Braconid wasps are a natural enemy of the Tomato Hornworm. A wasp has laid its eggs in this hornworm. The eggs will hatch and the young wasps will feed on the hornworm, destroying it in the process.

We've all been there. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe the roses.

Purple coneflowers are nothing less than magnificent against the Russian sage. The fruit trees are masterpieces of fruit and foliage. The tomato crop will keep you and your neighbors in salad through the season. The daylilies transplanted last month are well on their way to producing a stellar bloom next summer.

Then, garden disaster strikes.

The roses and coneflowers are suddenly full of holes. The fruit trees turn brown. Close inspection reveals leaves that are mere skeletons of veins; most of the leaf is gone. The tomato plant is nothing but a stem and the daylilies are nowhere to be found. What's a gardener to do?

Visit the Penn State Master Gardener exhibit at the Butler Farm Show, that's what. This year's farm show exhibit will feature solutions to common garden pests and problems and a special section with information on the Emerald Ash Borer.

Eileen Stroup, fifth-year exhibit committee chair, is excited about the 2007 display. The exhibit, a product of months of planning and weeks of furious activity, is informational, yet humorous in providing answers to garden problems. Answers provided focus on how Integrated Pest Management works to discourage pests before they destroy your plants.

If it's too late for prevention and you are faced with an infestation, IPM helps you decide how and when to use biological and chemical controls to protect your garden and be kind to the environment at the same time.

Integrated Pest Management provides a comprehensive approach to pest control that is safer, more effective and longer-lasting than more conventional methods.

Using IPM methods, you understand the pest's identity and habits so that you can try non-toxic preventive measures first. If prevention doesn't handle the situation, IPM provides a combination of tactics that used together, provide for maximum effectiveness in fighting pests. If chemicals must be used, the least toxic are recommended.

Important factors in effective IPM are keeping track of pest populations before they get out of hand and knowing the best times and places to use control tactics.

Confronted with pests and gardening problems ranging from the two-legged to four-legged to many-legged varieties, Stroup took a poll of the master gardeners to help her decide what to feature in the exhibit. Not surprisingly, the number one problem identified for the 2007 gardening season was the Japanese beetle. Somewhat more unexpected was the identification of the two-legged family member, intent on improving the grounds, who inadvertently pulled "weeds" or who wasn't aware that protecting plants was vital while washing down the deck. You'll have to visit the exhibit to learn about the rest of the "top ten."

Stroup will be happy if every person who stops at the booth discovers at least one new piece of information on pest prevention and control. Visitors will find valuable details on avoidance, control and keeping helpful family members informed. In addition to the focus on pest problems, Master Gardeners are handing out seeds collected from their own gardens, along with instructions on how to plant the seeds and care for the plants.

What happened to those plants identified in the opening paragraph? The roses, coneflowers and fruit trees all fell victim to the Japanese beetle. Tomato hornworms decimated the tomato plants; they've also been known to attack other nightshade vegetables like peppers and eggplants. The daylilies, unmarked, looked pretty much like grass to the lawn mower operator.

At the farm show exhibit, you will learn more about preventing and controlling Japanese beetles, tomato hornworms and other insect pests. You can find out what to do and what not to do about the four-legged critters that can wreak havoc. Tips will be available on how to make sure family members know the difference between weeds and desirable plants and other information vital to the survival of your garden plants.

Over the years, the Master Gardener farm show exhibit has informed visitors about native and shade plants, bulbs, perennials and vegetables. This educational aspect of the farm show exhibit is a perfect example of what the organization is all about. Penn State's Master Gardeners of Butler County are volunteers who share their love and knowledge of planting and growing with others in the community who want to learn more about gardening.

During the growing season, Master Gardeners answer questions phoned in to the GreenLine. Educational plantings maintained by Master Gardeners include a vegetable garden at the Sunnyview complex, a butterfly garden near the Cranberry Public Library, a flower garden at the Mars Public Library, and an herb garden at The Succop Conservancy. The goal of any Master Gardener project is providing an opportunity for visitors to learn.

Looking for something new for your next group meeting? Master Gardeners are available to present workshops, lectures, and demonstrations on a variety of gardening subjects, including perennials, making outdoor garden troughs, and exercise to keep yourself flexible and in condition for easy gardening.

Master Gardeners complete an application and interview process and attend a series of classes before working in the community. Currently, those classes are undergoing restructure on both the state and northwest region levels. New educational materials, redesigned classes and updated content will offer the best possible learning experience to new volunteers, beginning in the fall of 2008.

To learn more about the Penn State Master Gardeners of Butler County, get answers to your gardening questions from GreenLine volunteers, or find out how to schedule a speaker for your next event, call 724-287-4761.

Susan Struthers is a Master Gardener with the Penn State Master Gardener Program.