Topics include basic gardening, garden planning, garden guests: from pollinators to pests, native plants, and vegetables and edibles. Plus, we have presentations specifically developed for our senior learners called "For the Young at Heart."
From the list provided below, you can select a topic appropriate for your adult group. Due to the number of requests, we ask you to electronically submit your request via the Speakers Bureau Request Form at least 30 days prior to your event. Each request will be reviewed in the order of the date received.
After scheduling a program, we will email you speaker information and program details.
Basic Gardening
Houseplants: Bringing Joy to Our Homes
Houseplants keep trending, and for a good reason: they are fun to grow and add beauty to your home. Learn about some trending houseplants and easy go-to plants that have been around for years. Gain an understanding of finding the right plant for the right place and ways to keep your houseplants happy and healthy. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Winter Sowing Method
Did you ever wish you could garden all winter? Learning the winter sowing method will allow you to start planting seeds in January to reap the rewards in the summer. The other advantages of this method will be explained, along with a short demonstration of how to prepare your containers for winter sowing. Only for in-person and, depending on the season, will bring a selection of native plant seeds, milk jug, soil, and plant labels for demonstration. 40 minutes, PowerPoint/lecture/hands-on, in-person or virtual
For the Young at Heart
The Amazing Monarch Butterfly for the Young at Heart
Senior citizens will be shown the Monarch butterfly's egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly stages. The presenter will bring puppet props, live caterpillars/ chrysalids/ and adult butterflies to show the senior citizens. If available, a chrysalis can be left for residents to observe the emerging butterfly. The presenter, if possible, will bring in a milkweed plant (and pollinator-friendly flowering plant) to plant in the facility's containers or garden bed to attract Monarchs. The place of residence can be an adult day care center or a nursing home facility. The presenter will provide soil and plants. 40 minutes, hands-on, in-person
Vegetable Container Gardening for the Young at Heart
Senior citizens will observe how to plant tomatoes, herbs, and even milkweed plants in containers. Companion planting will be reviewed. The participants' place of residence will be provided with potted plants to allow them to reap the vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are planted that day. The place of residence can be an adult daycare center or a nursing home facility. Pots for the plants can be provided by the place of residence or donated by the presenter. The presenter will provide soil and plants. 40 minutes, hands-on, in-person
Garden Certifications
Become a Monarch Watch Waystation: How to Help the Monarch Butterfly
A brief review of the Monarch butterfly's life cycle from egg to adult and its migration to and from Mexico will be discussed. However, the emphasis will be on becoming a Monarch Watch Waystation for the Monarchs, establishing a summer habitat in the garden, and migration through the area. The Monarch Watch Waystation application will be used as a guide on what is required to be certified, including the type of milkweed host plants for the caterpillars, suggested nectar annual and perennial plants for the adult butterflies, and sustainable management practices that Monarch Watch recommends. The Monarch butterfly's plight during their migration through our country and in their Central Mexican overwintering site will conclude the program. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Pennsylvania Pollinator Friendly Garden Certification
Pollinators need our help. Both native and domestic bee populations are declining, affected by habitat loss, disease, and pesticide contact. Join the effort to protect pollinators by providing food and habitat for native insects/animals. Pollinators will, in turn, provide the pollination needed to protect our plant diversity and food sources. Certifying your property as "Pollinator Friendly" will help support a healthy ecosystem for our community and our future. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Garden Guests: From Pollinators to Pests
An Introduction to the Invasive Pest Spotted Lanternfly
Learn the basics about the Spotted Lanternfly, how to identify this pest and its life stages, the damage it causes, and management options to stop the spread across Pennsylvania. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden
Do you ever wonder about the butterfly visitors that come to your garden? This presentation will teach you all about six different local butterflies (including the Monarch butterfly) using photos of their different life stages (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult). The caterpillar host plants and adult nectar plants will also be discussed so that you know how to attract these butterflies to your garden! 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Calling All Bluebirds
Supporting bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting birds is a wonderful goal. Learning how to be a good Bluebird Landlord is important, and information will be provided to help meet this goal by providing food, habitat, and monitoring. They need our help to thrive! 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Healthy Habitats for Bees and Other Pollinators
Learn why the interaction of bees and other pollinators with flowering plants is so important for the pollinators, the plants, and us! You will review what pollen and nectar are and which insects and animals can be considered pollinators. At the end of this presentation, you will learn how to attract these pollinators to the garden and how to keep them in your new, beautiful garden year-round. Depending on the season (and if in person), we will bring flowering plants and seeds. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Mystical Moths
Did you know that butterflies are actually MOTHS? Yes, butterflies are only 10% of the order Lepidoptera, and 90% are moths! Yet most people know very little about them. Be prepared to be surprised and captivated by what you learn about moths during this program, which is all about moths and their contributions to our way of life. We will give you many interesting facts about moths and clear reasons why we should do what we can to stop their decline. Our program will help you understand what we can do to support them. 45 minutes, PowerPoint, in-person or virtual
The Amazing Monarch Butterfly
Learn all about the Monarch butterfly, including the metamorphosis from egg to adult and the migration to Mexico in the fall. Plants that need to be added to your garden to attract these butterflies; specifically milkweeds for the caterpillar stage and generally their favorite flowering plants for their adult stage, will be reviewed. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual*
*Depending on the season, will bring milkweed, seeds & Monarch caterpillars, chrysalids & adults
The Inviting Pollinator-Friendly Gardens of Westmoreland County, PA
Formed in 2019, Westmoreland Pollinator Partners (WPP) is a group of 24 nonprofit organizations, parks, schools, and community gardens dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving pollinators and their habitats. Learn why our pollinators are so crucial to a healthy and diverse ecosystem and see how WPP members are raising awareness and conserving pollinator-friendly habitats as you take a delightful visual tour of the beautiful and inviting pollinator-friendly gardens in our county. 45 minutes, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Garden Planning
Basic Composting: The Dirt on Effective Composting
Would you like to reduce your kitchen and garden waste that fills up your trash can for the week? Would you like to have free, rich organic soil full of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms to add to your gardens? And most importantly, would you like to learn to be a responsible steward for our planet Earth and reduce what gets dumped in landfills in plastic bags? This all can be accomplished by learning the simple science of composting. 30 minutes, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Preparing a Garden Bed: "No Dig, No Till' Lasagna Method
Intimidated by starting a garden bed from scratch? This presentation offers some easy techniques that anyone can use in the fall to prepare a garden bed. Using the Lasagna Method, there is no need to dig in hard clay soil and then worry about how plants will even grow in it. Participants will also learn how the original Lasagna Method can be adapted to start your garden in the spring. 20-30 minutes, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
NOTE: This shorter program works well combined with the Healthy Habitats for Bees and Other Pollinators program that encourages planting pollinator-friendly gardens.
Seed Harvesting, Processing, and Storing
Save money and get a better selection of seeds! Participants will learn where to find, when, and how to harvest seeds from flowering perennials, mostly native species and annuals. Proper technique in processing these seeds is just as important. The presenter will demonstrate the correct way to dry and how to identify what a seedhead is vs. the actual seed in several different types of plants. The program ends with a lesson on storing processed seeds. 20-30 minutes, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual*
*Depending on the season, the presenter will contribute a selection of native plant seeds and possibly plants grown from those seeds.
NOTE: This shorter program works well combined with the Winter Sowing Method program.
Straw Bale Gardening
There are many reasons why a Straw Bale Garden might solve your problems in the garden. Learn how easy it is to prepare the bales and plant them into this medium which provides constant fertilizer for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You'll see some creative solutions to gardeners' problems and learn the pros and cons of the Straw Bale Garden. 30 minutes plus Q&A, PowerPoint, in-person or virtual
You Can Grow Anything, Anywhere
Does a steep slope, a tiny yard, too much shade, a poorly drained site, or rocky clay soil keep you from the joy of gardening? Come and learn simple, inexpensive ways to grow nearly any plant anywhere. Learn how to make easy "planting pockets," vertical trellises, patio pot "wheelies," drain wet areas, and more. 1 hour, PowerPoint/hands-on, in-person
Know Your Natives
Know Your Natives: Flowering Trees
Learn about the value of these woodland species and how to incorporate them into your home landscape. Take a look at eight species native to Pennsylvania and the balance of aesthetics, wildlife benefits, and gardening joy these trees bring to the landscape. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Know Your Natives: Under-Appreciated Plants
We will discuss options of Pennsylvania native plants to consider adding to your landscape to increase plant biodiversity and maximize wildlife benefits. Native milkweeds have recently dominated the conservation gardening conversation because monarch butterflies depend upon them. However, did you know that Pennsylvania has over 2000 native plants that are needed in addition to milkweeds to support a wide variety of insects, birds, and animals? You will learn about all of this and more during this informative presentation! 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Know Your Natives: Shrubs
Gardeners will learn about eight species of pollinator-friendly shrubs that will make any garden look great and create an essential pollinator habitat. Native shrubs for pollinators are often overlooked in the planning stages or on recommended plant lists. We will discuss the value and benefits pollinator-friendly gardens have to offer. 1 hour, PowerPoint/lecture, in-person or virtual
Vegetables and Edibles
Year-Round Gardening
Do you want to serve fresh greens, salads, and herbs from your garden for Thanksgiving and Christmas but don't have room for a greenhouse? Come learn how to use raised beds with simple PVC hoops, hay bales, and even indoor hanging baskets to extend the joy of gardening into the dreary winter months. 1 hour, PowerPoint/hands-on, in-person
Please submit your request via the Speakers Bureau Request Form.
