Planting time ... Friday, Saturday

Gardening has become one of America's favorite pastimes, but here in Lancaster County, it's a way of life. One staple of the local gardening community continues to be the annual Landis Valley Herb and Garden Faire. Happening Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, the faire has earned a reputation as a place to find plants you might not find just anywhere else. More than 75 vendors offer annuals, perennials, natives, trees, seeds, garden accessories, cut flowers, home and garden decor items and more. There will also be vendors offering lunch items and ice cream. Some gardeners return each year for Landis Valley's Heirloom Seed Project which annually offers a wide array of heirloom tomatoes, annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables. Experts will be on hand to offer gardening advice and answer questions. In addition, there will be live music and activities for kids. Plus the village, farm and gardens will be open to tour. Admission to the Herb and Garden Faire is $8. For more information, visit www.landisvalleymuseum.org or call 569-0401.

Steam Up ... Friday, Saturday

Get ready... Get set... Get steamin'! The fields are getting green so it must be time for the Spring Steam Up at Rough and Tumble Museum in Kinzers. They're warming up the sawmill, the Shay Railroad, tractors, steam engines, large and small gas engines and a host of various and sundries at the popular family-friendly event. The Steam Up takes place Friday and Saturday with gates opening each day at a bright and early 8 a.m. If you like watching things go, this is an event not to miss. Plowing demonstrations including steam traction, antique gas powered and garden tractors, take place both days, as well as blacksmithing demos. You can play tractor games at 4 p.m. today, while the Parade of Power happens Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The event also features a garden tractor pull and an antique tractor pull (both Saturday only), as well as a kiddies pedal tractor pull. Also on Saturday only, a gathering of Sunbeam automobiles will fill the grounds. Admission to the Spring Steam Up is $5 for adults and $2 for children from 6 to 12. Kids 5 and under get in free. For more information, visit www.roughandtumble.org.

Phil Vassar ... Wednesday

Remember that old Barry Manilow tune called "I Write the Songs"? (Which, incidentally, he didn't write.) Well, country performer Phil Vassar could have. Vassar, performing Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the American Music Theatre, was the guy behind Jo Dee Messina's "Bye Bye" and "I'm Alright," Tim McGraw's "For a Little While" and Collin Raye's "Little Red Rodeo" -- to name just a few. As a songwriter, he was a go-to guy in Nashville. In 1999, he decided to record some of his songs himself, which resulted in the single "Just Another Day in Paradise" which became his first Number One hit. He would have to wait five years for his second song to climb to the top of the charts -- "In a Real Love," from "Shaken Not Stirred." In the ensuing years, he's become one of those guys who, though he may not be breaking any chart-topping records, still remains on the scene and on the airwaves. Whether he's a better writer than performer is open for debate, but he's got a bunch of country loving fans who say he's great at both. Tickets for Vassar's concert are $45. For information, call 397-7700 or visit www.amtshows.com.