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
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.
INSIGNE Spring 2025 Plant Info R2 (2)
Insigne Availability List ARS MAY 7 2025
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.
For those who will require a Phytosanitary Certificate for export – Volunteers will handle inspections the morning of June 6th, 2025. Plants requiring inspection must be left with volunteers overnight. Cost of Phytosanitary Certificate is $30.00 (CD) per person, or $50.00 (CD) if your order exceeds $1600.00 (CD) in total. Cash only.
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.”