Annual Flower & Food Fest showcases plants grown by the best
One of the missions of the Penn State Master Gardeners is to educate people on good plant-growing practices, and one of the best places for them to do that is the annual Flower & Food Fest.
Diane Dallos, Master Gardener coordinator for the Butler County Penn State Extension, said this year’s event on Saturday, May 18, is a prime opportunity for green thumb-hopefuls not only to buy plants, but also to learn how to best grow and care for them.
“It's a great day for us to meet the community and answer their questions about all types of plants,” Dallos said. “We get a lot of people who buy a plant and come over and ask, 'How do I not kill this?'”
This year’s Flower & Food Fest takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Alameda Park’s Odd Fellows Loop, where numerous Master Gardeners will sell plants alongside other plant and food vendors. This is the 22nd year for the event, and the 11th year it has taken place at Alameda Park in Butler Township.
Dallos said the event is a showcase of plants grown by the 130 Master Gardeners in Butler County, who donate plants to sell to raise money for the Penn State Extension office’s programs. There also will be food trucks, farmers market vendors and children’s activities, according to Dallos.
Ashley Helmstaedter, assistant director of Butler County Parks and Recreation, said the event is a big draw to Alameda Park for visitors each time it takes place — the morning especially is when the park gets crowded.
“It has always been pretty steady; we've got a lot of gardeners in the county,” Helmstaedter said. “Everybody loves to come early for the plants.”
While the event is a good place for people to learn good gardening practices, Dallos said it is also a good place for experienced gardeners.
Dallos said the Flower & Food Fest is a big day not only for the community, but also for the Master Gardeners themselves, who get a lot of volunteer hours through work at the event. She said it is one of the biggest days of the year for all gardeners in the area.
“I think every single one of them touches the Flower & Food Fest,” Dallos said. “On the day of — we set up all day Friday — Saturday, we probably have over 70 Master Gardeners on site.”
For more information on the Flower & Food Fest, visit Butler County Parks and Recreation’s website or the Penn State Extension website.
