EAT YOUR VEGETABLES: Carrie Lyle posts on vegetable gardening each Tuesday.

With all the garden festivals held in May, it's hard to choose which ones to visit. Gardeners interested in heirloom plants may want to check out our personal favorite, the Herb & Garden Faire at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pa., on May 8 and 9. It's well worth the hour and a half drive. Over 65 vendors will be there selling heirloom vegetable seedlings, native plants, antique roses, garden art and crafts.

You'll be able to buy vegetable and ornamental seedlings historically grown by Pennsylvania Germans at the Heirloom Seed Project Marketplace. And don't miss the heirloom tomato tent run by the Manheim Central High School Future Farmers of America. In past years, we've snagged hard-to-find gems like Isis Candy cherry tomatoes and vibrant yellow Azoychka tomatoes from Russia.

The fair runs from 9 to 5 Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Admission is $8, with proceeds benefiting the Heirloom Seed Project. Visit the museum's website for more information.

Check back next Thursday for a roundup of other plant sales the weekend of Mother's Day. If you have one you'd like us to include, e-mail gardenvariety@baltsun.com.

Photo credit: Landis Valley Museum