Volunteer Gem Sano, right, helps a customer at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum annual Spring Plant Sale. This year's 27th annual sale opens with a members only pre-sale from 3-7 p.m. May 4; memberships are available at the door. General public sale hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 5 and noon-4:30 p.m. May 6, at 1800 N. Dixboro Road. More than 1,000 varieties of top-quality plants will be on sale and horticulturalists will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. There will also be free gardening demonstrations on subjects including rain barrels, alternative ground covers, herbs, floral displays, native plant gardening and gardening with kids. Call (734) 647-7600 or go to www.mbgna.umich.edu for details including a list of available plants. There is free parking and a loading and holding area. (Photo by Bob Grese)