Don’t Throw Summer Plants Away: Donate Them

Charlene Hall is on a mission to save the “summer” plants.

Hall, 34, a local mom of two, wants to take any plants you no longer want off of your hands. She said many residents believe that once the summer is over, the plants used to beatify outdoor landscapes need to be thrown away.

Hall said that is rarely the case.

“People go out in spring and buy big pots of arrangements and don’t really know about each individual plant that is in there,” she said.

Those pots full of plants just might contain a couple that can be repotted and brought inside to live out the winter.

“I’ve seen things around town like pots of lilies that all of the sudden disappear in fall,” she said. “Those are perennial they come back and do not need to be tossed in the trash.”

Charlene is a bit of a plant rescuer. She said she has always been into them in one way or another. She said the love of plants was sparked by her grandma who lived across from a green house where an annual trip to buy flats of flowers to plant became a tradition. She said she’s always been into gardening and had a few houseplants.

Although she is kept busy by her woodburning art business, as well as teaching piano, Charlene always finds time for plants.

“You can see by my business that my love of nature carries over into that part of my life as well,” Charlene said.

And, According to Hall, when COVID hit tending to plants and studying them gave her something to do when there was a lot of downtime.

“It was a stress reliever,” she said. “It is very calming and rewarding to when you discover how to save a plant.”

Charlene is hoping to gather plants around town that are destined for the trash. She would love for local businesses to contact her and allow her to “rescue” those plants.

“Some businesses downtown have pots with perennials in them and some even have houseplants in them,” she said. “I hate to see them die. I will take them.”

Hall said the plants that she takes in will be shared with others or have a new home with her.

“There is such a huge houseplant community right now on Facebook,” she said. “Such a wide area of knowledge if people take the time to learn. There is a local group Beaver County Buy, Sell, Trade that had a swap over the summer.”

Charlene said everyone brought tons of plants and traded. She said the humane society sells plants as part of their fundraising efforts.

“There are lots out outlets to find good homes for these plants instead of just throwing them away,” she said.

Some plants can also be gifted to others to offer comfort or support, for celebrations, and more.

Charlene said some examples of plants that could easily come inside are Dracaena and Croton.

Croton makes awesome indoor houseplants.

“People see pretty plants and want them and don’t realize that they are adaptable inside,” she said.

If you’d like to donate your plants or wonder if your plants can be saved, send a picture or message to Charlene Hall at 779-210-9282.