PLANT CITY, Fla. — Known for its famous shortcakes and whips, milkshakes and cookies, Parkesdale Farm Market is leaning into its impressive plant collection.

What You Need To Know

  • Parkesdale Farm Market Flower Power Plant Festival will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • The location of the market is 3702 West Baker St., Plant City

  • Plant City goth plant shop The Citrine Ghost is collaborating with the market on the festival

The Plant City landmark is host to the "Flower Power Plant Festival" on Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While most people flock to the Market for their famed strawberry shortcakes in season and strawberry milkshakes out of season, there is a whole other specialty from the Parke's family market — its plants.

Xiomara Meeks, part of the Parke family strawberry-farming family, runs the market. 

And she loves the plants there. From baby cactus and succulents to massive staghorns and rare specimens, there's a whole world to explore past the farm stand and dessert counter. 

“A lot of people just come in for the milkshake or the strawberry shortcake and leave," said Meeks. "But sometimes I guess if they have more time, they’ll come and wander through, and they’ll be like, 'I didn’t know you had all this here.'”

Meeks teamed up with Shannon Crosby from the Plant City goth plant shop The Citrine Ghost.

Think a Black ZZ Plant, presented in a miniature coffin with moss.

“Plants make people happy,” said Crosby.

Crosby spent eight years as a pop-up shop at curated festivals for her spookily presented plants, and now has a brick and mortar space inside a cat adoption cafe.

It's the collaboration that builds community — and it's all thanks to the love of the beauty and creepiness of the world of flora.