Art, Plants & Community: Spring ArtFest Comes to Evergreen Nursery May 2–3

Two San Leandro institutions. One spectacular spring weekend. Sixteen local artists. And a Kids' Art Making Corner.

This May 2nd and 3rd, Evergreen Nursery is proud to host the San Leandro Art Association's annual Spring ArtFest — a two-day celebration of local art, community, and the beauty of the season in full bloom. The event is free and open to the public, running both days from 10am to 4pm at 350 San Leandro Blvd., San Leandro.

Two San Leandro Institutions, One Natural Partnership

Evergreen Nursery has been serving San Leandro and East Bay gardeners for over 40 years. The San Leandro Art Association has been nurturing local artists and bringing art to the community since 1957. When two organizations with that kind of shared local history and shared values come together, something special happens.

Both have roots deep in the same soil — a belief that creativity, beauty, and community make life richer. Spring ArtFest is what that belief looks like in practice.

Meet 16 Local Artists in the Nursery Garden

This year's ArtFest features the original works of 16 talented local artists, displayed right here among the Japanese maples, California natives, vegetable seedlings, and spring-blooming perennials that make our nursery so special this time of year. You'll have the chance to browse, connect with the artists in person, and find something truly one-of-a-kind.

Original art also makes an extraordinary Mother's Day gift — and with Mother's Day falling on May 11th, the timing couldn't be better. Skip the ordinary and give something handcrafted and local that will last a lifetime.

A Family-Friendly Event with a Kids' Art Making Corner

Spring ArtFest is designed for the whole family, and we want young visitors to feel right at home. Kids are invited to get creative at our Kids' Art Making Corner — a guided hands-on activity space where children can learn about making art and discover the same joy that brings our member artists back to their studios day after day.

Bring the kids. Let them dig in.

Why Art, Gardening & Community Are Good for You

There's a reason people feel better after an afternoon in the garden, or after losing themselves in a creative project, or after spending time with their neighbors at a community event. Science backs up what gardeners and artists have always known: these activities are genuinely good for mental health and well-being.

Gardening

Gardening reduces stress hormones, encourages mindfulness, and offers a quiet sense of accomplishment as you tend living things. It asks you to slow down, pay attention, and trust the process — all practices that support mental clarity and calm.

Making Art

Making art — whether you're a seasoned painter or a first-time doodler at the Kids' Corner — activates the brain's reward system, quiets anxiety, and builds a sense of flow and focus. Creativity doesn't require expertise. It just requires showing up.

Gathering in Community

Connecting with neighbors around shared interests and local spaces fosters the kind of belonging that supports emotional resilience. Community isn't just nice to have — it's essential. Events like Spring ArtFest are where those connections get made.

At Evergreen, we see it every day. Customers come in stressed and leave grounded. They come for a tomato plant and stay for a conversation. Gardening is a practice, a creative outlet, and a community — all in one.

Join Us: Spring ArtFest at Evergreen Nursery

Saturday & Sunday, May 2–3, 2026

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Evergreen Nursery | 350 San Leandro Blvd., San Leandro, CA

Free admission. All are welcome. Come for the art, stay for the plants, leave inspired.

Learn More: www.sanleandroart.org

Evergreen Nursery has served the San Leandro and East Bay gardening community for over 40 years. We carry a full selection of fruit trees, California native plants, roses, Japanese maples, vegetables, herbs, water-wise plants, and much more. Visit us at 350 San Leandro Blvd., San Leandro.