Diane Dallos

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County are hosting their Endless Summer: Fall Garden Seminar from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 11.

The event will be held in person at St. Conrad’s Church Social Hall, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler Township.

Virtual attendance will be available via Zoom from 8:30 am to noon. The virtual attendance cost is $20. The in-person attendance cost is $38, which includes breakfast and shopping at the Master Gardener Bulb and Gift Sale.

This year, a silent auction will be held at the in-person event. Cash and checks will be accepted as payment for the sale and auction. Registration is open at extension.psu.edu/endless-summer-fall-garden-seminar. Proceeds from the event will support gardening education projects throughout Butler County.

Eric Oesterling, a retired Penn State Extension agent, will start the seminar with his session, “Pruning Ornamentals.” Good pruning practices enhance the health and beauty of trees and shrubs and improve the productivity of fruiting plants. Unfortunately, pruning is one of the most misunderstood horticultural practices. Poor pruning can quickly destroy the natural beauty of any tree or shrub.

Oesterling will take the mystery out of pruning, explaining why, when and how to prune woody ornamental plants. For 31 years, Eric was responsible for informal education related to commercial and home horticulture in Westmoreland County and southwestern Pennsylvania. His horticultural interests include woody ornamentals, especially the genus rhododendron, vegetables, berries, tree fruit, as well as weed, insect and disease management in all crops.

“The Wonderful World of Owls“ is the topic of the second session, presented by Judy Semroc. This session describes the natural history, behavior, and research on our region’s owl species. Suggestions are offered on how to search for and find owls in and around where you live. Judy Semroc is a conservation specialist, field biologist and naturalist with more than 25 years of experience offering hands-on, exploration-based learning programs. Judy is the founder of Chrysalis in Time‚ the first Ohio chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. She serves on the board of the Ohio Biological Survey & Ohio Ornithological Society (Conservation Committee). She has co-authored two natural history guides, “Dragonflies & Damselflies of Northeast Ohio” and “Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio: A Field Guide to Identification & Natural History”.

The final seminar session, taught by Judy Semroc, is “Seasonal Trees to Attract Beneficial Insects and Birds.” This session will discuss the important botanical species that attract beneficial insects and birds to the home garden habitat. The importance of these plants includes information on preferred habitats, food, and cover for the bird and insect species we want in our gardens.

The workshop will conclude with information about additional resources and an evaluation. This Fall Seminar’s unique topics are of interest to novice and experienced gardeners alike. Join us for a morning of lively discussion and learning opportunities!

Diane Dallos is a Penn State Extension Butler County Master Gardener.