Youngstown Garden Club presents Plant-O-Rama 2024

By Colleen Summerville

Building on the success of last year's inaugural Plant-O-Rama, the Youngstown Garden Club will present Plant-O-Rama 2024 on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Youngstown Village Center, located at 240 Lockport St.

Centered on the Garden Club's traditional annual perennial plant sale, Plant-O-Rama is evolving to become a signature spring festival in our region, celebrating the beginning of the growing season.

With an increased focus on environment and ecology, many components of Plant-O-Rama will align with this theme, while promising a fun, family-friendly experience. The plant sale will offer several varieties of native tree seedlings and many native pollinator plants along with a typical array of garden favorite perennials, herbs and beautiful annual hanging baskets.

A sampling of the many environmental organizations in our region will be present from 1-2 p.m., with informational displays staffed with knowledgeable volunteers. These include the WNY Land Conservancy, Niagara County Soil & Water, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara County, and the Hawk Creek Wildlife Center with an exhibit of some of its rehabilitated animals.

Activities for children of all ages abound, with face-painting by Paint Me Funky, a flower power chalk walk, rock painting and plant-a-pot. Petey's Treats and Youngstown Marketside will be on hand with food and beverages for sale, and music will be provided by Andrea & Me from 11 a.m.-noon and 12:45-1:45 p.m., and Nan Hoffman and Joe Tumino from noon-12: 45 p.m.

Andrea & Me feature Andrea Zaccarella and Robert Johnson, a professional acoustic duo from the area performing music from the ’60s through present day. Nan and Joe will present “Songs for a Livable Land,” featuring nature-themed music for a family audience. Children will enjoy participating in their show in fun and creative ways.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to see the club's newly planted native plant garden, just one of the local gardens that comprise the Niagara River Butterfly Trail, and our centerpiece perennial garden, both on the grounds of the Youngstown Village Center.

Come spend a day with us at Plant-O-Rama. You'll create family memories to last a lifetime – and enhance your lawn and garden with some new plants while you're at it! For more information, visit www.facebook.com/youngstowngardenclub.