When Stephanie O'Neal moved into her South Side home 13 years ago, she was sure about one thing: She didn't want to push a lawn mower up the uneven slope that is her yard.

Not a blade of grass remains on her property today. Instead, paths covered with mulch wind through her garden, leading to seating areas where she listens to birds. Her land is filled with thousands of plants she's accumulated as a member of the Madison-based Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society.

"Everything I know about plants I learned from the lectures sponsored by the group, from talking to members, or from books," she said. "People who know nothing about gardening are welcome to join, and there's always someone who can answer questions or give you ideas. At first I thought, eew, it's a gardening club and they'll have tea and be hoity-toity. But it's not like that at all."

This spring, O'Neal's property was the site of one of the nine WHPS "digs" held annually at members' homes to benefit area botanical gardens. Last year, $5,000 was raised during its spring plant sale, some of which went to a hospice garden.

On a recent Saturday, a small group met in O'Neal's garage to get plants ready to sell. O'Neal dug up plants that could be separated, others mixed potting soil and put the plants in pots, and others wrote the names of the plants on popsicle sticks to be inserted in the plants, most of which will be sold for between $2 and $5. Digs at other homes are also scheduled.

Until the May 16 sale, the potted plants will stay on O'Neal's patio where she'll keep them watered.

And then, it's time for her to relax.

"I don't coddle my plants," she said. "I don't like watering any more than mowing, and I only water the yard three or four times a year. I have drought-tolerant plants, and I use mulch."

She also has plenty of shrubs and small trees. "You have to have something to look at in winter," she said. "It gives the garden structure."

And shade as well. "I prefer shade gardening because you don't get so hot. People wrongly believe you can't grow things in the shade. But there are all kinds of great shade plants." Her latest plant fascination involves grasses and sedges.

Now she's one of the people the novices ask for advice.

"When I moved here the soil was so hard that I broke two forks in it," she said. "After I joined the group I was walking through the garden of the (WHPS) president, and I admired one of his plants and he just reached down and gave it to me, which I thought was so fantastic. Now I can do the same thing, just reach down and scoop up a plant and give it to someone."

Upoming garden sales

Friday and Saturday: Olbrich's Plant Sale with the Pros. Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison. On Friday it's members only, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open to all until 7 p.m. and all day Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Great selection of perennials, annuals trees and shrubs.

Friday and Saturday: Children's Benefit Plant Sale, 2 to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 6310 Masthead Drive, north of Mineral Point Road, across from Oakwood Retirement Center. Supports programs for the basic needs of the most vulnerable children in Dane County.  Donations of plants welcome.

Saturday: Shorewood Hills Garden Club Annual Cocoa Mulch and Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Village Hall, 810 Shorewood Blvd.

Saturday: Sugar River Gardeners Plant Sale, 8:30 to noon, 301 Main St., Verona, in front of St. Andrew's Catholic Church.

Saturday: Friends of the Arboretum 2009 Native Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the large tents next to the Arboretum Visitor Center, 1207 Seminole Hwy. Native grasses; woodland, prairie and savanna plants; trees and shrubs.

Saturday through May 17: Earthspirit Farm Sale, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. List of plants available at

Saturday and Sunday: West Side Garden Club Plant Sale, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 3918 Nakoma Road. Choice perennials, specialty annuals, herbs; proceeds donated to support garden related civic organizations and projects.

May 15-17: Rotary Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Horticulture Center, 1455 Palmer Drive in Janesville. Featuring thousands of daylily divisions, bagged mushroom compost and vegetables. Go to www.rotarygardens.org for more info.

May 16-17: Badger Bonsai Annual Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., sponsored by the Badger Bonsai Society.

May 31: Hosta Sale, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or while supplies last, Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., sponsored by the Wisconsin Hosta Society.

May 31: Iris Show, 1 to 5 p.m. at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., sponsored by the Iris Society. Cut irises in a rainbow of colors will be on display in the Evjue Commons.

Plant society plans activities

The 500-member Madison-based Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society is a nonprofit group dedicated to learning, teaching and sharing plants.

Activities include meetings with keynote speakers, an annual potluck, fall symposium, newsletters, an annual plant sale and plant exchanges, an annual display booth at the WPT Garden Expo, and garden tours (local, regional and abroad).

Monthly meetings are held at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., on the third Wednesday of the month, usually from August to April.

During the gardening season, tours of local gardens are arranged for members, bus trips are offered and a biannual overseas trip is arranged. Both novice and professional gardeners are welcome. Annual dues are: $10 individual, $15 family, $25 business.

This year's annual WHPS spring plant sale is May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road. Proceeds benefit area botanical gardens.

Two tours are scheduled as well; visit the Web site for details.

• May 20: WHPS Garden Tours in Fitchburg/Oregon. 5 p.m.-dark.

• June 3: WHPS Garden Tour in McFarland. 5 p.m. to dark.

Go to: www.madison.com/communities/wisconsinhardyplantsociety/ or call Jane LaFlash at 243-1208.