Plant sales are in bloom all over Westmoreland, Allegheny counties

Seventy-degree days in February and 40-degree days in May.

While the weather around these parts has been topsy-turvy of late, there’s one thing that home gardeners can depend on — plant sales will start popping up in May.

“As cold as it’s been, people are ready to plant something warm and colorful,” said Elizabeth Pesci, treasurer of the Greensburg Garden Center, which will hold its annual May Mart on Friday and Saturday.

The recent inclement weather doesn’t surprise Pesci.

“Seventy percent of the time, it rains during May Mart,” she said. “That’s what spring is — hot, cold, wet, dry.”

The garden center’s May Mart is more than just a plant sale. It also includes a flea market of garden-related and other outdoor items.

This year’s sale items include a lawnmower, wheelbarrow, patio rug, furniture and other items donated by a local resident who downsized after 50 years of gardening.

Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will have used books for sale, and center members also have donated books on gardening topics.

Veteran gardeners, including Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, will be on hand to help shoppers with plant selection and to answer gardening questions.

Here is a roundup of organizations planning plant sales:

• May Mart: Greensburg Garden Center’s annual plant sale and flea market is set for noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the butterfly garden behind the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road.

The sale will feature plants from members’ gardens. Vendors will offer Mother’s Day baskets and annuals, dahlias, houseplants, fig trees, tomatoes and perennials, along with flower pots and garden accessories.

Bardine’s hot dogs will be available, along with home-baked cookies from members of the nearby McKenna Senior Center.

Details: 724-837-0245 or greensburggardencenter.net

• Herb Fair: The Thyme for Herbs Club will sell a variety of herbs, along with scented geraniums and plants from members’ gardens, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Harrold Zion Lutheran Church, 671 Baltzer Meyer Pike, Hempfield.

Children’s activities, flavoring packets of dried herbs, baked goods, hot dogs and a trash-to-treasure sale also will be available.

• Plant Sale: The Trillium Garden Club will sell annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, multiplant patio pots and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in O’Hara Township Community Park, 330 Fox Chapel Road.

Proceeds benefit community projects in the park, including Camp Guyasuta, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve and Blawnox, Aspinwall and Sharpsburg community gardens.

Details: blawnox.com

• May Market: Unique plants, gardening accessories, handmade jewelry, lawn decor and more will be featured at the 87th annual event from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 12 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1 Schenley Park, Pittsburgh.

Offerings will include organic herbs, vegetable seedlings, tropical plants, succulents, annuals, perennials and other seasonal favorites, along with landscaping materials, botanical art and natural body-care products. Phipps staff will be on hand to give advice.

Details: phipps.conservatory.org

• Plant Sale: Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County will hold their annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 13 at the Donohoe Center, 214 Donohoe Road, Hempfield. Native plants will be featured, along with a large variety of annuals, vegetables, herbs and perennials.

A limited number of boxes will be available to transport plants to vehicles; shoppers are urged to bring their own, if possible. Payment is by cash or check.

Details: 724-837-1402 or the Master Gardeners’ Facebook page.

• May Mart: Sewickley Civic Garden Council will host the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 on Broad Street, between Beaver and Thorn streets, in downtown Sewickley.

Many local garden clubs will sell their spring plants, including heirloom tomatoes, garden baskets, various flats and individual plants. Proceeds are returned to community gardens and projects throughout the year.

Additional vendors will sell garden-themed wares, and stores also might offer May Mart-themed specials. Chalk art and plant-a-pot children’s activities are planned.

Details: sewickleygardens.com

• Native Plant Nursery opening day sale: The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Native Plant Nursery officially opens with a sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13 at 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel. All plants will be discounted that day.

Though May 13 is the official opening, there are a number of plants already out and available for purchase. The nursery will be open during the Audubon Nature Store’s regular hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

Details: aswp.org

• Gardenfest: Fox Chapel Garden Club will host the event from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13 in O’Hara Township Community Park, 330 Fox Chapel Road. Gardening groups from throughout the area will have plants and other items for sale.

The Men’s Garden Club will offer tool and knife sharpening. Local artisans will be selling their wares.

Details: foxchapelgardenclub.org

• Plant Sale: Irwin Garden Club’s annual plant sale is from 9 a.m. to noon May 20 in the lower parking lot of Irwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane. Items will include perennials and gently used garden items.

Payment is by cash only.

Details: Irwin Garden Club on Facebook

• Native Plant Sale: Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy will host a sale of plants native to the region from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 at Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist Church, 1240 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon.

Among available plants will be butterfly weed, Appalachian sedge, purple coneflower, asters, Joe Pye weed, mint and more. Plants are grown by North Creek Nurseries in Landenerg, Chester County.

Payment is by card via the conservancy’s website or phone app. No cash transactions.

Details: lebonature.org

• Native Plant Sale: Historic Hanna’s Town is partnering with Brandywine Conservancy’s Penguin Court for a native plant sale during the antiques and collectibles sale from 7:30 a.m. to noon June 12 at Hanna’s Town, 809 Forbes Trail Road, Hempfield.

The plants are grown in greenhouses at Penguin Court in Ligonier Township, the former family estate of Richard M. Scaife that was bequeathed to the conservancy as a nature preserve in 2015.

Details: 724-836-1800 or westmorelandhistory.org