TEAMS SWEEP, CARRY, BAG AND TOSS “TRASH” AT EVENT HONORING MT. AIRY AVENUE AMBASSADORS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. At the one-year anniversary celebration of Mt. Airy USA’s Ambassadors Program on April 12 at the Trolley Car Diner, dozens of community members gathered as a group of elementary school-aged school children put on a special presentation in honor of the Ambassadors. The winning team presented each Ambassador with a gift basket, and the chief Ambassador, Bob Elfant, accepted a plaque and flowers.	THE RIGHT REV. PAUL MARSHALL, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, Pa., will be the guest preacher during the 5 p.m. Evensong service on Sunday, May 8 at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill. Music selections offered by the St. Martin’s Choir will include works by Lee Hoiby and Richard Dirksen. The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields is located on the corner of St. Martins Lane and Willow Grove Avenue in Chestnut Hill. To contact the church, call 215-247-7466.	ISRAEL AND MIDDLE EAST SCHOLAR/AUTHOR DR. ILAN PELEG will discuss “Israel on the Eve of Disengagement: A Peaceful Dawn in the Middle East?” at the Sholom Aleichem Club meeting on Sunday May 15 at 3 p.m. at Gratz College, Old York Road and Melrose Avenue, Melrose Park. $7 for adults; $2 for students. 215-233-2668 or www.sholomaleichemclub.org. The Sholom Aleichem Club, a local Secular Jewish organization entering its sixth decade, meets the second weekend of the month and offers dynamic, stimulating and entertaining meetings dealing with Jewish culture, Secular observance of Jewish holidays, and a wide variety of current, social, cultural and international issues.
LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS. In 1978, the Brandywine Conservancy published a groundbreaking book on gardening with native plants. Landscaping with Native Plants by Elizabeth N. du Pont encouraged gardeners and designers to take advantage of the many benefits of using native plants. The book explained basic — yet, at the time, not widely known — concepts such as micro-climate, plant community and plant succession while pointing out the advantages of growing plants in harmony with the environment. After being out-of-print for many years, the book has been reissued, which includes advancements in plant propagation, biodiversity conservation, invasive species management and more. It is available for $19.95 at the Brandywine River Museum Shop and online at www.brandywinemuseumshop.org. The book would be the perfect accompaniment to Brandywine’s annual wildflower, native plant and seed sale on May 7-8 at the museum, Route 1 in Chadds Ford. 610-388-2700.	MELISSA FITZGERALD, formerly of Chestnut Hill, who plays “Carol” on The West Wing, will appear at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., on Thursday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m., for a discussion about writing for the show, followed by a screening. She will be joined by scriptwriters Josh Singer and John Sacret Young. This program is free and open to the public, but reservations are necessary: e-mail nationalprograms@constitutioncenter.org or call 215-409-6700.

Brennan – Wren engagement

Dennis and Ann Brennan, of East Norriton, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Marie Brennan, to Paul Tilghman Wren, son of Steven Wren and Katherine Maus, both of Mt. Airy.

The bride-to-be is a graduate of Norristown Area High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Temple University. She is currently the assistant to the manager of public and client relations at Dixon Environmental in Frazer, PA.

The future groom is a graduate of Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a manager of professional services at GXP Partners in Langhorne.

They will be married on October 15 at St. John’s Lutheran church in Centre Square, Pa.

Arboretum plant sale

Admission is free to the Morris Arboretum’s annual spring plant sale. This much anticipated event will be held on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 from noon – 4 p.m. in the location directly across from the main arboretum entrance at 100 Northwestern Ave. Friday, May 6 is the exclusive Members’ Preview, open only to arboretum members, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Visitors are invited to become members that day to take advantage of the special preview and receive a free bonus plant. Parking will be available close to the sales area but a shuttle will ferry those who prefer not to make the short walk to the site of the sale. Shoppers will also be able to load their purchases into their cars at the pick-up area.

The sale is an annual tradition for Philadelphia gardeners and features hundreds of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, many of which are unusual or difficult to locate at other garden centers. Exciting new plants that have never been offered before include a choice selection of tender ferns and foliage plants for shady spots as well as native plants that have been especially selected for their adaptability, durability and beauty. Horticultural experts will be available to answer questions or assist customers to choose plants appropriate for their gardens.

For a preview of the sale, join arboretum director of horticulture Anthony Aiello as he highlights some of the unique offerings available this year in a lecture held on Tuesday, May 3 at 7 pm. The lecture is free to Arboretum members and $5 for non-members. Reservations are required; call 215-247-5777 ext. 169.

Lunch and refreshments will be available. New this year, three local retailers will also be featured at the plant sale. The Hill Co., Peter’s Pots and Floribunda Bags will offer unique garden items for sale, including decorative pots and urns, garden furniture and handcrafted floral bags.