I volunteered early this year to help with the plant part of the silent auction at the church's big fall bazaar. Then I GOT volunteered to organize/run the entire silent auction. I had all the info sheets ready to label plants... had tables, tablecloths,a bag full of items like tape, scissors, rubber bands, pruning shears... anything that I might need. Everything was loaded in the truck the day before. So... up early on Sunday to go set up... and it's raining. Drats! So a gather a big stack of newspaper to put under the plants to keep them from draining all over the table and getting the bid sheets wet. Grabbed some towels so I could dry them off and wipe off any dirt/mud. I planned on being there at 8am, but waiting until almost 9am to see if the rain was going to stop. It didn't. Instead of wearing something nice, I grabbed an old pair of shorts and t-shirt since I knew I'd be getting all wet and dirty. I did bring my "good" stuff along so I could change after the set up. So... late start... added work... I'd better work fast since it needed to be ready to go by noon. I wanted the area to look Halloweenish, so I had orange and black tablecloths. Had a couple of plastic pumpkins to but peppermints in to add to the theme. My "good" clothes were black shorts & orange top. Heck, I even painted my toe-nails orange! So, I get my plants all set up (I brought 22). Where's Mrs. E? She should be here by now. It was still raining so I figured she'd be a little late, but it was nearly 11 o'clock before she got there. Evidently she had to load the plants in the rain and only had her grandson to help her. The rain stopped just before noon and it didn't take too long for the clouds to break up. And yes folks... there is such as thing as too many plants. Mrs. E brought nearly 90 of them! She was scheduled to only bring 70. So... I'm really busting my rear-end trying to get them all labeled and set up. Had to ask for more tables. And then more. And more. I think we ended up with 12 tables just for the plants and 2 more for misc items. I wish I would have brought more tablecloths. People were trying to bid and buy the plants before I could set them up. Aarrggghhh! I was soooo prepared but now I'm way behind schedule. Had a few folks helping with misc chores, but since I was the only one that knew which plants were which, it was pretty much up to me to get them labeled. I finally got everything done by around 1:30. I was dirty. Thirsty. Hungry. Time for a break... not quite. Now everyone was asking questions etc. So around 2:30 I just had to stop. Time for some chicken wings and a cold beer! By this time, I didn't even care how I looked, no need changing cloths this late in the game. Then I remember to take a few quick photos of the area. auction area ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) more auction ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) more back there behind the garage sale stuff ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Then it was back to work. Just basically needed to make sure the bids were being done properly. Retape some things down since it was a little breezy. And my favorite part of the whole day... just talking plants with everyone! The auction was over at 4:30 and we finally got done collecting money around 5:30. I have five people who won bids on plants, but didn't stay until the end to pay for/pick them up, so I'm trying to reach them today to get those delivered. Of my 22 plants, all but four sold. I submitted 3 of the leaf bird baths... no one even bidded on them. :'( Mrs. E only sold 30 of her 90 plants. I think the problem was that she had too many of the same thing. We made nearly $600 on the plants alone. And the 15 misc items (like oil change, jewelry box, speakers, etc) raised around $625. I bought two yellow trumpets and a bromeliad. Had a bidding war with my cousin over a beautiful variegated hibiscus. I let her get it, but she has to get me a cutting started from it. So, the big event is just about over. They are taking down the big tent later on and cleaning up the grounds. I may go by there and see if they need any help... plus I'm missing my big tarp, maybe someone found it. I learned a few things that I could have done better to save time and make it go smoother. I really need to figure out a tactful way to have Mrs. E cut down on the amount of plants to contribute. I WILL be totally prepared next year... even for rain!
Wow, I have never seen a plant silent auction. What would be overwhelming. So glad you made such good money.
What a story! I sure would have liked to attended that auction. Gosh--all the plants, the people and probably there was some food somewhere. I enjoyed your posting aand the piccies. Thanks miss.
Gosh Cheryl you must have been exhausted after all that!! You have my respect to keep going and raise all that money. I hope you pampered yourself when you got home.
Barb... The plant auction can be a hoot. I know I have gotten into bidding wars before and ending up paying $40 or more for a plant that I could easily go to the nursery and buy for $10 or less. My sis-in-law was so taken with an ornamental pepper plant that she just had to have and won the bid at $45 - the starting bid was only $5.00. The person she was bidding against is building a new home and was bidding on several things... including another ornamental pepper but with different colors, which she won at $5.00. It was fun to watch them go after it, especially when you know the money is going to a good cause. Sjoerd... You'll have to come to the one next Fall! The crowd was pretty small this year because of the rain. My hometown has only about 500 people and the neighboring communities aren't much bigger, so usually everyone tries to support each other. And food... oh yeah! We're in the heart of cajun/creole country. There was barbecue chicken or beef dinners. Fried chicken wings, gumbo, boudain, crawfish etouffee, nachos, sausage, chili cheese hot dogs and more. We eat good down here! Eileen... I'm the kind of person who will push through and do what has to be done.. and then get tired later. I figured that when I got home I'd just kick back and deal with the paperwork in the morning. But the adrenaline was still pumping so I plowed through the numbers - triple checking that it all added up correctly. I had to be at the office by 8:30 this morning to turn in my paperwork/money. I was there for about an hour. Then home to unload the remaining plants, tables, boxes, etc from my truck and put it all away. Then I went into "town" to deliver two of the plants. Sat back for a few hours, and then went to Mrs. E's to pick up another plant that needed delivered. Then back to the church to help with the final clean up. Then home around dark. Know what? I'm not tired! I may not want to get up in the morning to go to work though! Thank you all for the nice words... nothing like helping out AND playing with plants!
Wish I had half your energy. I would have been dusted by 2:30 and a break would not have fixed it. Great job.
Donna S ... I'm paying for it today, but at least I'm at work where I can get some rest! And I'm not really done yet... have to deliver two more plants this evening... and there's a meeting for an event right after Thanksgiving where I'm going sell the left over plants. Donna in NC and Netty... Yes it was a fun day. Much better than slaving away in the kitchen serving food. Everyone loved the info sheets. They were like "ohhhh... so that's what it's flowers will look like... ohhhh... it needs to be planted in the shade... ohhh I have cover up in the winter... etc". plant info sheet ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I thought of Dooley at one point when I kept losing my tape or pen... I thought, "I need one of Dooley's aprons!" I'm gonna contact her and commission one for next year.
Hi Cheryl,..oh you were a busy Bee,..and the auction went well and plenty of cash for the cause,..those info sheets were brilliant,..its all there description and picture of the blooms,..well done,..very professional. The food,..oh yes Cajun/Creole Country food would appeal to me,..as well as the music
Thanks Philip. In the past, they didn't supply any info about the plants... sometimes the names weren't even given. That's why I volunteered in the first place. Information is a good selling tool. My best friend's son said "wow... cool Cheryl. You even made sure to take photos of them when they were blooming". Little does he know about all the photos I take throughout the year. I've already got my list made up of things I want to contribute next year. And notes jotted down on how to cut down on the set-up time (which was my biggest problem). The food is YUMMY! But honestly, after about an hour, I get tired of the music. It all starts to sound like the same song. Nothing against the bands... it just has always been that way to me.
I can well imagine that people will remember how everything was presented so clearly this year and be encouraged to return again next year if they hear you will be doing likewise with the information sheet.
Yes Philip... the info sheets were a big hit. And really needed. Last year, Mrs. E couldn't even remember the name of some of the plants she brought. She's a wonderful intelligent hard-working, retired teacher. She's in her upper 80s now. And unfortunately, her memory is slipping a little. I'm just glad I could pitch in and help out with her plant sale. (Bonus... not only can I learn from her.. I might be able to score some seeds or cuttings!)
