It’s a good day for plant sales. The rain affords you a chance to stop working in the yard and take a look for the plants and vegetables that are just right for the little piece of heaven you want to create. Penobscot Bay Pilot highlights three for you to choose from. One in Thomaston, one in Rockland and one in Rockport all offer a large variety of plants from which to choose.

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Thomaston hosted its annual plant sale on Saturday from 8:30 to noon.

Emily Rotch, the sale’s coordinator is a master gardener. This is her 18th year at putting the plant sale together.

“That’s really a credit that you’re only supposed to use when you’re doing something like this, but yes, I have had the Master Gardener’s course,” she said. “The secret to a really nice, vibrant garden is good soil. Good dirt and plenty of it without too many rocks in it.”

Emily said it was too early for hot weather plants.

“Especially vegetables, you want to wait until the temperature is at least 50 degrees at night,” she said. “You’re going to have to wait another week or so. Perennials and annuals you should have started a few weeks ago, as soon as it’s warm enough that your hands don’t freeze.”

Emily said that of the 300 to 400 plants the church is offering, half will be sold within the first hour.

Susan Crane of the First Universalist Church in Rockland is the chairman for the plant sale committee. The church has 350 potted plants of all varieties for sale today.

“I think I potted about 200 of them,” said Susan. “Most of the plants came from church members and a few from very generous people who are not members of the church. We are here till noon, but will stay as long as people are coming in to buy plants.”

Margo Murphy teaches science at Camden Hills Regional High School, but also teaches plant and horticultural classes as well.

All these plants were grown by the students,” she said. “We have a small team this year and eight kids have done the work of what is typically 23 kids. We literally have 100’s of plants, perennials, annuals, vegetable starts and herbs. Most of these were started in late January which is when the semester began.”

Margo said if you buy three, you get one free today. She also said the sale goes on Sunday as well and if you buy one you get one free and the last hour of the sale everything is $1. The sale runs today 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to noon.