapter of the Canadian Rhododendron Society through A.W. Smith, who worked as the technician Rhododendron Hybridizer at the Vineland Research Centre. Jack became friends with A.W Smith as well as other members of the society.
Jack and his wife, Jackie, travelled to the US and created many friendships along the way. They always came home with an abundance of Rhododendrons! They got their first Gable and Dexter from those trips to take to southern Ontario. A few years later, Jack met Hybridizers at a Great Lakes Meeting of the American Rhododendron Society at the Holden Arboretum.
In 1995, they had an opportunity to buy a farm in rural Niagara-On-The-Lake and started a nursery called Rhodo Land Nursery. They sold that business in 2018, retired, and moved to Nova Scotia where they started a small nursery to occupy them during their retirement. In addition, they have attended many conventions on both the west and east coasts over the years.
For US attendees
No export permit required for up to 12 plants. Only phytosanitary certificate, proof of purchase and customs declaration.
Anyone who requires phytosanitary certificate will need to make all purchases at the first day of the sale. Phytosanitary inspections will be conducted on June 6th (plants will need to left with plant sale volunteers and picked up before the end of the plant sale).
Price of Phytosanitary certificate: TBD (usually between $20-$30 per person – Potentially more for 20+ plants).
If planning to purchase more than 12 plants, you will need to obtain an import permit. For more information about applying for an import permit visit the APHIS website:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
Note: Please familiarize yourself with the specific laws within your state/port of entry state. Also if travelling by air, please familiarize yourself with your airlines regulations.”