Master Gardeners, parks and rec host spring gardener series
Gardening season is arriving soon!
Join the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program of Butler County to learn how to transform your garden from bland to bravo.
The Gardener Series, a three-session event co-hosted with Butler County Parks and Recreation, will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday May 2, 9 and 16 at Alameda Park in Butler Township. Each session costs $15 and will include instruction, a gift and discounts for the 2024 Flower & Food Fest event on May 18. Pre-registration is required; interested participants can register online at bcpr.recdesk.com or call 724-287-5383.
The sessions
On May 2, “Get Ready for Vegetables” will explore ways to grow food. Adding tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and squash to your garden can provide healthy eating options all season long. The session will review garden preparations, plant selection, care and harvest. Participants in this session will take home a pair of gardening gloves to tackle their garden chores.
On May 9, “Cut Flower Fun” will teach the basics of cut flower gardening. Whether seeking to add color to an existing garden space or create a garden dedicated to cut flowers, there is a wide array of plants to use. The session will discuss plant selections, using bulbs, tubers and perennials for cut flowers as well as cut flower care tips. A dahlia tuber will be shared with each participant to start their flower-growing journey.
On May 16, the session is for the pollinators. “Growing for Pollinators” will discuss creating a garden space dedicated to butterflies, bees and moths. The presentation will teach the importance of providing food and shelter for pollinators, which plants support pollinators, and the requirements for a Penn State Extension Pollinator Friendly Garden Certification. Each participant will receive a pollinator-friendly plant to add to their landscapes.
For more information, contact the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email butlermg@psu.edu.
Diane Dallos is Master Gardener coordinator with the Penn State Extension in Butler County.
