'The Hodge Podge'

• By ED CULLEN
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Dec 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Once an adjunct to Hilltop Arboretum and a nod to founder Emory Smith, “The Hodge Podge” is now a line item in the budget.

This year, “The Podge,” as volunteers call themselves at informal lunch gatherings, contributed $12,000 to PlantFest!, Hilltop’s annual fundraiser.

The late Emory Smith, whose native plant nursery and farm on Highland Road south of Bluebonnet Boulevard became Hilltop Arboretum, sold plants on the honor system when he and his wife were away, napping or playing Scrabble.

Plant buyers left the price of their purchases in a box provided by the Smiths.

The women of “The Podge” and a couple of male volunteers keep tables near the Smiths’ old house stocked with native plants. Shoppers may make their selections from sunup to sunset seven days a week.

Volunteers leave information on the plants, price and tax and a place for purchasers to leave cash or checks.

When PlantFest! started years ago, volunteers sold plants they grew at home or got as donations from nurseries and other gardeners, said Jean Kirkland, a member of “The Podge” since 1990.

“When Oak Haven Nursery went out of business, they donated plants, statuary and nursery tables,” she said.

“The Podge” has grown with donations coming from friends of the volunteers and from the volunteers themselves.

“Our neighbors will call up and say, ‘Can you use some plants?’ and we’ll go over and dig,” said Carole Guillory.

“We’ve heard of people stopping to dig plants by the side of the road — spider lilies, Louisiana irises, Indian pink, horsetail fern, trilium, mayapple, red buckeye,” said Debbie Carbo.

“The Podge” specializes in pass-along plants, “plants you don’t always find at the nursery,” Guillory said.