Allegheny County
Photo by Glen Bupp
Plant Trials
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Allegheny County conduct plant trials in partnership with the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) and Allegheny County Parks Department. The trial location is located at a busy intersection within North Park, allowing for a prominent and well-maintained floral display with frequent public visitation.
Allegheny County Parks Department provides the property to the Master Gardeners along with water access and mowing in-between trial beds. On average, 60 Master Gardeners contribute to routine installation, maintenance, and record keeping of the trials averaging over 2,500 volunteer hours per year. In 2020, the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County received 540 plants of 135 different cultivars to trial and maintain at the North Park Demonstration Garden. Data on each cultivar is collected by the Master Gardeners and shared with SEAREC for commercial growers to use in breeding work.
Blair County
Photo by Beth Futrick (pre-COVID-19)
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Blair County formed a relationship with NatureWorks Park, a division of the Blair County Conservation District (BCCD) to provide horticultural education to the community through the use of demonstration gardens, workshops, and classes. The group also worked closely with the park to assist with plant selection for areas of interest including a pollinator garden and a vegetable garden.
The demonstration gardens will be used by Master Gardeners as hands-on learning environments to teach visitors about the care and maintenance of plants showcased in these gardens. For example, classes at the pollinator garden will provide education about the importance of using pollinator friendly plants in home gardens to help protect bees and other pollinators by providing food and shelter. The vegetable garden will be used to show visitors how easy it is to grow food at home that may assist with food insecurities.
Clarion County
Photo by Kay John
Demonstration Garden Updates
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Clarion County continued work to expand the demonstration garden and greenhouse project located in the Clarion County Park. Following safety guidelines, volunteers enhanced the pollinator garden area, and with the support of a 2020 Walmart grant, installed a 60-foot by 20-foot replacement plastic cover for the greenhouse. Master Gardeners now have space to plan for future educational programs both in the garden and greenhouse.
Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties
Photo by Maria Urick
Sensory Garden
Master Gardeners trainees from Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties joined forces to pursue cross-county project options to complete the volunteer hours required to become certified Master Gardeners. The challenge grew into an opportunity to revive a neglected garden bed at the Montour Preserve in Washingtonville. The trainees designed a sensory garden and incorporated a variety of plants to highlight four senses--sight, sound, smell, and touch. The garden is located close to the Visitor's Center and will be used for children's programs in the future.
Huntingdon County
Photo by Deb Ridgeway (pre-COVID-19)
Old Crow Wetlands Project
A pollinator garden was established at Old Crow Wetlands, a six-acre PennDOT wetland mitigation site. Five Master Gardeners maintain the garden, help develop native plant programs and educational materials, and create a seed and plant source for use in a new lawn to meadow project.
Sixteen native species of trees were planted, stepping-stones were added, and identification of the existing grasses, sedges, trees and shrubs began. Master Gardeners gained experience with plant identification and continue the distribution and display of informational materials to the public via small gardening groups, local schools, and the local college.
McKean County
Photo by Gloria Wilson
Comes Center
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of McKean County have worked diligently at the Comes Center in Smethport to create an area where community members can enjoy a variety of educational pursuits. In spring, 18 raised beds were planted with a variety of vegetables. Signage provided planting and care instruction for the plants, as well as QR codes for additional information. A total of 498 pounds of produce was collected from the gardens and donated to Christian Community Services Food Bank in Smethport. Also, Nunundah Fields Meadow area was developed to provide pollinator and native plant information to visitors. There are trails through the meadow and places to relax and enjoy the visiting butterflies and flowers. Finally, a beeyard with an observational hive was established to provide visitors a close-up view of life and activity within a hive. School groups and other visitors to the site will be able to access this area for special workshops.
Schuylkill County
Photo by Tom Reed
Pollinator Preferences Garden
This year, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Schuylkill County focused on their Pollinator Preferences Garden as a COVID-safe outlet for volunteers. The plants that arrived in 2019 included four types of goldenrod and Joe Pye weed. While many people blame goldenrod as the source for their hay fever in late summer and early fall, it is a valuable nectar source for both bees and butterflies. Through the garden's education efforts, visitors learned that ragweed is usually the root cause of these allergies. They also learned that both goldenrod and Joe Pye weed are more than just "field weeds" and can be an ecologically valuable addition to home gardens. The garden also supports Penn State research through careful pollinator counts. Schuylkill's lead counter, Master Gardener Kathy Hampford, observed that "There were few large butterflies, and the largest number of butterflies were small skippers. There were, however, many various bee species throughout the count!"
