"Getting Down and Dirty - Gardening from the Ground Up"

"Getting Down and Dirty - Gardening from the Ground Up"

15th Annual Home Gardeners' School

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday, April 9.

The event is presented by Penn State Master Gardeners, Delaware County, with outstanding Delaware Valley Speakers. The location is the Conference Center - Penn State Great Valley Campus, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA 19355. Registration forms can be printed at http://delaware.extension.psu.edu/MG/MG_events.html

Home Gardeners' School Program Highlights:
- My what great bone structure your garden has! Rick Lewandowski, Director of Mt. Cuba Center explores how the thoughtful choice and placement of native plants and shrubs in key areas can greatly enhance the quality and charactor of your garden throughout the year.

- 10 Tips for a More Bountiful Garden. When and how to amend the soil, judicious watering and best practices for keeping accurate garden records are just a few of the topics Penn State Senior Extension Educator Scott D. Guiser covers in his presentation of useful tactics that both novice and experienced gardeners can employ to improve the quantity and qualify of veggies from their home gardens.

- Sustainable Landscaping: What is it? How do I do it? For most homeowners, lawn is the default landscaping option. But there are so many other attractive and earth-friendly alternatives. Discover how to let site conditions guide your landscape choices while promoting biodiversity and creating a wildlife-friendly habitat from Susan Barton, PhD, a faculty member in the Dept. of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Delaware.

- Peonies, the unabashed "Queens of the Garden". Eleanor Tickner, owner of A Peony Garden, and a Master Gardener, gives you a glimpse of her newest passion, early blooning peonies, both species and hybrids.

- Lasagna Gardening. Forget digging and tilling! Master Gardener and science instructor Leslie Trimble describes how to prepare a new garden or enlarge an existing one by layering organic materials, then allowing Mother Nature to do the rest. This earth-friendly, back-saving technique produces rich, hospitable garden soil, saves time and money plus yields terrific crops.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to browse and buy in the ever-popular Master Gardener Marketplace, featuring a variety of affordable plants, herbs, perennials, peonies and small shrubs; hypertufa container butterfly gardens; nature-inspired jewelry, and a unique blend of eco-inspired garden artwork and crafts that are truly one-of-a-kind.

The $50 registration fee includes conference materials, continental breakfast and box lunch. Register before March 25 and save $5 per person, paying just $45 for this information- packed program and fun-filled gardening gathering. Better yet, bring a friend – two registrations together, $80 by 3/25. Send checks, payable to DCCE, to: The Master Gardeners, Penn State Cooperative Extension Delaware County, Smedley Park, 20 Paper Mill Road, Springfield, PA 19064-2705.

For more information and /or to register, contact Master Gardeners at 610-690-7669, and visit our website: http://delaware.extension.psu.edu/

Thank you for your help in sharing the agenda for this fun and exciting event!
Brenda Smyth

HGS 2011 Publicity & Outreach team

Wildflower Workshop at Bowman't Hill Wildflower Preserve

Sponsored by the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania

Wildflower Workshop at

Bowman't Hill Wildflower Preserve

1635 River Road

New Hope, PA 18938

http://www.bhwp.org/

April 20, 2011

Cost $6.00

Spring Spectacular:  Native Treasures of Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Amy Hoffmann

Registration deadline is April 6, 2011

Agenda

Registration is 12:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Welcome and Announcements

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15-3:15 Guided Tour

Registrar:  Kay Wilson

412-731-8205

kwwilson63@yahoo.com

Look on GCFP website: http://www.pagardenclubs.org/ under Calendar, April 20 for registration form.

March at Mt. Cuba

After another long winter, we're finally able to see the light - the days are getting longer and maybe you've been able to see the first buds of spring in your yard. Here at Mt. Cuba Center, we've been thinking "Spring" for quite a while! Check your mailbox this week for our newest Program Guide, full of classes and events to inspire and educate.

Coming up this Saturday is the Going Native Mini-Symposium," (10am-2pm, $75) a sneak peak at plant research and nursery trends. Steve Castorani, president of North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, PA, plus Peggy Anne Montgomery and Donna Wiley of Mt. Cuba Center's staff will educate you on numerous native plant research developments. The fee includes morning refreshments, lunch and a sampler box of six hot native plants for you to try in your garden.
Looking ahead, save the date - May 1, from 10AM to 4 PM. It's the Seventh Annual Wildflower Celebration - our fun, festive and FREE day - the whole family is invited. This year, learning stations will highlight native azaleas, meadow plants, and plants that will attract butterflies. The popular Wildflower Challenge is back, and we've added a special family activity, "The Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly," an interactive, fun experience especially for kids from 4 to 11 years old. Parking is also free, and still at Red Clay Reservation, off Old Wilmington Rd.

Finally, Mt. Cuba Center is pleased to partner with the Native Orchid Conference by hosting the 2011 annual gathering on July 30 and 31. Orchid lovers and experts will be gathering from all parts of the United States and Canada to learn about hardy orchids and observe them in their native habitat. Find out more on the Native Orchid Conference page of the Mt. Cuba Center website. Look for the button marked "Native Orchid Conference."

There's so much going on in the next few months and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you.

Sincerely,
Eileen Boyle
Public Programs Manager

Looking for New Programs for Your Club?

If your looking for exciting programs for your club, why not look to GCFP District I affiliates.

Check out Tyler Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, and Scott Arboretum for speakers.  The affiliates always have programs and classes with great speakers, so check them out.  Most are local and willing to bring their program to your club. 

Also, Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware has a program guide with many interesting programs that your members can signup for or maybe the speaker will come to you.  Check out http://www.mtcubacenter.org/ for more information.

Plant Sale on May 7 in Lionville

Garden Class of the Woman's Community Club of Uwchlan

Plant Sale
Saturday, May 7th

8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

1756 Uwchlan Meeting
House, Routes 100 and 113, Lionville, PA
Come early for the best selection of member grown perennials, shrubs and
trees. We're also offering local herbs, vegetables, geraniums, hanging
baskets, annuals, and more.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the historic Uwchlan Meeting House.
For further information, contact Mary Jo Schlomann, 610-269-8450, or
Darlene Snyder, 610-873-2376.

Ikebana Program

Would your club like to learn more about Sogetsu which is one of the schools of Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging?  Sumie Nishikawa is an accomplished designer and teacher who will present a program at your meeting.  She can be contacted at sumiesn@comcast.net for more details.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia

 Japanese music, art, food and fun

Check out the website for all the events at the festival.  Go to www.jasgp.org/cherryblossomfestival/ for all the details of the events which start on Friday, March 5 and end on Friday, April 15, 2011.