The 45th annual UC Riverside Botanic Gardens Spring Garden Market & Plant Sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 7.

Friends of the UCRBG can attend a members-only presale from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Those wishing to take advantage of the presale can become members at the gate. More details about membership can be found on the UCR Botanic Gardens website.

Thousands of plants will be offered for sale, including rare and unusual varieties, as well as plants that are part of the Gardens collection. Shoppers can choose from colorful, heat-loving trees and shrubs; flowering perennials; cacti and other succulents; orchids; plants that attract hummingbirds or butterflies; drought tolerant plants; and water-wise plants. Some California native plants will be among the offerings, although the best time to plant these species is fall, so a wider selection will be available at the fall sale.

A large selection of UC Master Gardener-grown vegetables, herbs, and flowers, will also be available to purchase.

Local vendors will augment the selection of plants grown on site at the UCR Botanic Gardens. Vendors include Paradise Garden Center, Australian Outback Plants, Blossoms of Aloha, High Noon Creations, Hula Tropicals, Orchids by Zeny, Stumps & Trunks, Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers, Rob Roy’s Plants, and Wild Birds Unlimited.

Several local societies will also attend, including the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), Garden & Floral Arrangers Guild, and California Rare Fruit Growers. The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources will provide information on composting.

Staff and volunteers from UC Master Gardeners and UCR Botanic Gardens will be on hand to answer questions and deliver free educational programs. These include “Growing Your Best Tomatoes & Peppers Ever” presented at 11:30 a.m. by Nancy Johnson, master gardener, and “Introduction to Home-Scale Permaculture” presented at 1:30 p.m. by Enrique Gonzalez, instructor, Sustainable Vocations & Earthroots Field School. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information and directions, please call the UCR Botanic Gardens at 951-784-6962, send an email to ucrbg@ucr.edu, or visit gardens.ucr.edu. Parking and admission are free for this event.

The UCR Botanic Gardens cover more than 40 acres and feature nearly 3,000 plant species from around the world. Visitors can enjoy beautiful vistas and numerous scenic trails, including both gentle pathways and rugged hiking trails. A wide array of blooming plants can be seen year around.