From staff reports
The Franklin Gardeners Association is hosting the 17th annual May Garden Mart this weekend in West Park, or Fountain Park, in downtown Franklin.
The hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There will be an all-time high of 50 vendors offering gardeners an array of items to start their growing season, according to Terri Wittreich, a spokesperson for the association.
Trees, shrubs, herbs, ornamental grasses, garden decor and furniture as well as lawn and garden equipment will be offered throughout West Park during the event.
“Local favorites Anderson Greenhouse, Wyattville Gardens, Park Avenue Greenhouse and Lamb and Webster will continue to serve as cornerstone vendors. Herbal soaps, hand woven baskets, pottery and ready-made planters are among other items available to shoppers,” Wittreich said.
Master Gardeners of Venango County will have plant starts for purchase and the Shade Tree Commission will offer tips on proper pruning techniques.
A children’s tent on both days will have the kids busy with take-home projects as well as face painting by Amy Ivell.
Featured this year is a presentation by Tribune Review Home and Garden editor Doug Oster. He can be seen weekly on Thursdays on KDKA-TV’s “Pittsburgh Today Live” giving gardening tips and advice. Oster can also be heard Sunday mornings on KDKA radio talking about organic gardening.
Oster’s May Garden Mart presentation will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the basement of the Franklin First Presbyterian Church on the corner of West Park and Elk Street, rain or shine.
The Venango Brigade will provide Civil War era music from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Steve Johnston on pennywhistle and John Tenney on bones will perform authentic tunes wearing uniforms of that period.
Local guitar artist Jerome Wincek will perform his gentle original compositions as well as classical pieces on Sunday. The performer’s tent will be across from the FGA member’s tent near the fountain.
“May Gardent Mart food vendors will offer visitors a great selection of pitas, wraps, salads, kettle corn, sandwiches and other fare to satisfy your cravings,” Wittreich said.
“One of the highlights of May Mart is a chance to win raffle items,” she said. “As before, each vendor donates an item from their booth to be raffled.”
“In a separate raffle, the Franklin Gardeners have three items of interest to gardeners – a sturdy garden dump wagon, a cedar 14-foot by 36-foot planter that was hand made by the spouse of one of FGA’s members, and a rain barrel/planter. Items from vendors and the FGA will be on display at the FGA member tent where tickets can be purchased for your chances to win,” Wittreich said.
The drawing for raffle items will be 2 p.m. Sunday and people do not have to be present to win.
For additional information and updates, visit www.franklingardeners.org.
