Spring Affair, the Midwest’s largest plant sale and gardening event, will take place April 25 at the Lancaster Event Center.

More than 500 perennials, herbs, grasses, trees, shrubs and other plants will be available at the sale, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plant experts will be on hand to assist shoppers.

Admission is free. Parking is available on the north side of the building.

The sale is sponsored by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum as an educational tool, fundraising event and to promote regional plants. Plants will be provided by Bluebird Nursery Inc. of Clarkson.

Talks on planting, design and edible plants will take place throughout the day in Pavilion 1.

• “Using and Cooking with Herbs” with Cindy Brison, extension educator in Douglas and Sarpy counties, 10:30-11 a.m.

• “Prairie Plants in the Landscape” with Mark Canney, park planner and urban designer for Lincoln Parks and Recreation, 11:15-11:45 a.m.

• “Swiss Army Landscaping with Multi-Purpose Plants” with Graham Herbst, community forestry specialist for the Nebraska Forest Service, noon-12:30 p.m.

• “Trees for the Home Landscape” with Justin Evertson, executive director of NSA, 12:45-1:15 p.m.

The Spring Affair Preview Party will be April 24. The event features a buffet meal, live music and a cash bar. The silent auction will start at 6 p.m., followed by a live auction of rare plants at 8 p.m.

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, in the Institute of Agriculture of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was founded in 1978. NSA is dedicated to improving and enhancing Nebraska community landscapes, promoting native plants and inspiring adults and children to get involved in gardening.

For more information, to sign up for the Preview Party or to get a copy of the 2015 Spring Affair newsletter, call 402-472-2971 or visit http://plantnebraska.org/spring-affair.