County Highlights

Adams County

Photo by Lydia Hecker.

Butterfly Project

The Butterfly Project was developed to educate the public about butterflies, native plants and animals, ecosystem management and conservation, and integrated pest management. The goal was to expand opportunities to conserve butterflies and create a Monarch Watch Waystation.

During the year, 18 Master Gardeners assembled a 7-foot-by-8-foot enclosure, grew and maintained host and nectar plants, and managed daily care of the butterflies. Six new beds were planted in the trial garden with host and nectar plants for swallowtail and monarch caterpillars and butterflies. The trial garden has been designated as a Monarch Watch Waystation.

Butterflies were raised in the enclosure from July through August. Twenty-five swallowtail and 36 monarch butterflies were released. In September, the enclosure was turned into an exhibit.

Three scheduled programs integrated the Butterfly Project. Twenty-four visitors attended those programs. Comments included: "I had no idea that caterpillars eat that!" "Wow, I thought milkweed was a weed." "Hard to believe butterflies come from that."

Program founded in 1989

• 54 active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,260 volunteer hours
• 3,019 adult contacts
• 1,492 youth contacts
• 119 Garden Hotline contacts
• 41 educational outreach presentations
• 64 gardening articles published
• 450 pounds of produce donated
• 49 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 1 demonstration garden
• 11,500 square feet of demonstration garden

Allegheny County

Photo by Glen Bupp

Biking and Botany

Biking and Botany is the newest program for the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Allegheny County. The program was created to enhance horticulture education by highlighting the connections between gardening best management practices and ecosystem function while promoting exercise and new social experiences. Biking and Botany is held each month between May and October. Routes are planned in advance with educational stops along the way to accommodate all skill levels of riders and provide opportunity for discussion. The program encourages participation from Master Gardeners and the public alike, but every rider must have a helmet and rear red light. All rides start with a review of the route and a pre-quiz of the botanical topics that will be covered. Rides end with a post-quiz to evaluate the effectiveness of the education. The pre-quiz has proved to be a useful tool for encouraging educational participation during the ride. This year riders showed an average knowledge gain of 33 percent after the Biking and Botany rides.

Program founded in 1989

• 215 active Master Gardeners
• 28 Master Gardeners trained
• 16,509 volunteer hours
• 15,074 adult contacts
• 1,150 youth contacts
• 705 Garden Hotline contacts
• 66 educational outreach presentations
• 12 gardening articles published
• 8 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 7 demonstration gardens
• 28,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Armstrong County

Photo by Andrea Woodhall

Pollinator Garden Series

The plight of the honey bee and its effect on food production is frequently in the news. Many people are interested in what they can do to make a difference, and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Armstrong County are committed to bringing relevant information about pollinators to their community. Master Gardeners have developed programs that provide practical advice and hands-on learning to arm residents with the information they need to turn their landscapes into pollinator havens. Through the Summer Herbal Bee Party, Creating a Pollinator Garden, and The Amazing Monarch presentations, the Master Gardeners impacted close to 100 Armstrong County residents. People who attended these events learned that they can make a difference, not only in their own landscapes, but for their neighbors who farm, maintain home vegetable gardens and orchards, and harvest honey. Every action taken to increase pollinators creates a positive reaction to the environment and the community. Master Gardeners strive to contribute to positive change through education.

Program founded in 2002

• 27 active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners trained
• 2,939 volunteer hours
• 1,919 adult contacts
• 28 youth contacts
• 63 Garden Hotline contacts
• 9 educational outreach presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 5,975 square feet of demonstration gardens

Beaver County

Photo by Karlyn Wilson

Exploring Nature's Gardens: Environmental Stewardship Series

When you hear the word "garden," do you think of a meadow with tall grasses and flowers, a patch of wildflowers under the forest canopy, or a forest of tall evergreens and sassafras? These are nature's gardens that may be slipping away as they are replaced by housing developments, highways, and shopping malls. The newest project for the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Beaver County found wings during the summer as the Environmental Stewardship Series. The series evolved from the desire to have outdoor classrooms to study nature's gardens and key ecological factors that support sustainability of the natural environment. The four field studies (two to four hours each) included Ephemeral Wildflowers Hike at Brady's Run Park, Forest Ecology with identifying native and invasive species, Meadows and Their Ecosystems, and Pollinators with a comprehensive look at the intricate details of pollination and attraction to native plants. In the future, the goal is to expand the series and reach out to the public to inspire all to be good stewards of environment.

Program founded in 1990

• 77 active Master Gardeners
• 11 Master Gardeners trained
• 5,317 volunteer hours
• 2,261 adult contacts
• 1,164 youth contacts
• 123 Garden Hotline contacts
• 36 educational outreach presentations
• 50 gardening articles published
• 260 pounds of produce donated
• 13 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 5 demonstration gardens
• 17,740 square feet of demonstration gardens

Bedford County

Photo by Val Sesler

Bedford County Starts a New Master Gardener Program

Penn State Extension in Bedford County started a path to implement a new Master Gardener Program to assist extension with providing horticulture-related services to the community. Four eager students have started the journey to become Penn State Extension Master Gardeners. Jeff Hackenberg, client relationship manager, was instrumental in making the first move to get the program started again in Bedford County after a 20-plus-year hiatus. The Master Gardeners have already made their mark in the community by attending the Bedford County Fair to answer gardening questions from homeowners, writing articles for the Bedford Gazette, and revitalizing a garden space in front of the Bedford County Courthouse to use as a pollinator demonstration garden.

When asked about the program, Jeff explained, "I'm very excited to have a Master Gardener Program starting in Bedford County. This will be a great way to show extension's commitment to growing the services we offer in Bedford County. Master Gardener Programs benefit communities in so many ways, so I can't wait to see the wonderful things the Bedford County Master Gardeners will do!"

Program founded in 2019

• 4 active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners trained
• 185 volunteer hours
• 341 adult contacts
• 8 youth contacts
• 42 Garden Hotline contacts
• 2 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 100 square feet of demonstration garden

Berks County

Photo by Linda Buerger

Berks County Heritage Herb Garden

The Berks County Heritage Herb Garden has served as a Master Gardener demonstration garden since 1996. The garden is an example of a German/English early 1800s kitchen herb garden, showcasing over 50 varieties of herbs. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners initially helped research the garden's historical authenticity and develop an informational pamphlet. Six to eight Master Gardeners meet twice monthly throughout the growing season to plant and maintain the garden, complicated this year by flooding from torrential rains.

This year Master Gardeners reinstated school tours. Having students experience the sights and smells of the herbs has hopefully encouraged a new generation of herb gardeners. Master Gardeners guided 137 students and 49 chaperones through the garden!

The herb garden was also featured in Berks County Parks and Rec Festivals, one of which is new for Master Gardeners this year. Our first festival of 2019 was the Early Bird Fiddle Festival. Our theme for this event was Planning and Planting an Herb Garden, a topic that enticed 48 people to tour the garden that day. A second festival was Step Back in Time.

Master Gardeners taught Various Ways to Use Herbs, providing practical information to 109 visitors.

Program founded in 1982

• 141 active Master Gardeners
• 19 Master Gardeners trained
• 14,282 volunteer hours
• 2,215 adult contacts
• 1,027 youth contacts
• 1,043 Garden Hotline contacts
• 38 educational outreach presentations
• 6 gardening articles published
• 650 pounds of produce donated
• 1 demonstration garden
• 10,866 square feet of demonstration garden

Blair County

Photo by Cathy Schwartz

Stop This Invader: The Spotted Lanternfly

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Blair County presented the program Stop This Invader: The Spotted Lanternfly at the 89th Annual Convention of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania held at the Blair County Convention Center. Fifty members attended the hour-long spotted lanternfly session.

The presentation by Master Gardeners included a PowerPoint created by Heather Leach, Penn State Extension associate. Garden Club members learned about the spotted lanternfly, its potential for damage, and the efforts to curtail the spread throughout Pennsylvania. Attendees living in the quarantine area added their comments and personal experiences with the insect. Those living outside the quarantine area were amazed at the number of insects shown on trees, grapevines, and fruit trees and the damage noted.

In addition to the spotted lanternfly presentation, the Master Gardeners of Blair County created an informational display booth complete with a vast array of handouts pertaining to the spotted lanternfly to educate the 300 members attending the three-day convention.

Program founded in 1983

• 11 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,361 volunteer hours
• 2,075 adult contacts
• 219 youth contacts
• 189 Garden Hotline contacts
• 10 educational outreach presentations
• 4 Poison Prevention Program presentations

Bradford/Sullivan Counties

Photo by Tamara Heess

Composting with Worms Exhibit

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Bradford and Sullivan Counties developed an interactive exhibit focusing on composting and worm anatomy to use with children and adults. Our outreach efforts focused on improving the environment and inspiring exploration underground.

The exhibit included:

• A three-sided display with information about worms and composting.
• An interactive game for youth, To Rot or Not.
• A small compost bin with live worms (Kids were encouraged to find a worm and place it on a clean styrofoam tray for up-close examination. Children matched the parts of the worm to a labeled diagram.)
• Two large, raised "lasagna" beds with observation windows in the front.

The exhibit was used at five events: FFA From Our Farms to Your Arms, Endless Mountains Maple Festival, Troy Fair, Sullivan County Fair, and Women in the Wild. The composting exhibit was well received at all locations; a key learning tip for the Master Gardeners is that an interactive exhibit is more inviting for both children and adults.

Program founded in 1989

• 11 active Master Gardeners
• 660 volunteer hours
• 472 adult contacts
• 1,115 youth contacts
• 17 Garden Hotline contacts
• 2 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 4,500 square feet of demonstration gardens

Bucks County

Photo by Jeanne DeVirgiliis

Container Demonstration Garden: A Children's Garden for the Senses

Penn State Extension in Bucks County shares a building with the Bucks County Health Department, which is visited by dozens of families each week. The Master Gardeners recognized this opportunity to engage visiting youth with horticulture and created five container gardens by the building entrance with appealing signage and colorful flags to catch the attention of passing families. Two "Rainbow Garden" containers, inspired by the children's book Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, invited youth to find flowers that matched the seven colors in the rainbow. A tiny "Fairy Garden" of succulents and miniature plants in a handmade hypertufa container encouraged imagination. A raised-bed "Sensory Garden" further guided the discovery of the shapes, textures, and scents of nine different herbs. (For safety reasons, guests were encouraged to look, touch, and smell, but not to taste.) A "Clock Garden" offered the wonder of flowering plants that bloom at different times within a 24-hour period. Signage and QR codes provided instructions and information, including botanical names for all plants. As a commitment to sustainability, the project also used repurposed containers, recycled soil, and locally sourced plant material.

Program founded in 1989

• 128 active Master Gardeners
• 24 Master Gardeners trained
• 10,432 volunteer hours
• 9,410 adult contacts
• 2,225 youth contacts
• 1,058 Garden Hotline contacts
• 73 educational outreach presentations
• 4 gardening articles published
• 8 demonstration gardens
• 1,710 square feet of demonstration gardens

Butler County

Photo by Diane Dallos

Garden Club for Senior Personal Care Residents

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Butler County actively seek to engage community members, including those living in senior personal care, in horticultural activities. Throughout 2019, the Master Gardeners joined residents of a personal care facility located in Butler County to provide horticultural therapy activities to residents.

Focusing on bringing nature inside, the Master Gardeners provide lessons and exercises to the residents, who have transitioned away from their personal homes and beloved outdoor spaces. The Master Gardeners engage the residents in a small-group environment to provide focused attention, seeking to improve the residents' quality of living and connection with the outdoors.

Sessions focused on container gardening, flower arranging, and making bird feeders, which were hung outside of the participants' living spaces to enjoy.

Program founded in 1991

• 79 active Master Gardeners
• 10 Master Gardeners trained
• 4,563 volunteer hours
• 4,230 adult contacts
• 1,316 youth contacts
• 272 Garden Hotline contacts
• 6 educational outreach presentations
• 40 gardening articles published
• 8 demonstration gardens
• 8,417 square feet of demonstration gardens

Cambria County

Photo by Joyce Long

Community Outreach

The Garden Hotline continues to be an important community outreach for Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cambria County each year from the first week of April through the last week of September. The hotline question topics vary widely and include trees and lawn issues, vegetable gardening, and plant identification from samples brought into the extension office.

A new outreach event presented by the Master Gardeners from this past year was the Monarchs, Milkweed and More program held at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Loretto in partnership with the Brandywine Conservancy Penguin Court in Laughlintown. While monarchs were tagged and released outside of the museum, Master Gardeners gave presentations inside the museum to the program attendees about the different species of butterflies and what native plants to have in a garden as their host plants. As part of the educational display, the Master Gardeners created a live exhibit of monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, in each stage of development to observe.

Program founded in 1983

• 38 active Master Gardeners
• 9 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,187 volunteer hours
• 1,430 adult contacts
• 748 youth contacts
• 170 Garden Hotline contacts
• 40 educational outreach presentations
• 12 gardening articles published
• 14 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 1 demonstration garden
• 5,000 square feet of demonstration garden

Carbon County

Composting Campers

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Carbon County held their annual Composting Campers program in August at Hickory Run State Park. This year, 31 children and over 20 adults participated in the program, which teaches families about the composting process. Prior to the event, Master Gardeners work with Park Rangers to distribute paper bags and information about composting to the families at the campground. Children then fill their bags with compostable items from their campsite, such as coffee grinds, fruit peelings, and pizza crusts, and mix them with twigs and grass clippings. When children come to the composting program, they can exchange their compost bag for a s'more while "Misty the Microbe" (a costume character created and played by a Master Gardener) teaches them about how temperature, water, and location make compost with the help of microbes and fungi to decompose all materials. Participants also enter a drawing to win a compost bin donated by a local retailer. Most important, this year the program also provided information about how to prevent the spread of spotted lanternfly, a crucial topic for camping families who often travel in and out of the quarantine zone.

Program founded in 1989

• 15 active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners trained
• 2,351 volunteer hours
• 193 adult contacts
• 148 youth contacts
• 69 Garden Hotline contacts
• 11 educational outreach presentations
• 10 gardening articles published
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 624 square feet of demonstration gardens

Centre County

Photo by Molly Sturniolo

Muddy Paws Marsh

Muddy Paws Marsh is an outreach site for the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Centre County. The property is approximately 25 acres of wetlands where visitors engage in learning about the importance of wetlands in our ecosystems.

The marsh offers opportunities for environmental education for students and community members. Since 2001, Master Gardeners have been conducting environmental education field trips for the Penns Valley School District and many other school and community groups. During these field trips, Master Gardeners have made a positive educational impact by educating over 3,500 students.

Each spring, Master Gardeners celebrate nature with an open community event called Frog Festival. This annual event encourages attendees to learn about and enjoy nature through art, science, and play at hands-on, outdoor learning stations. In 2019, the event celebrated its ninth year and has hosted an estimated 2,000 visitors to date.

Muddy Paws Marsh has been placed into a permanent conservation easement with the National Resources Conservation Service. This will ensure that it can never be developed and will always exist for the community to learn about waterfowl and wildlife habitat, water quality improvement, and protecting our watersheds with the help of Master Gardeners in Centre County.

Program founded in 1992

• 96 active Master Gardeners
• 10 Master Gardeners trained
• 7,700 volunteer hours
• 4,950 adult contacts
• 4,469 youth contacts
• 276 Garden Hotline contacts
• 37 educational outreach presentations
• 11 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 154,534 square feet of demonstration gardens

Chester County

Photo by Meagan Hopkins-Doerr

Luther House Community Friendship Garden

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Chester County are working with residents at the Luther House, a HUD-subsidized independent living facility to build community, friendship, and a garden. At the Community Friendship Garden (CFG), Master Gardeners facilitate monthly meetings for the residents that may include a lecture, field trip, garden writing activities, or hands-on gardening. Always conscious of the community's resources, they arrange for a local Amish nursery to bring plants to residents and obtain donated shrubs to beautify the property. Master Gardeners also installed demonstration gardens that allow for experimentation, continued learning, and shared harvests. With Master Gardener support, the residents have felt empowered to grow different types of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and more. One Luther House resident even became Master Gardener trainee. When asked about her favorite aspect of the CFG, she said that she appreciates the knowledge the Master Gardeners share and the friendships that have developed through the garden.

Program founded in 1988

• 79 active Master Gardeners
• 4,459 volunteer hours
• 2,669 adult contacts
• 428 youth contacts
• 684 Garden Hotline contacts
• 33 educational outreach presentations
• 5 gardening articles published
• 894 pounds of produce donated
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 3,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Clarion County

Photo by Pam Hufnagel

Clarion County Fair Education

During Clarion County Fair week, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners engaged with the community to educate and bring awareness to extension through horticulture. Outreach included Ask the Master Gardener where fair attendees could discuss their gardening questions with Master Gardeners and learn more about the program. Another area of the display engaged the many youth with a hands-on activity, Growing from Seed. Children created seed bombs and took them home to learn the process of germination and plant growth.

Additional educational outreach programs included a spotted lanternfly presentation at the Clarion County Hunting and Fishing Expo and a comprehensive presentation on ticks for 70 PennDOT employees.

Program founded in 1988

• 5 active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners trained
• 764 volunteer hours
• 580 adult contacts
• 60 youth contacts
• 25 Garden Hotline contacts
• 4 educational outreach presentations
• 1 demonstration garden
• 1,000 square feet of demonstration garden

Clinton County

Photo by Debra Burrows

Creating a Succulent Dish Garden

Our Garden Sense Symposium, held each year in January, includes several workshops. One of the featured workshops, Creating a Dish Garden with Succulents attracted 34 participants who learned the basics of dish gardening and then applied that knowledge when selecting plants to create their own garden. Participants learned about the water-storage properties of succulents and how they can be used to create an attractive indoor display that tolerates the low-humidity conditions that often exist in homes during wintertime. They also learned about light requirements, selecting appropriate potting mixes, and the importance of drainage for indoor container plants.

Participants appreciated the opportunity to do a little gardening in the middle of January and to interact with others who shared their interests. The hands-on workshop allowed them to immediately apply what they learned and see the finished product, providing a sense of accomplishment.

Program founded in 1991

• 12 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 2,391 volunteer hours
• 3,560 adult contacts
• 370 youth contacts
• 67 Garden Hotline contacts
• 11 educational outreach presentations
• 11 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 1,200 square feet of demonstration garden

Columbia County

Photo by WVIA Public Media

Be My Neighbor Day

When the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Columbia County discovered that Be My Neighbor Day was coming to their neighborhood, they immediately agreed to be part of Growing with Daniel Tiger sponsored by WVIA Public Media. Growing is what Master Gardeners do best! Through interactive displays, Master Gardeners introduced children to Plant Parts and What They Do, What Are You Eating, and the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle. Adult education focused on spotted lanternfly, ticks, poisonous plants, and noxious plants. Over 200 visitors engaged with Master Gardeners during the four-hour event.

Program founded in 1990

• 32 active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,090 volunteer hours
• 2,652 adult contacts
• 1,084 youth contacts
• 237 Garden Hotline contacts
• 34 educational outreach presentations
• 81 gardening articles published
• 40 pounds of produce donated
• 12 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 192 square feet of demonstration gardens

Crawford County

Photo by Linda Ruggiero

PA Ag Literacy program

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Crawford County have participated in the Pennsylvania Ag Literacy program for the past three years. The Master Gardener Program purchases the selected books and Master Gardeners read to elementary students and engage them with educational activities and games provided by Ag Literacy. Four classrooms of 20 first grade students participated. In 2018-2019, volunteers read Tyler Makes Pancakes and then proceeded with activities and a bingo game. The games relate to the book and teach students the origin of their food. The books are donated to the classroom for future teaching opportunities.

Program founded in 1991

• 45 active Master Gardeners
• 2,368 volunteer hours
• 1,624 adult contacts
• 1,753 youth contacts
• 100 Garden Hotline contacts
• 21 educational outreach presentations
• 39 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 250 square feet of demonstration gardens

Cumberland County

Photo by Patti Coolsen

Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County designed the Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden to educate residential gardeners on attracting and supporting pollinators. The 2,250-square-foot garden is designed in the shape of a butterfly and invites visitors of all ages to learn in a lively and interactive environment. Educational experiences include garden tours, signage, and programs. Over 500 visitors attended three programs on native trees and shrubs for pollinators, butterfly species and their life cycle transformations, and the monarch migration. Approximately 100 visitors received individual or group tours.

A total of 58 visitors completed a survey after visiting the garden:

• 92 percent found their garden visit extremely or very useful in increasing their awareness of the role of pollinators.
• 86 percent understand the butterfly life cycle.
• 95 percent learned about plants that attract pollinators.
• 96 percent discovered new pollinator-friendly plants.
• 89 percent are extremely or very likely to bring others to visit the garden.
• 90 percent will plant pollinator-attractive plants in their garden.
• 91 percent will replace nonnative plants with native plants.

Program founded in 1988

• 92 active Master Gardeners
• 18 Master Gardeners trained
• 7,591 volunteer hours
• 3,642 adult contacts
• 1,326 youth contacts
• 356 Garden Hotline contacts
• 77 educational outreach presentations
• 231 pounds of produce donated
• 6 demonstration gardens
• 18,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Dauphin County

Photo by Diane Diffenderfer

Over the Years with Tri-County OIC

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Dauphin County have partnered with Tri-County Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) over many years. Our first program with Tri-County OIC was volunteering for the Summer Reading Kick-Off. Master Gardener volunteers taught youth how to repot and care for the plants they were given to take home and plant. As the years went by, literacy funding was decreased and finally eliminated. Today, Tri-County OIC has embarked on a new program with Youth Works. The program works with youth between the ages of 10 and 18 from different parts of the county who spend a week working on various community services projects. At OIC, the youth learn and help with seeding, planting, maintaining, and harvesting a garden. The program is supported with the help of Master Gardener Robert Harden, known as Mr. Bob, who spends several hours a week working with the youth. Bob is the liaison between Tri-County OIC and the Master Gardeners program. Other programs that involve Tri-County OIC and the Master Gardeners are the Spring Seed Exchange and the Fall Harvest Feast.

Program founded in 1987

• 71 active Master Gardeners
• 13 Master Gardeners trained
• 4,053 volunteer hours
• 11,666 adult contacts
• 1,500 youth contacts
• 761 Garden Hotline contacts
• 51 educational outreach presentations
• 848 pounds of produce donated
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 3,645 square feet of demonstration gardens

Delaware County

Photo by Deb Soutar

Garden Contest

The Garden Contest entered its 28th year in 2019 with 16 applications submitted. Home and community gardeners in Delaware County are encouraged to enter their gardens in one of six categories: Ornamental, Vegetable, Youth, Pollinator, Community Garden, and Neighborhood Beautification Project. Master Gardeners travel to each garden to meet the participants and judge the gardens, and awards are presented at the Master Gardeners' annual Fall Fest Garden Symposium. The Master Gardeners strive to make the contest inclusive and accessible for all types of gardeners in Delaware County, and there is no fee to enter the contest. Notable winners this year included the Chester City Community Garden (a partnership with Chester Eastside Ministries and St. Paul's Presbyterian Church) in the Community Garden category and the Boys and Girls Club of Chester in the Youth Garden category.

Program founded in 1991

• 114 active Master Gardeners
• 27 Master Gardeners trained
• 14,231 volunteer hours
• 14,198 adult contacts
• 2,389 youth contacts
• 336 Garden Hotline contacts
• 132 educational outreach presentations
• 72 gardening articles published
• 660 pounds of produce donated
• 8 demonstration gardens
• 1,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Elk County

Photo by Andy Faust

Elk County Fair Display

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Elk County manned a booth at the Elk County Fair in early August that reached 50 adults and 35 children. A feature of the booth included "Mr. Vegetable," whose costume showcased six different varieties of colorful vegetables. Mr. Vegetable engaged with young fair attendees and helped them determine if they had consumed their quota of vegetables for the day. He also taught them that some vegetables are hidden ingredients in foods such as pizza sauce, soups, and casseroles.

Another feature of the display included the "Invasive Table," which highlighted live samples of common invasive plants often found in landscapes. Adults were surprised to learn that some of the plants in their own yards were species that escaped cultivation and now are a threat to native habitats. This educational display encouraged Elk County residents to make a difference and plant native or noninvasive plants in their landscapes.

Program founded in 2017

• 9 active Master Gardeners
• 13 Master Gardeners trained
• 370 volunteer hours
• 85 adult contacts
• 15 youth contacts
• 3 gardening articles published
• 200 pounds of produce donated
• 1 demonstration garden
• 600 square feet of demonstration garden

Erie County

Photo by Fran Rosiak

School Gardening Rocks

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County entered into partnership with existing gardening programs at all 10 City of Erie public elementary schools in 2018. Since that time, more than 30 Master Gardeners have assisted City of Erie students each spring with classroom lessons on seed starting, garden planning, and outdoor garden planting. During summer vacation, Master Gardeners led weekly in-garden activities as part of each school's Garden Club or a component of the summer school schedule. In addition, Master Gardener teams conducted an after-school gardening program in the schools. As part of this program, students work one hour per week for eight weeks with Master Gardeners in the spring and fall. In 2019, Master Gardeners devoted over 1,000 hours to mentor the community's young people in developing healthy attitudes and skills related to gardening.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County enthusiastically support the gardening program of the Erie City School District, and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

Program founded in 2004

• 89 active Master Gardeners
• 6,911 volunteer hours
• 540 adult contacts
• 616 youth contacts
• 91 Garden Hotline contacts
• 17 educational outreach presentations
• 1,892 pounds of produce donated
• 43 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 360 square feet of demonstration gardens

Fayette County

Photo by Toni Lozar

Stormwater Project at Ohiopyle

In 2019, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Fayette County were a highly visible group, educating the public at numerous events and venues. Face-to-face interaction, social media marketing, and hands-on demonstrations attracted and engaged the public, allowing the Master Gardeners to spread the word about this year's focus projects. Among these were the Spring Garden Affair, Fayette County Fair events, a vegetable demonstration garden, and a demonstration rain garden. Always available to answer questions about plant diseases and insects, the Master Gardeners share their personal knowledge and utilize resources from the experts at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

The Master Gardener training class adopted a very ambitious class project this year. With the cooperation of Ohiopyle Borough, the 16 volunteers set into motion a plan to restore to working order a nonfunctioning rain garden. The garden was constructed in 2009 as part of a stormwater management/beautification project, but it had become overrun with invasive plants. Restoring it grew into a larger project than anticipated when it became apparent that 95 percent of it would need to be excavated to a depth of 2 feet to allow for drainage, then rebuilt from the bottom up. The reconstruction and installation of more than 250 plants was completed in June. Since then, the volunteers have maintained the 750-square-foot garden and offered both informal and organized tours of it. Their efforts to educate the public of its environmental impact to the community have been well received and will continue with added signage and publicity.

Program founded in 1991

• 55 active Master Gardeners
• 16 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,760 volunteer hours
• 2,317 adult contacts
• 1,398 youth contacts
• 481 Garden Hotline contacts
• 110 educational outreach presentations
• 20 gardening articles published
• 245 pounds of produce donated
• 42 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 1 demonstration garden
• 250 square feet of demonstration garden

Franklin County

Photo by Carol Kagan.

Victory Garden Series

In September 2019, the Victory Garden Series wrapped up its 12th year of providing vegetable gardening outreach to the public. This season-long series of classes takes home gardeners through every step of vegetable gardening, from preparing the soil and sowing seeds in spring, through weeding and watering in summer, to harvesting crops of flavorful, nutritious produce to take home from summer to early fall.

This year, 26 participants registered for the series of 23 classes, held weekly starting in late April and finishing up in mid-September. At each class, attendees began with an overview of the day's tasks, followed by a short lesson from one of the Master Gardener volunteers on topics ranging from growing asparagus to harvesting zucchini, and then headed outside to the Victory Garden plot. There, gardeners and Master Gardeners share and learn from each other as they sow, weed, mulch, water, and harvest an array of organically grown vegetables and small fruits.

Each participant went home with fresh produce, a boon for those who may not have a place, or space, to grow vegetables at home.

From 17 evaluations returned, 13 participants indicated increased knowledge and 12 indicated they would change gardening practices. One participant commented, "I have never learned more in any class….These Master Gardeners were extremely willing to share their understanding of gardening in class and in the garden."

Program founded in 1993

• 61 active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners trained
• 8,275 volunteer hours
• 2,122 adult contacts
• 775 youth contacts
• 285 Garden Hotline contacts
• 23 educational outreach presentations
• 8 gardening articles published
• 195 pounds of produce donated
• 8 demonstration gardens
• 66,153 square feet of demonstration gardens

Fulton County

Photo by Nancy Menio

Youth Day Ag Program

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Fulton County participated in the annual Youth Ag Day program on October 1, held by the Fulton County Conservation District at the Englert Farm, a working dairy farm in Knobsville. Sixth graders from all three school districts participated in seven 30-minute sessions: recycling/zero waste, a tour of the Englert farm, pollinators, a market garden, dairy farming, hog production, and agriculture careers. Master Gardeners taught 156 students about the importance of pollinators in providing healthy environment in homes, gardens, and farms. Students explored difficulties facing pollinators and learned how they could contribute to solving the problem.

Conservation District Environmental Education Specialist Greg Reineke said of the Master Gardeners: "Without you we would certainly not have a Youth Ag Day. You are what makes this possible. I know it's not easy to say the same thing over and over seven times in a day."

Program founded in 2009

• 17 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,321 volunteer hours
• 1,500 adult contacts
• 389 youth contacts
• 615 Garden Hotline contacts
• 23 educational outreach presentations
• 25 gardening articles published
• 62 pounds of produce donated
• 3 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 4,100 square feet of demonstration gardens

Greene County

Photo by Jerry Tom

Summer Reading Kickoff

Each year, the Bowlby Library holds a reading program to encourage children to read during the summer months. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Greene County partnered with the library to bring gardening education to the students. The librarian chose Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Master Gardeners worked with the children to plant bean seeds to accompany the story. Newspaper pots were made to plant the seeds, which also added awareness of recycling. The librarian read the story to the children, then the kids experienced putting their hands in the soil to plant their very own beanstalk. The Master Gardeners finished the activity by explaining to the children how to take their bean plant home and plant it in the ground. This partnership of the Bowlby Library and the Master Gardeners resulted in a positive horticultural experience for 15 very eager children of Greene County.

Program founded in 1991

• 14 active Master Gardeners
• 687 volunteer hours
• 340 adult contacts
• 992 youth contacts
• 31 Garden Hotline contacts
• 6 educational outreach presentations
• 7 gardening articles published
• 16 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 384 square feet of demonstration gardens

Huntingdon County

Photo by Julie Price.

Wake up Tuesdays at the Lake

Lake Raystown, in Huntingdon County, and its Visitors Center, provide a public reception, Wake up Tuesdays, for the summering visitors and residents. Displays and information from local attractions and businesses are made available during the morning's activities.

This year, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Huntingdon County worked with the center to develop two programs for Wake Up Tuesdays: National Pollinator Week, and native plants and rain gardens. A rain garden was recently installed at the site, so this information was timely. Master Gardeners presented a program highlighting the value of planting for pollinators, and included an interactive children's activity, Make a Seed Bomb. Master Gardeners taught youth about seeds, plants, and pollinators during the session.

The Master Gardeners distributed copies of Penn State publications on rain gardens, plant diseases, invasive plant species, lawn management, and pests such as spotted lanternfly. The total estimated number of adults and children present at these two events, each of which lasted 2.5 hours, was 110.

This joint effort did much to promote the lake, the Visitors Center, the extension county program, and Master Gardeners while educating a diverse public in topics related to home gardens, rain gardens, pest management, and plant identification.

Program founded in 2014

• 8 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 362 volunteer hours
• 120 adult contacts
• 55 youth contacts
• 50 Garden Hotline contacts
• 1 educational outreach presentation
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 978 square feet of demonstration gardens

Indiana County

Nature Palooza

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Indiana County participated in Nature Palooza, an annual event coordinated by the Children's Advisory Commission of Indiana County. The event was held in Blue Spruce Park, where the Master Gardeners also have a demonstration Pollinator Garden. Master Gardeners joined in the daylong activities by setting up an information area in the park. Contacts were made with hundreds of people who presented a full array of questions about gardening, insects, and the environment. Overwhelmingly, most conversations leaned toward cicadas and spotted lanternflies. Children came bearing cicadas and showing a genuine interest in this marvel that appears every 17 years. Another important topic introduced to the community was the impact that spotted lanternfly has on the environment. Master Gardeners strive to educate and empower the public, both young and old, to be vigilant champions of our environment and to help them make positive choices to preserve and enjoy nature.

Program founded in 1991

• 41 active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners trained
• 2,287 volunteer hours
• 1,715 adult contacts
• 399 youth contacts
• 151 Garden Hotline contacts
• 10 educational outreach presentations
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 2,486 square feet of demonstration gardens

Jefferson County

Photo by Cheryl J. Shenkle

Demonstration Gardens

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Jefferson County continue to utilize the demonstration gardens at the fairgrounds to educate the public, and this year they offered 12 garden workshops. These workshops attended by both Master Gardener trainees and community members utilized hands-on learning to demonstrate the many benefits of horticulture.

New features of the garden included a year-round vermicompost tub, straw bale area, and a bramble bed. Also, the finishing stages of the handicapped accessible garden are nearly complete so handicapped county residents, including two Master Gardener volunteers, have accessibility to a garden space. In the coming season, a cover crops area, an asparagus bed, and a tree nursery which will be used for the annual plant sale are planned.

Program founded in 2009

• 12 active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners trained
• 535 volunteer hours
• 156 adult contacts
• 41 Garden Hotline contacts
• 12 educational outreach presentations
• 14 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 1,000 square feet of demonstration garden

Juniata/Mifflin Counties

Photo by Leah Fronk.

Mifflin County Ag Tour

Each year, the Mifflin County Farm Bureau, along with a team of collaborators, organizes a county-wide Ag Tour to showcase a variety of agricultural topics. Elementary students from public and private schools across the county gather at a local farm to learn about livestock, crops, pesticide safety, and equipment. The Master Gardeners of Juniata and Mifflin Counties teach a lesson titled Incredible Plants. Developed by a Master Gardener from Mifflin County, this lesson teaches children about the edible parts of plants and the uses of plants that are often overlooked. Corn, chrysanthemum, goldenrod, horseradish, and herbs are featured as incredible plants used for a wide variety of purposes. This engaging lesson allows children to see, feel, and smell common and unusual plants used in everyday living.

Program founded in 2004

• 20 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 451 volunteer hours
• 867 adult contacts
• 550 youth contacts
• 55 Garden Hotline contacts
• 7 educational outreach presentations
• 9 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 375 square feet of demonstration garden

Lackawanna County

Photo by Master Gardeners of Lackawanna County

More Than Plants: Growing a Purpose

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Lackawanna County have partnered with the University of Scranton to help them grow more than plants. The University of Scranton's Office of Sustainability started a garden several years ago as part of their mission to "demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices in our operations and our outreach." It was a natural fit with the Master Gardener mission to promote Penn State Extension's practices of sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship. For three years, the Master Gardeners have worked alongside members of the community, faculty, and students, teaching lessons with a lasting impact. For example, garden members have continued to successfully grow garlic ever since a 2017 lesson on the subject. These lessons have also had a significant economic impact. Mark Murphy, community garden member and director of the University's Office of Sustainability, estimates that for 2019, the Master Gardeners' involvement and partnership was worth $12,400, accounting for their volunteer time, donations from the group, and the value of the produce that was grown and donated. In Mark's words, "With the Master Gardeners, we are not just growing things, but learning about growing things, and this knowledge keeps us improving."

Program founded in 1991

• 46 active Master Gardeners
• 1,740 volunteer hours
• 13,330 adult contacts
• 923 youth contacts
• 141 Garden Hotline contacts
• 54 educational outreach presentations
• 1,694 pounds of produce donated

Lancaster County

Photo by Lois Miklas

Spotted Lanternfly Education

As the invasive spotted lanternfly gained a firmer grip on Lancaster County in 2018-2019, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Lancaster County responded. Master Gardeners answered 124 phone and email queries about controlling spotted lanternfly and tree-of-heaven. They informed the public about various life stages of the insect and control suggestions through 39 posts on Facebook and Instagram. Master Gardeners set up spotted lanternfly displays at public events, such as Oregon Dairy Family Farm Days and seasonal fairs, and provided 42 shifts of personal interaction at these events. In addition, they gave 25 presentations on spotted lanternfly to groups throughout the county and hosted six public meetings on the topic at the extension county office. Lancaster County Master Gardeners modified Penn State's spotted lanternfly presentation for adults to contain interactive components for youth audiences. A Girl Scout leader expressed her gratitude, "Thank you so much for visiting our troop last night and sharing your knowledge about spotted lanternfly. We went to a park after and some of the girls took the kits and looked at every tree!"

Program founded in 1988

• 110 active Master Gardeners
• 24 Master Gardeners trained
• 8,390 volunteer hours
• 5,069 adult contacts
• 2,873 youth contacts
• 762 Garden Hotline contacts
• 51 educational outreach presentations
• 8 gardening articles published
• 40 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 10,330 square feet of demonstration gardens

Lawrence County

Photo by Christine Sherman

Ag Encounter

Each October, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Lawrence County host an Ag Encounter event. This event reaches 900 students from the county's public schools. The event targets fourth graders who are studying agriculture education as part of the science standards. The students learn about agriculture and where their food comes from by traveling through 12 educational learning stations. The Master Gardeners educate the youth by presenting "Vegetables." They explain how it is important to read the back of seed packages, and teach the students the difference between fruits and vegetables. The biggest surprise to the youth is that pumpkins are also a berry! This is an educational event that has a profound impact on the youth in Lawrence County.

Program founded in 1991

• 27 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,545 volunteer hours
• 1,048 adult contacts
• 1,528 youth contacts
• 40 Garden Hotline contacts
• 13 educational outreach presentations
• 1 gardening article published
• 23 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 5,795 square feet of demonstration gardens

Lebanon County

Photo by Barb Kline

Master Gardener Plant Sale

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Lebanon County had an outstanding plant sale, attracting 700 shoppers to the Lebanon Valley Expo Center over a four-hour period. The plant sale committee thought outside the box this year and increased attendance 35 percent from the previous year. The profit of over $6,300 represents a 34 percent increase from the previous year and an 80 percent increase from two years prior. The 30 Master Gardeners on this committee divided the work into plant areas: herbs, perennials, native plants, annuals, and vegetables. The annual plant group developed a "collection series," which provided the buyer not only a great selection of plants but advice on the plants. The sale featured plants from local nurseries, Master Gardener-grown plants (triple the count from the previous year), items from local vendors, including metal works, gourds, flower pictures, and baskets, and the popular garage sale section, which sold gently used garden tools. Also provided were an Ask the Master Gardener table and a spotted lanternfly display to increase awareness of this invasive pest. Money raised at the plant sale will support Master Gardener educational programming and the expansion of the Ginger Pryor Memorial Demonstration Garden.

Program founded in 1989

• 65 active Master Gardeners
• 20 Master Gardeners trained
• 4,998 volunteer hours
• 4,800 adult contacts
• 1,320 youth contacts
• 533 Garden Hotline contacts
• 33 educational outreach presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 6,967 square feet of demonstration gardens

Lehigh/Northampton Counties

Photo by Malta Ortiz

SouthSide Garden Initiative at the Lynfield Community Center

This past year, the Master Gardeners of Lehigh and Northampton Counties partnered with the Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem's SouthSide Garden Initiative to teach over 200 4-H'ers and inner-city residents about plant propagation, vegetable gardening, and the importance of pollinators at the Lynfield Community Center. Master Gardeners assisted with the 4-H Meet the Plants and Vegetable Gardening projects and also installed a pollinator demonstration meadow. The produce grown with 4-H'ers is donated to residents in Bethlehem Housing Authority's Lynfield Community and used in Penn State Extension and Northampton Community College's Pick-Prep-Preserve Program, which teaches youth about safe food handling, processing, and preservation. The newly installed meadow will serve as habitat for pollinator insects and be an invaluable entomology teaching tool for youth in the south Bethlehem area. Looking ahead, in 2020 the site will be adding a beehive (in partnership with the Lehigh Valley Beekeepers) and a composting station.

Program founded in 1988

• 145 active Master Gardeners
• 18 Master Gardeners trained
• 7,282 volunteer hours
• 7,096 adult contacts
• 2,763 youth contacts
• 743 Garden Hotline contacts
• 102 educational outreach presentations
• 64 gardening articles published
• 3,274 pounds of produce donated
• 57 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 8 demonstration gardens
• 6,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Luzerne County

Photo by Elizabeth Rosser.

Educational Outreach at the Home and Garden Show

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Luzerne County are asked to participate in the Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) Home and Garden Show yearly. The NEPA Home and Garden Show reaches thousands of homeowners, and Master Gardeners provide a wide array of research-based education for those who attend. Volunteers answer homeowner's gardening questions, and offer free presentations on topics such as Starting Vegetables from Seed and Planning Ahead for Your Gardening Season. Throughout the weekend, Master Gardeners connected with 674 direct contacts and handed out information on spotted lanternfly, soil tests, hydrangeas, gardening with kids, and more!

Program founded in 1978

• 45 active Master Gardeners
• 1,566 volunteer hours
• 7,348 adult contacts
• 759 youth contacts
• 54 Garden Hotline contacts
• 24 educational outreach presentations

Lycoming County

Photo by Deb Damaska

Kids Day at the Sensory Garden!

Kids Day has become an annual free event for children and their parents each June. Master Gardeners raised the funds to make the family event open to all. The first 50 children received a garden-related prize such as garden tools. It was a social setting and children took turns, played together, and shared watering cans and paint brushes. The poison ivy display taught what was NOT healthy to touch and would affect their health. A total of 220 children plus their parents participated. Activities included planting a live salad bowl (make and take), garden snack (make and take), sensory walk (with different textures, sights, and sounds), nature bracelets, rainbow sun catchers, follow the clues, games, story time, and play area.

It was a great "family" day to be outside. A mother said, "This is the best thing going for kids in Lycoming County!"

Program founded in 1999

• 55 active Master Gardeners
• 13 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,674 volunteer hours
• 4,005 adult contacts
• 1,561 youth contacts
• 70 Garden Hotline contacts
• 111 educational outreach presentations
• 3 gardening articles published
• 130 pounds of produce donated
• 12 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 7 demonstration gardens
• 23,375 square feet of demonstration gardens

McKean County

Photo by Rob Dickinson

Comes Learning Center

In 2017, Don Comes of Smethport, a long-time educator for Penn State Extension, died and left the Master Gardeners with a vision. That vision was to establish the Comes Learning Center to continue to show Don's love of horticulture and his desire to advance scientific-based learning for the people of McKean County. Since that time, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of McKean have begun to develop projects on the property. The demonstration garden that was planted yielded 150 pounds of produce, which was donated to the local food pantry in Smethport. The property is also the site of a mushroom workshop for the public, and plans are to develop a large meadow area to teach the public about pollinators. Work on the development of the learning center continues with monthly meetings. The Comes Learning Center is a wonderful resource to the community of Smethport and residents of McKean.

Program founded in 1986

• 19 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 889 volunteer hours
• 3,292 adult contacts
• 75 Garden Hotline contacts
• 13 educational outreach presentations
• 150 pounds of produce donated
• 1 demonstration garden
• 1,048 square feet of demonstration garden

Mercer County

A Tour to Holden Arboretum

During the summer of 2019 the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Mercer County coordinated an educational bus trip to Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. The purpose of the program was to provide the residents of Mercer County an opportunity to learn more about horticulture and environmental stewardship at a well-known arboretum. Holden features 3,500 acres of woody plants, a 65-foot canopy walk above the forest floor, and a 120-foot wooden tower to take in the breathtaking views of the landscape.

A walking tour and tram tour instructed 47 community members on the importance of urban greening and forestry initiatives and the positive impacts they have on the environment.

Program founded in 1991

• 27 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,096 volunteer hours
• 1,660 adult contacts
• 20 youth contacts
• 22 Garden Hotline contacts
• 12 educational outreach presentations
• 2 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 200 square feet of demonstration garden

Monroe County

Photo by Annette Atkinson

Community Garden Workshop Series

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Monroe County are dedicated to educating the community that utilizes the Middle Smithfield Township Community Gardens. Master Gardeners hold a free workshop one Saturday each month at the municipal building. After the workshop, a Master Gardener travels with the participants to the community gardens, where they can get hands-on experience in the raised beds. Master Gardener, Carolyn Jones has led many of these workshops and has covered a wide range of topics: planting bulbs, drying flowers, and growing potatoes in a bag. Carolyn uses the potatoes-in-a-bag method to demonstrate the wide variety of containers that can be utilized and to prompt participants to think "outside of the pot" in terms of what a garden can and should look like. Last season, Master Gardeners provided this in-depth education to 22 gardeners from the local community.

Program founded in 1991

• 37 active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners trained
• 467 volunteer hours
• 1,375 adult contacts
• 146 youth contacts
• 154 Garden Hotline contacts
• 62 educational outreach presentations
• 11 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 4,500 square feet of demonstration garden

Montgomery County

Photo by Jennifer Isett

Engaging with Envirothon

In May, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners partnered with the Master Watershed Stewards and extension staff to support the Montgomery County Conservation District's (MCCD) local Envirothon competition for high school and middle school students. As part of the event, nearly 100 students, 20 teachers, and 15 event volunteers toured the Master Gardeners' universally accessible demonstration garden to learn about water conservation and stormwater management in home gardens and backyards. Attendees learned the importance of directing stormwater off pavement and into the soil, and how to use plant roots to keep it there. The event also showcased the new rain barrel demonstration system, which was installed over the winter with the help of an MCCD grant funded in part by Exelon Corp. through the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund and the Delaware River Basin Commission.

The Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens have been undergoing a revitalization to increase their educational impact. Hosting the Envirothon was a great opportunity to highlight the progress that has been made in the past two years.

Program founded in 1990

• 89 active Master Gardeners
• 7,184 volunteer hours
• 4,810 adult contacts
• 1,831 youth contacts
• 922 Garden Hotline contacts
• 133 educational outreach presentations
• 2 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 16,000 square feet of demonstration garden

Montour County

Photo by Carol Burke

Montour Delong Community Fair

The Montour Delong Community Fair started in 1935, with the mission "to promote the interests of agriculture and homemaking, raise the standards of school work, encourage the production of better crops and livestock, and promote better standards of living." In keeping with this mission, the Master Gardeners have staffed an Ask A Master Gardener fair booth for the past 10 years.

Our focus this year was the spotted lanternfly, with a prominent information board and several handouts. We fielded questions, provided updates, and explained research to Montour County residents concerned about this approaching invader. Other topics highlighted in our displays included poisonous plants, pollinators, ticks, and Lyme disease. For children, we had games, stickers, and handouts on bugs and butterflies. Since our booth was in the horticulture building with the competitions for best vegetables and flowers, there were also many questions about the prize-winning entries.

Program founded in 1988

• 6 active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners trained
• 610 volunteer hours
• 353 adult contacts
• 204 youth contacts
• 64 Garden Hotline contacts
• 14 educational outreach presentations
• 1 Poison Prevention presentation
• 1 demonstration garden
• 150 square feet of demonstration garden

Northumberland County

Intergenerational Program at Emmanuel Home

Three Northumberland County Master Gardener apprentices participated in a five-week intergenerational educational program at Emmanuel Home.

Goals of the program were to promote intergenerational interaction and teach vegetable gardening, using the new community garden on Emmanuel Home's property as a living laboratory. Approximately 30 fourth and eighth grade students from Shikellamy School District's summer program participated, along with a dozen or so residents of the home. Each session included a 25-to-40-minute presentation and a hands-on activity in the garden. Topics presented were Why Garden?; Transplanting and Seeding; Composting; Plant Parts We Eat; Native and Nonnative Plants; Cutting Propagation; and Bugs, Slugs, and Other Thugs. In the garden, students and mobile residents weeded, planted seeds and transplants, learned to mulch, built mini-compost models and full-sized bins, harvested vegetables, and observed insect and deer damage. We achieved our goal of teaching basic garden skills and demonstrated that gardening is an activity that all generations can enjoy together.

Program founded in 1991

• 7 active Master Gardeners
• 413 volunteer hours
• 329 adult contacts
• 309 youth contacts
• 82 Garden Hotline contacts
• 7 educational outreach presentations

Perry County

Photo by Lori Voll-Wallace

2019 New Bloomfield Street Fair

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Perry County staffed an educational booth at the New Bloomfield Street Fair. The educational topic was winter seed sowing. Master Gardeners provided the supplies for individuals to "make and take" a milk jug home. Participants could select from a variety of pollinator seeds and the Master Gardeners instructed how to properly plant the seeds. Participants were given instructions on where to place the milk jug in the garden for the winter. Everyone received a handout that included the steps to take in the spring after the seeds germinated. Master Gardeners interacted with over 100 individuals of all ages and 60 milk jugs were planted with pollinator seeds!

Program founded in 1989

• 12 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,900 volunteer hours
• 628 adult contacts
• 317 youth contacts
• 16 educational outreach presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 1,645 square feet of demonstration gardens

Philadelphia County

Photo by Fred Manfred

Galvanizing Community through Gardening in Washington Square

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Philadelphia County have partnered with the National Park Service and the Society Hill Civic Association to champion the restoration of the gardens at Washington Square in historic Philadelphia. Washington Square was originally established in 1706 when William Penn designated five squares in Philadelphia to become public green spaces. Located just a block from Independence Hall, Washington Square has gone through many transformations in the past 300 years, and Master Gardeners are excited to be a part of its most recent revitalization. They have provided insight on landscape design, implemented environmental best practices, and educated volunteer groups on how to care for the space. This past year, they taught proper planting, pruning, and mulching practices to 10 volunteer groups and led them in the installation of hundreds of new plants, including many native perennials. During their work at Washington Square, Master Gardeners also take the opportunity to educate both Philadelphians and visitors of all nationalities exploring this historic district.

Program founded in 1989

• 78 active Master Gardeners
• 31 Master Gardeners trained
• 4,122 volunteer hours
• 2,910 adult contacts
• 615 youth contacts
• 143 Garden Hotline contacts
• 26 educational outreach presentations
• 17 gardening articles published
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 43,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Pike County

Photo by U.S. Forest Service Staff

Festival of Wood

The Festival of Wood is an annual weekend event in Pike County held on the grounds of historic Grey Towers, ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot, former governor of Pennsylvania and first director of the U.S. Forest Service. The event celebrates all things wood and brings together educational and environmental organizations and craftspeople who work in wood. Two days of activities, food, education, and opportunities to buy fine crafts bring hundreds of people to the event.

At this year's festival, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Pike County distributed information about spotted lanternfly and answered gardening questions. They also displayed a sample of Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven), spotted lanternfly tree bands, and other materials to help homeowners identify and protect their landscapes from spotted lanternfly. Other handouts featured ways to support pollinators, general plant information, and pest deterrents.

Master Gardeners shared information with almost 200 visitors and fellow exhibitors throughout the course of the festival!

Program founded in 1989

• 9 active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners trained
• 827 volunteer hours
• 428 adult contacts
• 43 youth contacts
• 58 Garden Hotline contacts
• 26 educational outreach presentations
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 1,600 square feet of demonstration gardens

Potter County

Photo by Debbie McKee.

Gardens at Sweden Valley Manor

One of Potter County's most notable projects are the gardens at Sweden Valley Manor in Coudersport. Bonnie Wood, a veteran Master Gardener, has been instrumental in the creation and maintenance of these gardens. She has worked closely with the staff to create what are referred to as "enabling gardens." These gardens are adapted to meet specific needs and limitations of the nursing home population. This includes adaptive gardening tools, raised beds built at a level that allows residents to perform gardening tasks, and adapted gardening techniques that allow residents to be able to handle all aspects of gardening. Residents and visitors to the manor can enjoy the beautiful gardens year-round. Bonnie received a Congressional Commendation for her work with Sweden Valley Manor.

Program founded in 2008

• 2 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 213 volunteer hours
• 23 Garden Hotline contacts
• 1 demonstration garden
• 120 square feet of demonstration garden

Schuylkill County

Photo by Tom Reed

2019 Garden Gathering

Each summer, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Schuylkill County hold a free public program at their demonstration garden. This annual Garden Gathering features guided tours of the demo garden, an Ask the Master Gardener booth with spotted lanternfly information, a petting zoo with goats and sheep, a lavender farm booth, a local apiary, and several nature artists. The Master Gardeners sell produce, perennial plants, bouquets from their gardens, pollinator T-shirts, and gently used garden tools and accessories.

This year, nearly 200 people attended and learned about best gardening practices for the Schuylkill area by touring the demo garden while tasting and purchasing items grown in the county. Attendees were surprised by the various types of vegetables and flowers that can be grown locally, and left inspired to try other plants, whether ornamental or edible, in their own gardens.

Program founded in 2001

• 47 active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners in training
• 2,222 volunteer hours
• 4,693 adult contacts
• 1,142 youth contacts
• 218 Garden Hotline contacts
• 62 educational outreach presentations
• 17 gardening articles published
• 2 demonstration gardens
• 3,000 square feet of demonstration gardens

Somerset County

Poison Prevention

Every year in the United States, there are over two million calls to poison centers about suspected poisonings or poison substances. Each year as part of National Poison Prevention Month, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Somerset County partner with the Penn State Pesticide Education Program to offer education to area schools to discuss the dangers of potentially poisonous products and chemicals, and to outline preventive steps people can take to ensure their safety. Since the most commonly reported poisonings happen in the home, this program teaches first grade students how to be safe around household chemicals. Mr. Yuk stickers are provided to the children to take home and apply to chemicals and products that have some level of toxicity indicated by the four signal words: Caution, Warning, Danger-Poison, and Danger. The program provided education to 234 students in Somerset County area schools this year.

Program founded in 2001

• 16 active Master Gardeners
• 582 volunteer hours
• 1,154 adult contacts
• 234 youth contacts
• 102 Garden Hotline contacts
• 10 educational outreach presentations
• 5 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 180 square feet of demonstration gardens

Susquehanna County

Photo by Lori Voll-Wallace

Educational Garden

The Educational Garden continues to be the shining star of our Master Gardener Program. Built by the Master Gardener class of 2016-2017, it showcases seven different types of raised beds, fruit trees, and a garden shed with a living roof. The raised beds will be planted with various cover crops over the winter to assist with erosion control and to increase nutrients for the following year's crops. A drip-irrigation system is used in the raised beds for water conservation. The garden is handicapped accessible and features information on gardening for those with disabilities. The Educational Garden is open to the public and has hosted many educational programs presented by our own Master Gardeners.

During the growing season, the Educational Garden produced close to 1,000 pounds of food, which was donated to the local food pantry, area Senior Living Centers, and a local soup kitchen.

Program founded in 1981

• 42 active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners trained
• 3,233 volunteer hours
• 4,372 adult contacts
• 1,762 youth contacts
• 374 Garden Hotline contacts
• 69 educational outreach presentations
• 28 gardening articles published
• 1,025 pounds of produce donated
• 8 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 6 demonstration gardens
• 8,495 square feet of demonstration gardens

Tioga County

Photo by Staci Sexauer

Program Expansion Impacts Area Residents

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Tioga County increased their impact in the county with several new initiatives. A Garden Hotline was established with dedicated office space, resource library, and refurbished microscope.

This summer, Master Gardeners provided weekly, two-hour periods for walk-in consultation. Master Gardeners also participated in the Gazette Spring Home and Garden Section, started a Facebook page, and offered free educational garden talks and workshops at the Hills Creek Native Demonstration Garden, the Post Office community pollinator garden, and the demonstration gardens at the Tioga County Fair. Providing gardening expertise to Tioga Indivisible's committee on community gardening for the food banks led to a donation of excess produce to area food pantries. Master Gardeners also increased visibility in area communities by working with school students and senior centers on pollinator projects and container gardening. Volunteers participated with the Tiadaghton Audubon Society, the Farm Camp, and open-air Home Science Fair to educate youth and families on the importance of native plants in providing food for birds and other animals. Credit for our successful year goes to a small but amazing group of fun-loving volunteers whose efforts improve the lives of area residents.

Program founded in 1993

• 10 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 757 volunteer hours
• 956 adult contacts
• 967 youth contacts
• 16 Garden Hotline contacts
• 14 educational outreach presentations
• 5 gardening articles published
• 300 pounds of produce donated
• 12 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 2,575 square feet of demonstration gardens

Union/Snyder Counties

Photo by Jen Schneidman-Partica

Union-Snyder Apprentice Project

The Union-Snyder Apprentice Project at the Union County Community Garden was a highlight of our Master Gardener year. The three apprentices created a wonderful raised garden bed to grow gourds. The goal of the project was to explore a new support method made from cattle panels, and to grow gourds that would be crafted into birdhouses. This final step of the project would allow Master Gardeners to connect with our 4-H members and local scout groups to complete the birdhouses. The team worked cohesively and steadfastly throughout the summer and maintained a beautiful and productive garden. A caveat from the group is the connection to Bucknell University and the Lewisburg Community Garden. One of the apprentices is the farm and garden coordinator for the university and the liaison to the Lewisburg Community Garden. This association has provided the opportunity for our Master Gardener group to be more visible in the community as we now have a prominent presence in Lewisburg's two community gardens.

Program founded in 1989

• 8 active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners trained
• 738 volunteer hours
• 546 adult contacts
• 389 youth contacts
• 19 Garden Hotline contacts
• 41 educational outreach presentations

Venango County

The Poison Prevention Program

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Venango County partnered with five schools in 2019 to deliver the Poison Prevention Program to 256 students. This program teaches the basics of pesticide education through the eyes of a first grade student. Students learn about different types of issues and problems caused by pests and to understand control methods used to manage pests, including chemical controls. The learning goals include understanding signal words, proper storage, and the introduction of Mr. Yuk as a means of bringing awareness, education, and safety to the home environment. The program was well received by the students and teachers and demonstrated the importance of pesticide education in decreasing poisoning incidents in Pennsylvania.

Program founded in 1991

• 19 active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners trained
• 613 volunteer hours
• 1,514 adult contacts
• 256 youth contacts
• 10 educational outreach presentations
• 2 gardening articles published
• 13 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 number of demonstration gardens
• 2,000 square footage of demonstration gardens

Warren County

Photo by Brookie LaVigne

Seed Workshop

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Warren County held their first Seed Talk and Swap at the Warren Public Library. Participants learned about different types of seeds, germination, and care for seedlings once they've sprouted. Presenters also covered topics such as starting medium, lighting, proper watering techniques, and how to save seeds from this year's crop and store them for next year's planting. Additionally, a seed swap followed the presentation. Some participants brought seed packets and traded for varieties that they needed. Those who did not bring seed packs could obtain seeds by making a donation. The event organizers solicited seed companies in advance and had many donated seed packets to share.

Program founded in 1991

• 19 active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners trained
• 1,244 volunteer hours
• 701 adult contacts
• 467 youth contacts
• 15 Garden Hotline contacts
• 8 educational outreach presentations
• 8 gardening articles published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 250 square feet of demonstration garden

Washington County

Photo by Marianne Campbell

The John White House Historical Garden

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Washington County have partnered with the Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation to create a historical garden at the John White House at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Planted among the different types of gardens are vegetables, with several of the same varieties grown by Thomas Jefferson; herbs that would have been used for cooking, dyeing cloth, or medicinal purposes; period-correct perennials; and a strawberry patch. Some trees, including one of George Washington's favorites, Cercis canadensis, the eastern redbud, and colonial-era shrubs were also planted. There have been many workshops presented at this garden, such as Bee Keeping in Washington County, Thomas Jefferson and Native Plants, Tie Dyeing 1800's Style, making rustic plant supports, growing onions and leeks, and butterfly gardening to name a few. The Master Gardeners hosted a garden tea party at the John White House where they taught about historical plants used for tea. Twenty people attended the Thomas Jefferson and Native Plants program and most of those who attended reported that they planned to incorporate more native plants in their yards. The John White House garden was certified as a "Pollinator-Friendly Garden" in 2018.

Program founded in 1991

• 43 active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners trained
• 2,696 volunteer hours
• 3,063 adult contacts
• 1,036 youth contacts
• 136 Garden Hotline contacts
• 16 educational outreach presentations
• 6 gardening articles published
• 12 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 250 square feet of demonstration gardens

Wayne County

Photo by Wayne County Master Gardener

Poison Prevention Program Returns to Wayne County

The Master Gardeners of Wayne County were thrilled to offer the Poison Prevention Program to 480 first graders at seven schools this past year. During the classroom session, students learn about safe practices for handling household chemicals, including identifying signal words on the label and suggestions related to the safe storage of those products. The students are also introduced to Mr. Yuk, the face of the Poison Prevention Program, and the importance of attaching Mr. Yuk labels to dangerous household products. The Master Gardeners already have plans underway to do the program again in 2020 and hope to reach even more schools.

Program founded in 1991

• 28 active Master Gardeners
• 1,302 volunteer hours
• 1,857 adult contacts
• 1,368 youth contacts
• 122 Garden Hotline contacts
• 24 educational outreach presentations
• 1 gardening article published
• 11 Poison Prevention presentations

Westmoreland County

Photo by Danielle Cycak

The 2019 Monarch Migration Celebration

The Monarch Celebration was a three-hour interactive experience to teach children about the migration to Mexico. The day included a migration learning trail through the demonstration gardens with each group of adults and children making their way through five interactive stations geared toward the journey to Mexico. Attendees learned about basic monarch behaviors, perils and predators, weather conditions on the journey, and the celebration that awaits once they arrive at their destination. At the crafting section, children were invited to create and take home seed bombs, clothespin butterflies, and a monarch life cycle activity. Master Gardeners provided a puppet show and live music featuring songs about the butterflies to entertain and engage the groups. Information was provided on pollinator-friendly plants and monarch tagging. The final station was the "symbolic migration butterflies" that children colored; these journeyed to Mexico through the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia. Updates on the butterflies will be posted to the Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County Facebook page throughout the winter. The last stop was a set of giant monarch wings that were mounted above a bench for a great photo op. At the end of the event, all attendees gathered and released over 60 tagged butterflies. Seventy-seven children attended and over 150 total participants were engaged.

Program founded in 1989

• 166 active Master Gardeners
• 18 Master Gardeners trained
• 9,437 volunteer hours
• 2,591 adult contacts
• 1,102 youth contacts
• 512 Garden Hotline contacts
• 595 pounds of produce donated
• 26 Poison Prevention Program presentations
• 4 demonstration gardens
• 41,891 square feet of demonstration gardens

Wyoming County

Photo by Elizabeth Rosser

Annual Seed Exchange at Creekside Gardens

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Wyoming County held their second annual seed exchange event at Creekside Gardens in March. Over 40 community members attended the event to swap seeds, ask gardening questions, and learn about spotted lanternfly. The event included a special presentation on starting vegetables from seed. It was a great way to begin the gardening season and the Master Gardeners look forward to continuing our partnership with Creekside Gardens.

Program founded in 1991

• 6 active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners trained
• 242 volunteer hours
• 562 adult contacts
• 79 youth contacts
• 10 Garden Hotline contacts
• 2 educational outreach presentations
• 1 gardening article published
• 1 demonstration garden
• 720 square feet of demonstration garden

York County

Photo by Connie Schmotzer

Butterfly Buzz

In August, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of York County launched Butterfly Buzz, a new event at their garden at Hanover Junction, along the historic York County Rail Trail, a stopping off place for many cyclists. With close to a quarter acre of plants, the theme for the Hanover Junction garden is planting for butterflies. The goal of Butterfly Buzz was to educate the public in creating a butterfly habitat--topics included, the life cycle of butterflies, their feeding habits, and their importance to the environment.

The half-day event included:

• Tours of the garden highlighting butterfly nectar and host plants
• An exhibit of live butterflies and caterpillars, along with a tagging and release station
• Native plant information table
• A native pollinator plant giveaway for the first 40 attendees
• Children's activities

There was high interest among the 130-plus attendees who were not discouraged by several heavy downpours during the day and huddled under umbrellas to see butterflies in their various stages of development.

One of the most important concepts learned by attendees was that butterfly larvae feed on a narrow range of host plants. Many attendees were also surprised to learn that butterfly bush does not support butterfly caterpillars. Families took home a list of host plants to refer to when creating their own butterfly gardens.

Program founded in 1986

• 111 active Master Gardeners
• 11,129 volunteer hours
• 156,096 adult contacts
• 499 Garden Hotline contacts
• 59 educational outreach presentations
• 50 gardening articles published
• 6,422 pounds of produce donated
• 3 demonstration gardens
• 20,414 square feet of demonstration gardens