Novice gardener Melissa DeSousa was smiling as she and her significant other looked over plants at the 91原创 Garden Club鈥檚 43rd annual spring show and sale 91原创 Garden Club show and sale at the the Southridge Fellowship Church in Murrayville

鈥淲e鈥檙e just getting into gardening,鈥� DeSousa, who lives in Murrayville, told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淪o we thought it would be a really good experience to be able to come and see what they were offering and see if we can get some knowledge from some people and just see what鈥檚 available.鈥�

It was one of two garden sales in 91原创 to mark the start of growing season for amateur cultivators.

Over at the annual KPU School of Horticulture plant sale, on the same day, hundreds crowded into the greenhouses that face the 91原创 City Campus from across the One-way.

Willoughby resident Sandra Clark explained that she likes to begin planting with a visit to the KPU sale.

鈥淲e do this every year,鈥� Clark said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to get some new varieties that are not sold in the stores. I like to support the university so students can continue to get their education.鈥�

Rob Welsh, the horticulture technician and landscape instructional associate in the KPU horticulture program , was busier than he expected to be, as he cheerfully processed plant purchases.

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy busy,鈥� Welsh smiled.

鈥淲e really didn鈥檛 expect it to be this busy with the rainfall, but we have some die-hard customers that are coming out and supporting our program and the Horticulture students as well.

People filled the parking lot on the main campus and walked across the pedestrian bridge tothe greenhouses to buy hanging baskets, perennials, herbs, ornamental grasses, basket stuffers, conifers and more.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 鈥楤est weather in 15 years鈥� draws big turnout for 91原创 Garden Club sale

At the 91原创 Garden Club event, long-term club member Jette Herscovitch arrived prepared for the downpour in a warm water resistant hooded jacked and umbrella, the result of lessons learned over previous club sales.

鈥淚鈥檝e been a member 25 years, probably 30,鈥� Herscovitch, a Brookswood resident, estimated.

Club president Pam Erikson said the odds of less than ideal weather were high.

鈥淭his is actually my 32nd year doing the sale, and I think nine times out of ten we鈥檝e had rain,鈥� Erikson estimated, 鈥渂ut true gardeners will come out here because we鈥檝e got a great plant sale.鈥�

Erikson said many gardeners were looking to recover from freezing conditions that did considerable damage.

鈥淚t was a bad winter this year,鈥� Erikson noted.

鈥淎 lot of people lost plants [and] they need to come and replace them鈥�

The club sale featured a 鈥減lethora of all different plants from shade to Sun,鈥� Erikson commented, including bueberries, tomatoes, daylilies, Japanese maples and apple trees.

Established in 1941, the non-profit 91原创 Garden Club鈥檚 stated goals are鈥� to promote and encourage vegetable gardening, floral and shrubbery landscaping, decorative floral arts, and to nourish a creative congeniality among the club members and the community.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创 Garden Club marks 75 years

Affiliated with the BC Council of Garden Clubs, the 91原创 Arts Council and the 91原创 Agricultural Association, the club holds regular monthly meetings from February to December, where gardening tips are available from members who are experienced gardeners, even owners of garden-related businesses.

More information can be found on the club website: .