University Place's Annual Flower Show And Plant Sale Set For April 30, May 1

The weather might have been a little misleading, but spring is in the air.

In these parts, this time of year means the annual , scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 30, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 1 at .

The yearly event, one of the largest in the South Sound, will feature a free rhododendron exhibit, a plant market and an environmental fair with information and demonstrations on sustainable gardening techniques.

The plant market will take place on the Homestead Park patio. It will include a wide variety of local Puget Sound plant vendors and specialty nurseries. Rhododendron experts and a master gardener will be available to discuss plant varieties and answer gardening questions.

"We have some fabulous and hard to get rhododendrons, fuschias, hardy ferns, dahlias, roses  and other perennials, that you won’t  find at the garden center," said Gary Becker of the Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society and member of The .

A unique part of the event is the eighth-annual Rhododendron Truss Exhibit, which will feature hundreds of freshly blooming rhododendron trusses, each one more vibrant than the other.  It is located in the University Place Community Room at , and has grown to be one of the largest rhododendron displays on the West Coast. 

People can participate in the exhibit by bringing samples of their best rhododendron and azalea blooms for display. Truss entries and sprays will be accepted from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., April 29, and 8 a.m. to noon on April 30.  Visitors to the exhibit will judge the entries.  First, second and third place ribbons, “Best of Class” and “Best of Show” winners  will be announced Sunday morning.  Tips on how to select and groom a truss for exhibit are available on the Homestead Park website at www.friendsofhomesteadpark.org.

New to this year's event is the Envirofair, which will feature information booths and demonstrations on natural yard care, composting, rain gardens, mason bee shelters, native plants, green-cleaning demonstrations, recycling, energy efficiency and sustainable growth techniques.

All this gardening flower power is sponsored by The Friends of Homestead Park and the Peninsula Chapter of American Rhododendron Society. Their partnership began with the design, donation and planting of more than 400 rhododendrons in the then-newly developed Homestead Park in 2000. Since the first planting, they have expanded the  garden to include over 1,000 rhododendrons, 50 varieties of hardy ferns, fuschias, camellias, hydrangeas and thousands of daffodils. It contains the largest collection of native North American rhododendrons on the West Coast. The spectacular Homestead Park Rhododendron Garden has grown to be a stunning  spring horticultural display as it fully develops and matures.

For more information, visit The Friends of Homestead Park website.

As an added bonus, University Place Patch Editor Brent Champaco will be at the event Saturday to meet and chat with visitors.