(5/8) The Penn State Master Gardeners of Adams County will be holding their annual plant sale on May 20, 2017 from 9 to 11 am at the Penn State Agricultural Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road in Gettysburg. Then from 11 am to 1 pm, we will move to the Gettysburg Rec. Park to be part of the Gettysburg Green Gathering that is being held there. "Gettysburg Green Gathering is a local-centric organization that seeks to grow a green ethic throughout greater Adams County, PA. Our flagship event is a day festival held around Earth Day which benefits local organizations that focus on community environmental needs."

The Master Gardeners partnered with Gettysburg Green Gathering last year at the Ag Center in Gettysburg for their plant sale. Both groups are motivated to promote local events.

Master Gardeners will be selling annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables from local nurseries. They always try to have plants for sale that will be popular with consumers. Luckily, every year something new comes along which is a hit with the public. Remember the popcorn plant from last year? I’m sure it will be back again this year. By having the sale near the end of May, the Master Gardeners will be able to sell a larger variety of plants—tomatoes and peppers, squash and cucumbers, and other late vegetables. They will also be able to sell the late, more tender annuals that don’t do well in cold weather such as vinca.

Master Gardeners are encouraging those who buy plants this year to focus on pollinator plants that will bring bees, flower flies, and butterflies into their gardens. Perhaps surprising to some, but gardeners don’t have to plant vegetables and flowers separately. They should try interspersing flowers among the vegetables. Such practices will encourage the pollinators to come and pollinate the vegetables. Or several plants can be placed in a pot and the pot located within the garden to encourage the bees to come and pollinate other blossoms in the area.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and help you choose the perfect plant for your garden. Such an event provides a great opportunity for community gardeners to take advantage of the years of gardening experience that local Master Gardeners have to offer.

Besides selling plants, the Master Gardeners will also have a Gardener's Yard Sale where you may be able to find a tool that you need or some seeds or gardening books. And if you need a snack while you’re shopping, there will be a bake sale, too.