The Garden Market Flower and Food Fest on Saturday has everything gardeners need to prepare for this year’s growing season.

Hosted by Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Butler County and Butler County Parks and Recreation, this free event is held near the Odd Fellows Shelter in Alameda Park. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Master Gardener Plant Sale has returned this year with a wide variety of native plants, perennials and vegetable plants. Master gardeners will help you select the best plants for your gardens and landscapes and will answer your questions about best gardening practices and hot topics such as the spotted lanternfly infestation.

Vendors will offer perennial and annual flowers, vegetables, herbs, shrubs — even small trees — to transform your outdoor growing space into a beautiful habitat for people and pollinators.

You can take a break from plant shopping to visit the food vendors, who will offer an array of culinary choices from light snacks and sweets to meals.

Other featured vendors will share handcrafted items for your indoor and outdoor spaces. The Butler City and Zelienople-Harmony farmers’ markets will preview the summer season with representatives selling flowers, plants, pet and agricultural products. To make shopping easier, Butler County 4-H members will help to transport your purchases to the plant pickup area.

Bring the children in your life and give them an up-close and personal encounter with goats and rabbits at the petting zoo. Families are also invited to visit our children’s area to learn about butterflies.

This event is sponsored by:

All about Reclaimed

Armstrong Group

Butler Eagle

Butler Radio Network

Conlon Tarker Attorneys at Law

Schneider’s One Hour

The Flower and Food Fest is an event you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendar and check the event on Facebook (listed as “Flower & Food Fest at Alameda Park. It’s free, fun and fabulous.

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Diane Dallos is the Master Gardener Coordinator with Penn State Extension Butler County.

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County are volunteers whose mission is to support Penn State Cooperative Extension by utilizing research-based information to educate the public on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit their website at http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/butler or call 724-287-4761.