MONTROSE, Pa. — Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County received honors at the ‘Gather and Grow-Together Again’ statewide conference September 22-24 in Scranton, PA. The conference held every 2 years throughout the state serves as a professional development opportunity for Master Gardener coordinators and volunteers.
Susquehanna County Master Gardeners received 1st place statewide under the category: Presentation/Workshop for their ‘Digging for Answers’ podcast. Master Gardeners partnered with the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association to host the podcast. The format is to answer general gardening questions submitted by members of the community and interview guests from various organizations. The goal of the podcast is to educate listeners on research based best gardening and environmental practices. To access the podcast, visit the library’s website: www.susqcolibrary.org and click programs/services, and pull down to podcasts. ‘Digging for Answers’ can be found on any listening platform: Spotify, ITunes, Google Podcast
Susquehanna County Master Gardeners received 3rd place statewide under the category: Demonstration Garden for their educational demonstration garden located at the Penn State Extension Office, 88 Chenango Street in Montrose. The demonstration garden features 11 different styles of garden beds, all planted with a variety of vegetables and fruits that are donated to local senior centers and food pantries. The handicapped accessible garden offers gardening programs and tours throughout the year. Each year, seasoned Master Gardeners work with the current Master Gardener basic training class to mentor the planning, planting, and maintenance of the garden.
The Hilton Scranton Conference Center hosted the statewide conference. Over 35 diverse educational lectures were presented. Topics included pruning, terrestrial orchids, Asian jumping worms, and engaging stories of famous gardening authors.
Master Gardeners had the opportunity to take part in bus tours to Cornell Botanic Gardens, Cutler Botanic Gardens, Grey Towers-the home of Gifford Pinchot, the Nature Conservancy’s Tannersville Cranberry Bog, Rodale Institute, Anthracite Heritage Museum at McDade Park, and the Alliance Landfill.
The Penn State Master Gardener volunteer program provides services to the community including a garden hotline which helps homeowners answer gardening questions with research-based information. The public has access to insect identification as well as Penn State lab services for identifying plant diseases. Master Gardeners offer workshops, webinars, youth programing, targeted presentations for organizations, poison prevention programing for first grade and self-guided demonstration gardens.
Master Gardeners are holding their annual premium wreath and poinsettia fundraiser. The deadline to order is Monday, October 31st and pick up will be Friday, December 2 from 3-7 pm at the Penn State Extension Office, 88 Chenango Street, Montrose. These lush wreaths and poinsettias are large gorgeous premium plants from a local grower. There will be a variety of poinsettia colors for the 6 ½ inch pot size which usually have 6+ blooms for $16: red glitter, pink, white, and classic red. The large 8 ½ inch pot for $35-red only will boast 14+ blooms. The lush green wreaths come in 2 sizes as well: 18 inches for $26 and 24 inches for $32.
Thank you to the Susquehanna County Commissioners for supporting Penn State Extension and the local Master Gardener programing in Susquehanna County.
For more information on the Master Gardener program or an order form for the poinsettia and wreath fundraiser, call or email: Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Susquehanna County. Phone: 570.666.9003 email: susquehannamg@psu.edu.
–Penn State Extension