The ever-popular May Market will begin Friday and continue through next weekend at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park. This year, the theme is "An Eco-Friendly Garden Fair."

Besides the regular booths full of plants and garden accessories, environmentally friendly products will be sold along with fondant strawberries and mushroom sandwiches. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday.

Even if you didn't pre-order from the catalog for the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania's annual plant sale, you can still pick up plants on pick-up day May 17 at the Green Tree Fire Hall and Community Center. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pruners, loppers and shovels can be sharpened for $5 each, and Penn State Soil test kits will be available. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer garden questions.

The Bradford Woods Conservancy will sponsor a free program featuring Darrell Frey of Three Sisters Farm on May 28 at 7 p.m. Mr. Frey will discuss "Household Organic Gardening."

Birdwalk! a week-long exhibition of one-of-a-kind bird and garden creations will be held in Ligonier May 16-22. Pottery, paintings, birdhouses and feeders will be on display at Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce businesses. The exhibition is a part of the Garden Themes & Birdhouse Dreams, a benefit for Powdermill Nature Reserve, and includes children and family activities throughout the event. Information: 724-238-4200.

James Fair, the soldier who lost his sight and hands in a bomb blast in Iraq, will receive the key to his new house at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers are asked to show up to help lay sod and mulch at 112 Oesterle Lane, Ross.