Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County are hosting their Fall Seminar in-person from 8 a.m. until noon Oct. 15 at the St. Conrad Church social hall, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler Township. Virtual attendance will be available via Zoom.

The in-person attendance cost is $38, which includes breakfast and shopping at the Master Gardener Bulb and Gift Sale; the virtual attendance cost is $20. Registration is open at https://extension.psu.edu/endless-summer-fall-garden-seminar. Proceeds from the event will support community gardening projects throughout Butler County.

Dennis James, horticulturist from DJ’s Greenhouse and Gardens, opens the seminar with his discussion, Plants for the Landscape to Extend Fall Color. As autumn approaches, gardeners are looking for ways to keep the color going for a few extra months! Dennis will review interesting plants to enhance your landscape. Dennis is the owner of DJ's Greenhouse and Gardens, celebrating 40 years in business. Dennis is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener of Mercer County and a member of numerous local and national garden societies. Dennis has been an invited guest at the World Plant Forum, Hangzhou, China and the recipient of the Boettcher Award from IPPS Australia, Brisbane, Australia. He serves on the Mercer County Tourism Board and the Agricultural Development Council.

Mulch: Friend or Foe is the topic of the second session, presented by Bill Barnes. There are many types of mulch, and knowing which mulch to use for a particular purpose is important. Bill will cover types of mulch, when to mulch, the proper mulching techniques, and how mulch can help or hinder our gardens. Bill is recently retired from teaching horticulture classes at the Barnes Arboretum and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Bill is a longtime member of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) and has recently relocated to Western PA.

The final seminar topic is Hummingbirds in the Garden, presented by Cyndi Fink, plant ecologist. Learn about these “flying jewels,” specifically the ruby-throated hummingbird, the only hummingbird native to the eastern United States. Cyndi will teach us how these birds survive and how to attract them to your yard using native flowers and hummingbird feeders. As a bonus, Cyndi will offer a nectar recipe and tips for feeder cleaning to keep the birds healthy.

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

Diane Dallos is the Master Gardener coordinator with Penn State Extension, Butler County.

Diane Dallos