This Saturday is our 5th Annual Plants & Pets, and it has become one of my favorite days of the entire year. Right in the middle of the dog days of summer (yes, the pun is intended), we get to celebrate two things that so many of us love: our plants and our pets. Don’t worry, we won’t ask you to choose between them.
If you’ve been reading Life Lived Outside for a while, you’ve probably heard this story before. But it’s one of my favorites, and I think it’s worth telling again because it reminds me that some of the best ideas don’t come from boardrooms or business meetings. Sometimes they come from two little girls who simply aren’t ready for bedtime.
Ever since Abby and Maddy were babies, bedtime has always meant story time. We’ve traveled from See Spot Run and The Very Hungry Caterpillar through Curious George, The Berenstain Bears, and The Cat in the Hat. As they’ve grown, so have the adventures. We’ve explored The Mysterious Island, crossed swords with The Three Musketeers, journeyed through The Lord of the Rings, and even wandered the deserts of Dune.
Of course, bedtime stories never really end with, “Goodnight.”
One evening in the spring of 2022, I had just finished reading a chapter when the girls suddenly announced they had a brilliant idea. They wanted to dress up our cocker spaniel, Pearl, bring her to Kerby’s, and let everyone pet her.
I told them that while we thought Pearl was awfully special, I wasn’t convinced that everyone else in the area would line up to pet our dog.
That one idea quickly became another.
“What if everyone brought their pets?”
I hurried downstairs to grab a notepad, leaving Kim wondering why bedtime was taking so long, and the three of us started scribbling ideas as fast as we could think of them. We originally called it Plants & Pooches, but when we shared the idea with the Nursery team, we realized we didn’t want to leave out cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, or any of the other animals that become part of our families. Plants & Pets was a much better name.
Four years later, what started as a bedtime conversation has become one of the highlights of our summer. Every year we meet incredible pets, hear wonderful stories, and watch people smile as they show off companions that mean the world to them. It’s a reminder that gardening isn’t just about plants. It’s about home, family, and the lives we build around them.
We’d love for you to join us this Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Bring your furry, feathered, or scaly family member, meet fellow animal lovers, enjoy the Nursery, and help us celebrate our fifth year of one of Kerby’s most joyful traditions.
Check out everything happening below, RSVP here if you can, and we’ll see you and your best friend this Saturday at Plants & Pets.
Plants & Pets Schedule of Events:
9:00 am: Plants & Pets opens!
-Welcome! Check in/register your pet for the Pet Parade. Start visiting booths.
9:30 am: Pet Parade!
-Join us to cheer on the pets who will be stepping onto the green carpet. If you want your pet to be part of the parade, register here.
11:00 am: Pet-Friendly Plants Talk
-Find out our Top 10 favorite plants that are safe for cats and dogs, plus how to keep your pets away from your plants.
All Morning (9:00 am – 12:00 pm): Visit vendor and nonprofit booths, pose at the Pet Photo Booth, navigate the Pet Obstacle Course, and stop by the Kerby’s booth for plant safety info for various pets, free popsicles, and fun for kids.
