May Marts, plants sales beneficial to communities, gardeners alike

It’s finally that time of year again – when horticulture enthusiasts can swap their winter mittens for garden gloves.

Before they head out to the garden, many will visit their favorite May Markets to check out the latest plant varieties, get the scoop on new garden tools and accessories and indulge in some of the favorite lunch foods and desserts served by garden club members at this annual rite of spring.

Several plant sales and markets are sprouting up in the region, giving gardeners a chance to take a break before it’s time to put those green thumbs to work for the summer growing season.

Garden Club of Oakmont Annual Spring Plant Sale

The Garden Club of Oakmont’s Annual Spring Plant Sale will be May 11 in Hoffstot’s parking lot, Allegheny Avenue, Oakmont.

Several Mother’s Day gift ideas will be available, including hanging baskets, herb and lettuce bowls, tomato plants and decorative planters created by members. A selection of “From Our Own Gardens” plants will feature perennials from club members’ gardens.

Proceeds benefit beautification projects in Oakmont. Funds also support scholarship, garden therapy programs for seniors and other community projects. Linda Holden is president of the garden club.

Garden Club of Oakmont’s annual Spring Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11 in Hoffstot’s parking lot on Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont.

Details: gardencluboakmont.org

Greensburg Garden Center May Mart

Carla Rusnica and Barbara Cseh, co-presidents of Greensburg Garden Center, invite visitors to enjoy a new season of garden pleasures with its “amazing array of temptations” at its annual May Mart on May 3 and 4.

Tempting selections for gardeners will include the Garden Center’s perennials and hypertufa pots; heirloom vegetables and garden-dug plants from Greenridge Garden Club. Specialty items for sale include Glenda Gebert’s pinecone wreaths, suet feeders and birdhouses; hanging baskets, planters and annuals from Greenhouse 22; The Gourd Room’s painted gourds, and Bountiful Blessings’ terrariums and blessing gardens.

Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library will hold its annual used book sale and the Lions Club will have its brooms for sale. Taste treats will feature hot sandwiches, pickles and preserved and canned items from Greg, The Pickled Chef, Bardine’s hot dogs, homemade fudge, baked goods from McKenna Seniors and popcorn. Leap’s Farm will have organic flours and cornmeal for sale.

May Mart is scheduled for noon to 7 p.m. May 3 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at Greensburg Garden Center, 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg. Admission and parking are free.

Details: 724-837-0245 or greensburggardencenter.net

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Phipps horticulturists, local nurseries, farms and participating vendors will be celebrating spring and Mother’s Day weekend on the lawn at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ annual May Market May 10 and 11.

Seasonal favorites available for sale include organic herbs and vegetable seedlings, tropical plants and succulents, native and rain garden plants. Garden supplies and accessories will range from organic soil and landscaping materials to botanical art and natural body care products.

More than 70 participating vendors include the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Building New Hope Fair Trade Coffee Project, Café Phipps, Cherry Valley Organics, Conover Organic Farm, Grow Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Iris and Daylily Society, Sand Hill Berries, Tree Pittsburgh, Who Cooks for You Farm, Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider and Mead.

Phipps staff members and Master Gardeners will be available to share their advice.

Phipps’ May Market is set for 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 10 and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 at the conservatory in Schenley Park, Oakland. Admission is free.

Details: 412-622-6914 or phipps.conservatory.org

Indiana Garden Club May Mart

Indiana Garden Club will hold its 44th annual May Mart on May 17 and 18, featuring more than 100 vendors offering a wide selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and shrubs as well as crafts, handmade items and food.

New to May Mart this year is Garden Mart, featuring gently used garden tools, flower vases, unusual planting containers and other gardening items, new and used. Another highlight is the club’s annual “Orphans Court,” in which members bring plants from their gardens to be “adopted” by those attending the May Mart. Proceeds benefit community beautification projects and scholarships. A “Kids Korner” is designed to encourage young children to develop an interest in gardening. May Mart 2019 co-chairwomen are Candace Joseph and Jan Berls.

Indiana Garden Club’s May Mart will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 17 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18 at ST Bank Arena, White Township Recreation Complex, 495 East Pike, Indiana.

Details: 724-541-4318 or indianagardenclub.org

Sewickley May Mart

Sewickley Civic Garden Council will hold its 54 th annual May Mart on May 11 along Broad Street, featuring annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables and garden accessories by local garden clubs.

Participants include Village Garden Club (herbs, plants for pollinators, ornamental grasses and Mother’s Day bouquets); The Little Garden Club (“No Brainer Containers,” hydrangeas, indoor orchids and salad and herb bowls); Trowel and Error (large selection of annuals, including begonias, vinca, alyssum, lobelia, ageratum and salvia); Grapevine Garden Club (heirloom tomatoes, herbs, pachysandra and vegetable plants), and Edgeworth Garden Club (Blue Salvia, hibiscus, hanging geranium baskets, herb trios and tea combos.)

Sewickley Civic Garden Council’s 54th annual May Mart will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 11 on Broad Street, Sewickley.

Details: sewickleygardens.com

West Overton May Mart Plant Sale and Makers’ Market

The West Overton Garden Society, West Overton Village and Scottdale Historical Society will sponsor their annual May Mart Plant Sale and Makers’ Market on May 11 at West Overton Village and Museums.

“May Mart has become a traditional place to shop for Mother’s Day gifts and everything for the garden,” says Jan Brubacher, May Mart coordinator.

Vegetable and tomato plants, annuals, hanging baskets, ferns, herbs, perennials, succulents, geraniums and houseplants will be available for sale. Visitors also can bring a plant and take a plant from the swap table. The plant sale, held indoors in the Overholt Room in the Distillery Museum’s lower level, will benefit West Overton Garden Society.

West Overton Village will host the Makers’ Market, an open-air spring market shopping event showcasing the talents of more than 30 artisans in the region. The market will be located in the green spaces throughout West Overton Village.

The May Mart Plant Sale and Makers’ Market will be held rain or shine from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at West Overton Village and Museums, 109 West Overton Road, East Huntingdon. Parking and admission for both events is free.

Details: 724-887-7910 or westovertonvillage.org

Other plant sales

• Dry Ridge Garden Club’s annual Plant Sale is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 501 Fairfield Drive, West Point, Hempfield. Hardy member-grown perennials, vegetables, herbs, a bake sale and basket auction will be featured. Master Gardeners and club members will be on hand to answer gardening questions and help with plant selections. Proceeds from the sale benefit community charities each year, according to Debi Kollar, director. Details: 412-558-3457 or dryridgegardenclub.com

• Burrellton Garden Club will host its annual Maymart from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11 at Lower Burrell City Hall Garage, Schreiber and Bethel streets, Lower Burrell. Available for sale will be annuals, perennials from members’ gardens, Fleatique and Garden Shed items. New this year will be herbs and 10-inch hanging baskets, according to Nancy Shremchock, historian. She says proceeds from the Maymart will benefit beautification projects for the city.

• Murrysville Garden Club’s Annual Spring Plant Sale will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 9 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 10 at Murrysville Fire Station Pavilion, Sardis Road. Annuals, perennials, flower containers, hanging plant baskets and special plants from members’ gardens will be available. The event will be held rain or shine. Details: murrysvillegardenclub.com

• Westmoreland County Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11 at 214 Donohoe Road, Greensburg. The sale will feature annuals, herbs, vegetables, perennials, ornamental grasses, native plants and woody plants. Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist with selection. Soil tests ($9) and Help Clinic will be available. The Plant Sale benefits the Westmoreland County Master Gardener programs. Details: 724-837-1402

• Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County will hold its Annual Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at the Washington County Fairgrounds parking lot off Old Hickory Ridge Road, Washington. The plant sale will feature flowering annuals and perennials along with garden vegetable plants and hanging flower baskets. Details: Laura Delatch, Penn State Extension office, 724-228-6881

• CCR Gardens, a small-scale, family-run urban market garden run by Kevin and Megan Resnik in McKeesport, will hold two vegetable and flower plant sales, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5 and May 11, on their farm property near the intersection of Marshall Drive and Wainwright in McKeesport’s Haler Heights neighborhood. Proceeds will benefit Walk MS Pittsburgh (Team Resnik). Details: ccrgardens.com