Garden in the Park, Saturday, August 18
North Hills gardeners have a wonderful resource located practically in their backyard.
The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Garden is at the corner of East Ingomar Road and Babcock Blvd. in North Park. The demonstration garden comes complete with smaller gardens each focusing on specialty or experimental plants, master gardeners who can answer questions, and even a garden hotline.
And on August 18th, the public is invited to the free Garden in the Parks Field Day complete with Penn State Creamery ice cream.
“Come for the ice cream, but stay for the knowledge,” Phillip Bauerle, Master Gardener Coordinator, Penn State Extension Allegheny County, said.
A major mission of the Master Gardener Program is to help educate the public about gardening techniques using research-based techniques and methods. One of the ways to accomplish this task mission is the Demonstration Garden.
“We want gardeners to be able to easily get information and see the gardens up close,” Bauerle said.
The garden located at North Park is 1,800 square feet with 10 gardens that showcase flowering plants and herbs. Situated in front of the North ark Veterans Memorial and old cannon, the gardens enhance the peaceful setting. Gardens include pollinator, herb, and trial bed gardens. The North Park Garden also includes field research plants from the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension (SEAREC) program out of Landisville, PA.
“Local gardeners can come get ideas for garden designs and to see what plants do well in our area. They can even see plants before they are released for sale to the public,” he said.
Master Gardeners plant, oversee, maintain and educate at each of the seven demonstration gardens throughout Allegheny County. During the growing season – usually April through October, depending on the weather, Master Gardeners are available to answer questions one night a week. At the North Park Demonstration Garden, the gardeners are available Wednesday evenings 4 to 8 p.m. weather permitting. Gardeners may also be available other times.
“The public can come and ask questions or brings samples that have been double bagged to show our gardeners for help with pest problems and other issues,” Bauerle said.
It isn’t easy to become a Master Gardener. The Penn State Extension Master Garden program requires 40 hours of basic classroom training in topics such as: plant diseases, indoor plants, lawn care, basic botany and plant propagation. Students must also score an 80 percent or higher on the final exam and serve an additional 50 hours in approved volunteer work. The requirements must be completed in one calendar year for certification. Gardeners must also continue their work to maintain their certification.
“These are exceptionally passionate people who want to share their knowledge with the public,” Bauerle said.
Garden clubs, school groups, and other organizations can take free hands-on visits and tours with advance notice. “We want people to visit our gardens,” he said.
The Garden in the Parks Field Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 18th at both the North Park and South Park gardens. In addition to that famous ice cream, master gardeners will have demonstration tables where guests can taste test garlic, tomatoes and other fresh produce, ask questions and tour the gardens.
“The ice cream serves as a way to attract people, but also helps to foster conversations about pollinators and other topics,” Bauerle said.
For more information about the Demonstration Gardens, the Master Gardeners Program of Garden in the Parks Field Day and more visit: extension.psu.edu/Allegheny. The Garden Hotline: 412-482-3476 or email: alleghenymg@psu.edu or Instagram: @alleghenymg or Facebook: http://bit.ly/alleghenymgRequirements for the Master Gardener program are listed at: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/join.
By Kathleen Ganster
