Speakers' Bureau - Adults

The suggested donation for a non-profit community group is $50. The suggested donation for a for-profit business is $150. Donation check should be made payable to: "Penn State Extension." We request that a minimum of 20 people attend the program for which our Master Gardeners are scheduled to speak. Our Master Gardeners give talks throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties. These presentations are generally 45 to 60 minutes long. If your group meets outside of our two counties, please call the Lehigh County office at 610-391-9840 to get the phone number of your county Extension office. Contact the Master Gardener Coordinator, Joe Veshinfsky, jcv5092 for an updated list of the available talks.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GARDENING

Basics in Vegetable Gardening

A comprehensive vegetable gardening talk that includes: garden positioning and raised beds, intensive gardening techniques, companion plants, succession, and vertical planting, soil improvements, proper watering and seed planting techniques, fertilizers (organic and inorganic), seedlings (raising them, best transplant timing), seed saving, techniques to reduce diseases in the garden, global warming, and more. This talk will be very informative for the home vegetable gardener looking to start their own garden or improve what they are currently are doing.

Companion Plants

The concepts involving companion plants, why they work, and how they can be used in the home garden are discussed. Recommendations on how to use companion plants in the garden and what plants to use with specific vegetables are presented.

Edible Landscapes

This talk goes beyond the normal fruits and vegetables and discusses other edibles in the landscape like parts of ferns, flowers and shrubs that you may not have thought about adding to your tablefare in the past.

Extending the Vegetable Growing Season

This presentation explains how home gardeners can begin spring planting earlier than usual, keep crops in the ground longer in the fall, or garden all year round. Vegetable crops that are hardy or able to remain in the ground the entire winter are discussed.

Fall Gardening Clean Up

A relaxed and friendly review of the many tasks involved in a fall garden clean up, or as some folks refer to it, putting the garden to bed for the winter. We will list tasks, ask why, then you can decide if you do and when. Bring a pencil and your fall thinking cap.

"Forgotten" Small Fruit from the Old World

Red and black currants, gooseberries and elderberries were once grown in home gardens in northeast PA but have virtually disappear-red. However they do well in this climate, are easy to grow and can be used in many ways, from eating them raw to jams, jellies, and preserves. This presentation gives an overview over these "forgotten" fruits and how to grow them and also addresses the issue of white pine blister rust, which led to a ban of black currants and gooseberries in many US states in the 20th century.

Garden Soils and Bed Preparation

The process of building a dynamic, balanced garden soil is discussed, including the importance of using amendments to improve the characteristics of the soil, the contributions made by soil microbials, such as earthworms, and low tillage. The advantages of a dynamic, balanced soil, such as reducing the likelihood of soil diseases and as a method of pest control, are presented. The concepts presented can be applied to the organic garden as well as the conventional garden.

Grow Fruit In My Backyard? Why not!

A short but broad review of some of the issues to consider when deciding to grow fruit in your backyard garden. Or, as my wife said: "Why don't your apples look like the ones I buy at the grocery store?"

Growing a Tomato and Pepper Salsa Garden

Salsa is perhaps the most popular codiment and it cannot get any better than when made fresh using your own home grown ingredients. This class will show how easy it is to grow your own tomatoes and peppers to make delicious fresh homemade salsa. Topics to be covered will include deciding whether to grow from seeds or to buy transplants, recommended varieties and sources, planting and care, other salsa ingredients that can be grown, and recipes for both fresh and canned salsa.

Intensive Gardening/Succession Planting

The succession planting methods and techniques used in today's vegetable garden are an outgrowth of the French Intensive Method brought to the United States by Alan Chadwick during the 1920's. The purposes of succession planting include maximizing the use of garden space, increasing garden production, and ensuring a continuous vegetable supply. Succession methods such as planning the intensive garden, interplanting, relay planting, and multicropping, and the vegetables that lend themselves to succession planting and how to plant them are included.

Introduction to Organic Gardening

This presentation explains how home gardeners can begin spring planting earlier than usual, keep crops in the ground longer in the fall, or garden all year round. Vegetable crops that are hardy or able to remain in the ground the entire winter are discussed.

Organic Fertilizers, Amendments & Soil Conditioners

This presentation explains organic soil management practices and the benefits and uses of various organic fertilizers, amendments, and soil conditioners. The differences between those used in the conventional garden and the organic garden are discussed. This presentations centers on organic gardening methods; However, understanding the concepts discussed are advantageous for all gardeners.

Organic Gardening Methods and Techniques

This presentation looks at how gardening approaches are applied in the organic garden, including soil preparation, raised beds, mulching, intensive and vertical gardening, low tunnels, and companion plants. A look at the preparation, planting, and harvesting in one organic bed during the growing season is included.

Putting Community back into Community Gardens

A short talk on how bringing people together of different religions, different ethnicities, different economic classes can bring about social changes that will change your perspective on what can be accomplished by loving, compassionate cooperation in the community garden.

Raised Bed Gardening

This presentation discusses the advantages, types, and uses of raised beds. Topics include soils preparation for raised beds, using low tunnels with raised beds, and straw bale gardening. Included are year-round photos of the uses of raised beds.

Small Space Vegetable Gardening

Think you don't have enough room to grow your own vegetables? This program will help you discover places to grow edible plants and covers the basics of choosing plants, starting seeds, caring for and maintaining your edibles and more.

This program was so popular it was broken down into parts to cover more information:

• Part 1 of 3, Planning and Designing your Garden
  This portion will show you how to choose what you will grow, how to design where and how to plant it and find new places to grow things that you may have never considered!

• Part 2 of 3, Preparing your Garden and Starting Seeds
  This portion will show you how to prepare your garden-whether it is in the ground or in containers, composting and your soil or growing medium, and how to decide if you should start your own plants from seeds, directly in the ground or purchase your plants.
• Part 3 of 3, Maintaining your Garden
  This portion will show you how to care for your garden. From proper watering, fertilizing and weeding to keeping an eye out for common pests, when to harvest and replace harvested crops for even more harvests. Find out how to properly watch your garden grow.

Soil Testing for Home Gardeners

Do you really know what's in your garden soil? How well does it meet the needs of your vegetables, flowers, lawn, and other "crops"? Well nourished plants - they don't all have the same needs - are more resistant to pests, disease, and bad weather. Learn here why, when, and how to soil test and how to use the test results. The results will show you what and how much nutrient to add for your chosen "crop," but also help you avoid costly expense and labor by showing what your soil doesn't need. Don't guess; soil test. Links to useful sites and supplementary articles are provided.

Starting Vegetable Seedlings Indoors

Starting seedlings indoors allows gardeners access to a wider variety of vegetables than is available at local nurseries, greenhouses, and big box stores, as well as guarantees the quality of the seedlings. Explained are soil-less growth mediums and how to prepare them, various uses of a variety of flats, cells, and types of pots, the desirable indoor conditions, and hardening-off and outdoor planting.

Transitioning to Organic Gardening

This class will help wean you off chemicals! Learn how to transition from conventional to organic. Find out how to go about the transition and what to expect along the way.

Vegetable Gardening

The presentation contains information gleaned from current agricultural college research and literature. It is relevant for experienced as well as inexperienced vegetable gardeners. The topics discussed in this presentation are gardening approaches, planning and starting a vegetable garden, soil improvement and preparation, intensive planting, container gardening, extending the growing season, and profiles in vegetable families.

Vegetable Diseases and Pests

Learn some common plant diseases and pests that might affect your vegetable plants here in the Lehigh Valley. Learn how to prevent, identify, and treat many of the problems that frequently plague our local gardens and keep them from achieving their full potential.

Victory Gardens - two parts

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Part 1 details garden preparation. Part 2 gives an overview of planting and timing. Each is 45 minutes. Presentations can be combined or given separately.

EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY

The American Chestnut: Its Past and Hope for the Future

This presentation highlights the history of the "Redwoods of the East" and will bring the audience up to date on the traditional breeding program being done by the American Chestnut Foundation in search of a blight-resistant tree.

A Day in the Fall, Setting the Stage For the Birds

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
A photogenic presentation from twilight to dusk of the feeding cycle of fall birds in a suburban setting.

A Day in the Spring, Setting the Stage For the Birds

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
A photogenic presentation from twilight to dusk of the feeding cycle of spring birds in a suburban setting.

A Day in the Winter, Setting the Stage For the Birds

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
A photogenic presentation from twilight to dusk of the feeding cycle of winter birds in a suburban setting.

The Times They are a-Changin': An introduction to Phenology

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Have you ever paid attention to when daffodils bloom? Or when you first hear frogs croak in your yard? Learn about the intricate seasonal timings of plants and animals you could find in your own backyard and how they are tied to climate variations.

Birds in the Blizzard of January 23, 2016

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Learn which bird species are active in a blizzard and how they behave.

Creating an Environment for Birds

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
As native habitat declines, it's important for us to create habitat for our feathered friends. Learn about what to plant, what seed to buy and other considerations to turn your backyard into a bird haven.

Composting

Turn garden and kitchen waste into black gold. Save landfill space by learning to recycle grass, branches, leave, and more.

Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitats

Northampton County or eastern Lehigh County only
Introducing the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Habitat program; focus on developing your outdoor space to be an oasis for birds, butterflies, wildlife, and, of course, humans.

Raising Monarchs

Northampton County or eastern Lehigh County only
These amazing insects are a jewel of the garden. Learn about their life and how easy it is to raise them in your backyard.

Vermicomposting: How You Can Compost Inside, Even During the Winter

Whether you have a lot of land, or no land, whether you compost already or not, you can compost with worms. Learn how worms can eat your garbage, provide food for your potted plants, and be great companions for young and old alike!

TRAVEL TO GARDENS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Agriculture in Tuscany and along the Amalfi Coast, Italy

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Get a glimpse of agricultural practices, streetside containers, backyard gardens and culinary traditions in Tuscany and along the Amalfi coast in Italy.

Cruise the Nile, visit gardens and ancient temples.

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st

Start at Cairo then cruise to Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Aswan, Pyramids, markets and agricultural sites.

Cultural Treasures of Japan

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
This is a travelog of the culture of Japan. This presentation is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

English Cottage Gardens

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Tour the English countryside and view cottage-style gardens and historic structures in England, Wales and Scotland.

English Formal Gardens

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Take a tour of formal gardens and historic sites in England, Wales and Scotland.

France's Wine Country - two parts

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Part 1 takes you on a bus tour through towns and gardens near Bordeaux, France. Part 2 takes you on a boat ride, exploring French vineyards. Each is 45 minutes. Presentations can be combined or given separately.

Gardening in Tanzania, Africa

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Get a glimpse of gardening practices in small villages and coffee plantations in Tanzania. Presentation lasts 45 minutes. A 20-minute presentation on animals can be also be included.

Japan's Flora

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Go on a trip into Japan and see see their flower gardening methods.

Spring Scenes from the Volga River in Northwest Russia

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Take a cruise through famous historical sites, markets and villages and see interesting gardening practices used in Northwest Russia.

Tulip Fields and more!

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Explore famous garden shows and tulip fields in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Wildflowers in Montana

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Take a journey on horseback to explore Montana's wilderness and its summer-blooming wildflowers.

DO-IT-YOURSELF GARDEN MAINTENANCE

Basic Shrub and Perennial Care

Explains how, why, and when to care for, deadhead and divide perennials and proper pruning methods for landscape shrubs.

Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs

Learn the right techniques for pruning and shaping trees and shrubs. We'll discuss various tools and learn when you can do-it-yourself and when a job needs to be turned over to the professionals.

LEHIGH VALLEY LANDSCAPES

Anything You Want to Know About Trees

I am an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, and can give presentations on insects and diseases of trees, proper pruning of trees, how to identify defects in trees, how trees grow, how to identify species of trees and discuss City Ordinances for Shade Tree Commissions.

Attracting Beneficials and Pollinators

Recognizing, promoting and conserving allies and beneficial insects in landscapes and vegetable gardens.

Certify Your Pollinator Garden

Learn about the importance of pollinators, how you can help reverse pollinator decline, and how you can certify your pollinator garden.

Container Gardening from A to Z

Container gardening is different, is fun and can be challenging. The only limitations to container gardening are the size of the container and your imagination. This is an alphabetical review of some of the things that make container gardening unique and rewarding.

Creating Habitat Within Native Plant Gardens

Native plant gardens can be used to attract a wide variety of wildlife species to your yard. Birds, as well as butterflies and other fascinating insects are fun to learn about and to photograph amongst your plants.

Creating A Monarch Waystation

With increasing threats and habitat loss, monarch butterflies need our help more than ever. Find out what a Monarch Waystation is and how you can help these beautiful butterflies.

Fall Leaves

No day time lectures mid-April through September 1st
Learn how and why our deciduous trees have such brilliant fallcolors. This presentation also explores the intricate timings of the season.

Flowering Trees: The Good, the Bad and the Scabby

Some common flowering trees are good, some have problems, and there are a host of lesser-known flowering trees that could be used more often. Visuals of common disease and insect problems.

Focus on Foliage: Shape, Texture and Color in Garden Design

Gardening for Butterflies

Want more butterflies? Grow some caterpillars! Learn some interesting facts about butterflies and how to create a butterfly habitat in your backyard. Learn to recognize some of the common butterflies in our area.

Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Learn which plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden and how to keep a succession of blooms, water and shelter available for them throughout the seasons.

Growing Dahlias

Dahlias are one of the most beautiful flowers available as they come in a wide range of colors, are easy to grow and can provide an almost unlimited supply of cut flowers from July until frost. This talk will cover a few simple but necessary steps to ensure your dahlias thrive in the garden along with where they can be obtained, how to store tubers over the winter and dividing. Photographs showing the wide range of colors and forms available will be shown to hopefully get everyone excited about growing at least a couple of these fantastic flowers.

Hardy Flowers for Winter and Early Spring

Helping Pollinators -- the Journey of a Beginner Beekeeper

Northampton County or eastern Lehigh County only.
Concerned about issues facing bees and a Master Gardener decides to become a beekeeper. Hear about the journey into beekeeping, issues surrounding the pollinators and how you can help in your own yard.

Hummingbird Hangout

Let's learn a little bit more about the amazing tiny, acrobatic, highly-colorful hummingbirds. Find out ways to attract them to your backyard. And, yes, they do fly backwards--on purpose.

Insect Oddballs in the Garden

This is an introduction to some of the lesser-known, often misunderstood, underappreciated "other bugs" in the garden and the important roles they play.

Landscape Lighting FUNdamentals

How landscape lighting can transform your garden after the sun goes down. Emphasis on the effects and patterns that can be created to make the most of your landscape plants and architecture after dark.

Native Bees 101

This is an introduction to some of the common bees you may see in your garden. Learn about their life cycles, foraging habits, and how you can help thank bees for all the work they do.

Native Plant Garden Design for Small Spaces

This program will include practical design tips and examples for featuring native plants for small residential spaces. Participants will be invited to create a design for their own small space using resources and templates provided by the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. This program is open to all, but will be basicand requires no garden design experience.

Plants of Ancient Times

Exploring plants and botanical symbolism in ancient texts from religions around the world. This presentation includes important plants and agricultural crops in ancient times from figs and apples in the Garden of Eden to frankincense, myrrh, lumber and oils still in use today.

Plants of Murder and Mayhem

Plants have been employed throughout history for both good and bad uses. Learn how some of the plants you may find growing in your gardens or nearby habitats have been used for nefarious deeds. You'll also learn about some common ornamental plants you may want to avoid if you have small children or pets in your backyard due to their toxic properties.

Pollinator Gardening/Certify Your Pollinator Garden

In this presentation you will meet the pollinators. Learn how to choose pollinator-preferred plants, and provide host plants, water sources, nesting sites and shelter. Plant it and they will come!

Shade Gardening

Gardening in the shade can be a challenge. It's important tolearn the different degrees of shade to know which plants are appropriate in different situations. Sometimes even varieties of mosses can be a lovely and useful choice.

Shakespeare's Flowery Poems

Over 20 of the Bard's works included flowers and plants and many believe he must have been a gardener! Get inspired by plants mentioned in Shakespeare's works and consider planting a Shakespeare-themed garden.

Ten Plants That Changed the World

Explore ten plants that have shaped human history in both wonderful and tragic ways.

Water Gardening Basics

Where to site your water garden, ways to keep the water clear and your fish healthy. Types of pumps, filters, aquatic plants and fish for your water garden. How to clean and winterize your water garden.

Water Gardening and Aquatic Invasive Species

Learn what plant species to avoid and how best to manage your water garden to protect our local streams and rivers.

CHALLENGING SOLUTIONS

A Changing Climate and Landscape

Learn how climate change will impact our plant species.

Common Landscape Pests

How to identify common landscape pests and how and when to control them.

Common Vegetable Garden Pests

How to identify and control common pests in your vegetable garden.

Dealing with Deer in the Landscape

How to deal with deer when they are nibbling on or destroying your landscape. We start with some simple deterrents and work up to more sophisticated tactics.

Dealing with Animal Pests

A slide presentation that discusses different types of animal pests and how to recognize there damage, as well as the different controls you can use in these situations.

Native Alternatives to Invasive Garden Plants: Perennials

Native Alternatives to Invasive Garden Plants: Trees and Shrubs

Rain Gardens

Learn how to create a rain garden to intercept stormwater runoff.

Spotted Lanternfly

Learn how to identify this new invasive pest and how to help control it.

Tracking Climate Change through Bloom Times

A discussion of using phenology in the garden to help us understand the impacts of climate change. The talk includes some history of phenology which includes records of Asian cherry trees going back 1,000 years, and historic records of gardeners in Europe, and folks like Jefferson, Thoreau, and Leopold. The audience will learn how to get involved in the Eastern Pennsylvania Phenology Project.

Mosquitoes and Ticks - Biology and Control for the Home Gardener

HANDS-ON GARDENING

Rain Barrel Workshop

This is a hands-on workshop that will guide you through the process of constructing your own barrel. The cost of the workshop includes a plastic 55-gallon drum and all the necessary parts and assistance to build your rain barrel! This workshop costs $40 per person and requires pre-registration.