Topics

How to schedule a speaker.

Unless otherwise noted, our presentations are one-hour programs, including time for audience questions. Most presentations include a PowerPoint slide show, so a screen or blank wall would be necessary. Some programs may be able to be presented virtually. 

Native Plants

Creating Year-round Interest with Native Plants

Some gardeners wonder how to sustain year-round interest in their gardens when many perennials bloom only for a few weeks at a time. This presentation shares how to select plants thoughtfully to extend a garden's bloom times--and to find other ways to appreciate plants beyond their flowers. Though the ideas discussed apply to all perennials, featured examples will be native plants well suited for year-round interest in Lancaster County. An introduction to the many benefits of gardening with native plants is included.

Gardening in Small and Shared Spaces with Native Plants

Gardening with native plants has many benefits, especially for pollinators and other wildlife. However, gardeners who live where there is smaller space to garden, such as in townhouses, urban areas, or retirement communities, may be curious how to maximize those benefits in minimal space. Learn how to choose plants for shared spaces, maintain small gardens, and consider the power of many small gardens together creating a "pollinator patchwork."

Getting Started with Native Plants

New! You may have heard about the benefits of planting of native plants in our gardens but aren't quite sure how to choose and work with native plants. Learn about native plants and their ecological benefits, how to select ones appropriate for your landscape, what to look for when buying them, and other practical tips. Gardeners of any experience level are sure to learn something new.

Returning to Our Native Roots

New! This class is an intermediate look at native plants with a focus on a few endangered, threatened, rare, and vulnerable plant species and the pollinators that visit them. Examples of native plants can be custom-tailored to a specific client's location.

Pollinators and Natural Habitats

Alternatives to Lawn

New! There is growing interest in finding alternatives to turf grass for residential yards. This presentation offers three different property scenarios and ways for homeowners to transition from lawns to various native-plant options. Available evenings and weekends only.

The Buzz about Disappearing Pollinators

New! It's no secret that pollinator populations are decreasing. Pollinators are crucial to food production, so their decline holds implications beyond biodiversity loss. This program explores the basics of pollination, why pollinators are disappearing, and what you can do at home to help give pollinators a better chance.

Conservation and Attracting Pollinators to Our Gardens

New! This class is an introduction into what are native versus non-native plants and insects, what an invasive is, and what Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is. Length: 1/2 hour.

Creating Pollinator Habitat at Home

New! Gardens of any size, from pots on a balcony to acres of land, can support and host a wide variety of pollinators and other beneficial insects. Learn what pollinators need to thrive, how your garden can meet their needs, and some practical tips to make the most of your space. You just might find new ways to enjoy your garden!

Making Space for Pollinators

New! This special program combines three of our pollinator presentations--"The Buzz about Disappearing Pollinators," "Creating Pollinator Habitat at Home," and "Our Native Pollinators and Their Favorite Plants"--into one two-hour presentation or a two-part series. 

Our Native Pollinators and Their Favorite Plants

New! Which animals are native pollinators to our area? How do they go about their work? And which native plants are their favorites? Meet pollinators new to you, and learn something new about some "old friends" as you take away interesting and practical information that you can apply to your own garden to help protect our pollinators.

Rethinking Fall Gardening and Cleanup

New! Raking out flower beds, cutting back stems, and cleaning out all the way down to the mulch often feels therapeutic after a long, hot summer. When we're finished, the garden looks tidy, and everything is back in its place. However, the stems, sticks, and leaves that we have taken away are vital to the lifecycle of many of the insects and wildlife that we want our gardens to attract. Understanding this can help you approach fall gardening in new ways and adopt different practices that can have positive effects on the health and survival of pollinators, wildlife, and even the soil itself.

Vegetable and Herb Gardening

Fall Vegetable Gardening

New! Dive into the world of fall vegetable gardening. Explore the best time to plant, the most suitable crops, and season extenders that will keep your garden green well into the chilly months. This presentation is best for July and August to allow gardeners to obtain and start seeds.

Herbs for Attracting Pollinators

New! Use native and introduced herbs to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden. Fourteen herbs will be featured that create beauty, foster species diversity and interdependence, and provide a delicious harvest for the gardener. Tips are provided to ensure success.

Square Foot Gardening

New! Square foot gardening is a method of gardening that can increase your harvests in a smaller space by planting in 1-foot by 1-foot squares instead of traditional rows. In this presentation we'll cover the basics you need to know, from planning to harvest, so you can start your own square foot garden. Length: 1/2 hour.

Vegetable Gardening on a Budget

New! Growing your own food doesn't have to be expensive! "Vegetable Gardening on a Budget" will teach you the basics of setting up your vegetable garden while cutting back your costs and increasing your harvests. Covering a range of topics from recycling materials to high yield crop ideas, it will get you started without breaking the bank.

Flower Gardening

Hellebores 101

This presentation focuses on the basics of growing and caring for hellebores. Tips and suggestions are offered for landscaping with and caring for these hardy plants. The pictures within the presentation are vibrant and have been taken in the presenter's garden over a number of years. Audience members may just end up planting hellebores in order to enjoy their late winter and early spring blooms!

Indoor Gardening

Succulents

New! The Succulents course describes the main families of succulents, including Cactaceae. People's favorites are described including those that may be planted outdoors in Pennsylvania. Directions on how to grow and propagate succulents are included, as well as growing from seeds. An optional hands-on take-home activity may be provided.

Terrarium Construction and Care

New! Terrariums originated in the 1800s as a solution to a high failure rate of transporting plants on long sea voyages; think tea plants travelling from China to India. Terrariums helped globalize botany. What steps do you take before building your terrarium? What supplies will you need? Learn the basics of how to get started, assembly and care, and troubleshooting common problems. Length: 3/4 hour.

Seeds and Propagation

Propagation

New! This course describes how to propagate plants through the creation of seeds (sexual reproduction) and by the various asexual reproductive ways to create new plants. The presentation is followed by a live demonstration of propagation by cuttings, with practice by attendees. Available evenings and weekends only.

Seed Saving Basics

Discover the reasons to save your own seeds, methods for collecting and preserving the seeds, and the best plants to use to get started with seed saving. Length: 1/2 hour.

Understanding Seed Packets

New! This class describes what information is observed on the front and back of different kinds of seed packets. The information includes learning about zones, determining when to plant and how to start seeds, and thinning, among other topics. If held live, the sponsoring organization can obtain seed packets for attendees. Length: 1/2 hour.

Winter Sowing: What, Why, How

New! Learn a simple, easy, and inexpensive process that anyone can use to start seeds. Weather the winter doldrums by getting your hands in the dirt, and then let Mother Nature do the work! A make-and-take demonstration can follow with each participant taking home a winter-sown jug.

Best Practices in the Garden

The Basics of Starting a New Garden

New! Targeted especially for beginning gardeners, this presentation covers essential questions to answer in order to have a better chance at creating a successful garden, vegetable or ornamental. The second half of the session is a hands-on exercise for participants to work on their own unique garden situation following the questions presented. They should leave with a sketch, a list of steps to take to carry their vision forward, a process to select appropriate plants for their needs, and a list of resources.

Gardening in Tough Sites

New! All garden sites are unique, and some sites are particularly challenging. Whether the soil, available light, or environmental conditions (such as steep slopes or animal pests) make it a tough site for gardening, there are practices and modifications as well as suitable plants that can help a gardener succeed. This presentation can address several kinds of tough sites, selected either when scheduled or based on live audience feedback.

Keys to Successful Composting

Composting is imitating and managing the slow, natural process of decomposition of organic materials. It is a simple process that each one of us can employ to help reduce food waste and trash going to landfills and improve our own garden soil. Learn the basics about decomposing, how to get started, what can and cannot be composted, and some troubleshooting tips. This program can be geared toward home composting or community composting.

Pots, Potting, and Leaching

New! This class explains the type of pots that gardeners should use for different purposes, the materials that pots may be made from, and how to clean pots. Next, the class shows how to transplant a plant and why and when this should be done. The class ends with showing how to leach a plant's soil and explains why to do this. If this class is held live, a hands-on take home project can be added at the sponsoring organization's expense. This add-on includes three plugs, potting medium, and pots. Available evenings and weekends only.

Pruning

New! This course describes the tools you may use for pruning and how to maintain and clean them, along with safety when pruning. Then the course covers why you should prune, what type of plants may be pruned, when certain plants should be pruned, how to prune, and what mistakes should be avoided. The presentation is followed by a live demonstration of pruning and practice by attendees.

Garden Pests

Weeds and How to Manage Them

New! We have to live with weeds in our gardens, but we can take steps to help manage them better. Learn general information on weed identification, some common weeds found in Lancaster County, and various Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to reduce the presence of weeds in the home garden.

Invasive Species

Invasive Jumping Worms

Invasive jumping worms are the latest invasive species posing a serious threat to our gardens, home landscapes, agriculture, and native environment. They have been known here as Asian jumping worms, Jersey wigglers, Georgia jumpers, Alabama jumpers, snake worms or crazy worms, etc. Originally native to Japan and Korea they are continuing to be sold, distributed, and spread in the U.S., largely by our own commercial horticultural practices. This presentation summarizes research and recommendations from government agencies and university Cooperative Extension programs. Offered free of charge.

Invasive Plants

What, exactly, is an invasive plant, and why is it harmful to our environment? Learn the answers to these questions and how to avoid aiding and abetting plant invaders through an illustrated presentation by the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program in Lancaster County. 

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted lanternfly is a serious invasive pest with a healthy appetite for our plants, and it can be a significant nuisance, affecting our enjoyment of the outdoors, harming the health of our natural environment, and draining millions of dollars annually out of Pennsylvania's economy. Residents and homeowners will learn the basic biology and behavior of the spotted lanternfly as well as actions that they can take to help reduce the population of this invasive insect. Offered free of charge.

Special Interest

Books for Growing Young Gardeners

New! The program is a review of selected children's literature with garden topics, and books for adults on gardening with children including "Granny Camp" ideas, and other helpful resources. This presentation is geared to grandparents, parents, and other caregivers. Many book options have been recipients of "Growing Good Kids Book Awards" by the Texas A&M Jr Master Gardener Program and the American Horticultural Society (AHS).

"Tips from the Masters"--Gardening Illustrated by Fine Art

What do "old master" paintings and gardening have in common? This presentation uses fine art to illustrate a variety of gardening tips from the Master Gardener program. Topics addressed include improving soil, integrated pest management, and invasive plants.

What Early American Cookbooks Tell Us about Gardening

New! In this program on 19th century gardening, we will explore what our ancestors really grew in their gardens by looking at early American cookbooks from the Northeast U.S. as well as information about early Pennsylvania German food ways and the Landis Valley Farm Museum heirloom seed project.

Who Are Master Gardeners, and What Do We Do?

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are volunteers who educate the public in science-based horticultural information and best practices. Master Gardeners are trained by Penn State Extension in a broad range of horticultural topics and maintain their certification annually. Learn how the local Lancaster County Master Gardeners engage with the community and help home gardeners achieve greater success. Length: 1/2 hour. Offered free of charge.

"Working Gardens" in 19th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Country

This presentation contrasts 19th century high Victorian style and the common "working garden" with special attention to Pennsylvania Dutch country and lessons for today's gardeners.