Spring is here, so is time to plant summer flowers, veggies and herbs. Here’s some info on local spring plant sales and other opportunities to buy plants and veggie and herb starters in the area. Happy planting!

The University City Garden Club is holding its annual spring plant sale online this year. This is a fundraiser sale, proceeds from which will be used to support greening and civic beautification. The sale features annual flowers for shade and sun locations, herbs, vegetables and plants for gifts, as well as containers and hanging baskets. The shop and order period runs until Thursday, April 15. Contactless curbside pickup of pre-orders will be Saturday, May 1 at 517 Woodland Terrace near the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Go here to browse the plant selection and place your order: ucgcshop.square.site. Continue Reading

The 61st Annual Spruce Hill May Fair will be held at Clark Park on Saturday, May 11th from noon to 6 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, May 12). The event is the primary fundraiser for the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA). Proceeds go to support local schools and other organizations and sponsor popular neighborhood activities.

This year’s May Fair will feature the following events and activities:

• Over 50 local vendors offering a wide range of arts and crafts and other unique products, including many gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Others will have information about local groups and causes seeking public support.
• Exciting musical line-up with Dan Blacksburg and the Haimishers and special guests Compas 48.
• The University City Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale.
• Food for every taste will be provided by some wonderful food vendors.
• For the kids, there will be a petting zoo, a bounce house and 40-foot-long inflatable obstacle course, and professional face-painting.
• $1 raffle will feature great prizes donated by local merchants.

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Heritage roses, historic boxwoods, vegetable and herb starts, native perennials, shrubs, trees and more will be available for sale at this year’s plant sale at Bartram’s Garden. The popular annual event will be held on Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. It is also a great opportunity to visit the 1731 Bartram House which will be open all day.

Throughout the day, horticulturalists will be on hand to answer questions and share garden-planning advice.

Bartram’s Garden members are invited to check out this year’s fabulous selection of plants during a Member Preview Party on Friday, April 20, plus enjoy discounts on plant and Welcome Center purchases.  Continue Reading

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend check out all the events and activities happening at Bartram’s Garden.

Philadelphia Honey Festival

The annual Philadelphia Honey Fest will be held at Bartram’s on Sunday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature myriad activities for the whole family: a children’s carnival and a couple of bee parades, honey extraction demonstrations, House and Garden tours, musical performances, beekeeper talks, story hours, and more. Local vendors and organizations will also be selling honey based products and providing demonstrations. If you get hungry there will be food trucks on site. Parks on Tap (a traveling beer garden) will also be there. And last but not least, don’t miss a special “Bee Beard” demonstration at 3 p.m.: Don Shump, owner of the Philadelphia Bee Company will create a beard of bees on his face! For more information and activity schedule, go here.  Continue Reading

Saturday, April 22 will be a big day at the historic Bartram’s Garden as it’s celebrating Spring and opening of the Bartram’s Mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Community members are invited to a Spring Open House and plant sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, guests will get an opportunity to visit the 1731 Bartram House as its doors will be open all day. The plant sale will feature a unique selection of heritage roses, pond plants, historic boxwoods, vegetable and herbs starts, native perennials, shrubs, and trees. Here’s the full array of plants available for sale this year. Gardening experts will be on hand to answer questions.  Continue Reading

A lot of cool events are happening in the area this weekend, including Second Fridays on Lancaster Avenue, Spruce Hill May Fair, Bartram’s Garden Spring Plant Sale & Mother’s Day festivities, UC Arts League’s Benefit Auction & Cocktail Party and more. Also, a reminder that the opening night for Curio Theatre’s farcical comedy Noises Off is this Friday. More details are below. For more upcoming events, please visit our Events Calendar. Happy Mother’s Day to all West Philly moms!

Friday, May 8

Carr Garden Groundbreaking Ceremony at Bartram’s Garden, 54th and Lindbergh

The groundbreaking for the Carr Garden restoration starts at 3:30 p.m. This free event marks the beginning of an exciting landscape renovation project on the western façade of the John Bartram House, recreating the Ann Bartram Carr and her husband Robert’s exotic plantings of the early 19th-century. Registration for the event is here.

“Arts in the Park” at Malcolm X. Memorial Park, 52nd and Pine

4 – 5:30 p.m.: Make Art Now!: Help create a community painting and sidewalk chalk art
5:30 – 7 p.m.: Performances by West Philadelphia middle and high school students (music, dance, spoken word, monologues)

Second Fridays on Lancaster Ave

Second Fridays kicks off at 5 p.m. with Live Music at the triangle lot at 42nd and Lancaster, featuring Toni Washington and PECCDC Brochure Release Party. Other events this Friday include: Neighborhood Time Exchange Open House (6-8 p.m., 4017 Lancaster Ave), Inner Journey Jazz at the CEC ($15) (7-9 p.m., 3500 Lancaster Ave); Open Mic Night at Reed’s Coffee (7 p.m. to whenever, 3802 Lancaster Ave), Free Screening of “Annie” (2014) (6:30 p.m., PEC, 325 N. 39th St); Reelblack Inc. presents “Closed Doors; The Integration of Baseball” ($5) (7 p.m., United Bank building, 3750 Lancaster Ave); Art on the Avenue presents “Full Circle: The East African Connection” – Paintings by Kenyan Artists and Emil Baumann (5:30 – 9 p.m., 3808 Lancaster Ave); Indego Bike Share Learning Session (6 – 8 p.m., 3750 Lancaster Ave, in the parking lot of the United Bank Building). More information is available on the Second Fridays on Lancaster Ave Facebook page.

“Noises Off” Opening Night at Curio Theatre, 48th and Baltimore

Curio Theatre Company wants folks to dress up in the 80’s style for the opening night of their new show, farcical comedy “Noises Off.” And those who do have a chance to win two passes for next season. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets ($15-$25) are available here.

Saturday, May 9

Spruce Hill May Fair at Clark Park, 43rd and Chester

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair will be held for the 57th time with some new activities added for children this year. This Saturday kids can enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo (both 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.) in addition to the bounce tent and 40-foot-long obstacle course. The fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine, will also include a raffle with great prizes from neighborhood businesses (read more about them here), music performances, book and plant sales, and dozens of local vendors and food trucks. Please visit the Spruce Hill Community Association’s website for more information. If you would like to volunteer at the event please email Craig Santoro at craigsantoro@gmail.com

Spring Plant Sale at Bartram’s Garden

Bartram’s Garden Spring Plant will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Expert horticulturists will be on hand on both days for consultations and advice. The following events are scheduled for Saturday: Garden Bird Walk (7:30 a.m.) and Hidden History & Garden Tours (12 – 3 p.m.). Tickets are available at the Welcome Center. Click here for more information.  Continue Reading