The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum at LancasterHistory will host their 2024 annual dinner on Wednesday, April 10. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Lancaster, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, and benefit the care and conservation of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum.

The 11-acre arboretum, featuring a multitude of plant specimens and garden features, is located on the grounds of LancasterHistory and President James Buchanan's Wheatland in Lancaster. The arboretum includes more than 100 species of trees from all over the world as well as two Pennsylvania state champion trees, pollinator gardens, and an American Conifer Society Reference Garden. The arboretum is cared for and conserved by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of LancasterHistory.

The dinner event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by a plated dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the main program, awards, and giveaway drawings around 7:30 p.m. The event will also include a presentation, "In Love With Fabulous Ferns" by Penn State Master Gardener Kevin Kelly.

Kelly's in-depth presentation will focus on outdoor gardening with ferns. Ferns are ancient plants that are typically underused in many outdoor plantings. Dinner attendees will learn about how to make garden-worthy fern selections - with a focus on native, eastern North American varieties - and how to incorporate these plants into their gardens.

A former family physician, Kelly has been a devoted gardener for over 35 years and is a Penn State Dauphin County Master Gardener. Kelly's garden has won two blue ribbons from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and was certified as a Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat Garden by the Pennsylvania Master Gardener Program, the Manada Conservancy, and the National Wildlife Federation.

The meal will include a salad with sun-dried cranberries, garden vegetables, and balsamic vinaigrette; herb roasted potatoes and seasonal roasted vegetables; a main entree of chicken picatta or grilled vegetables and pecorino cheese ravioli; and cheesecake with berries for dessert. There will be a cash bar.

Tickets include access to the event, dinner, and Kelly's presentation. Giveaway drawing tickets may be purchased during the cocktail reception with cash.

To purchase tickets by Monday, March 25, visit http://www.lancasterhistory.org and click on Events or call 717-392-4633, ext. 122. Any food allergies or special dietary needs should be communicated before the event to Cindy Madara at 717-392-4633, ext. 122, or cindy.madara@lancasterhistory.org. Reservations will be held upon receipt of payment.