An open house will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the gardens at John Rudy County Park, 400 Mundis Race Road, York. The gardens and the open house are a project of the York County Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and the York County Juvenile Probation, in conjunction with the York County Parks and Recreation Department. The event will be held rain or shine. Free refreshments will be served.
Located adjacent to the stone house that serves as York County Parks' administrative headquarters, the gardens were recently awarded second place in the Demonstration Garden category of the International Master Gardener Convention's Search for Excellence Award. They also won first place in the Demonstration Garden category of the state's Master Gardener Convention's Search for Excellence Award for 2014.
Master Gardeners will be on-site to answer questions. The gardens include annuals, perennials, herbs, natives and cultivars, as well as container gardens, water gardens, a garden of grasses and a raised bed to demonstrate an adaptive approach for people with physical challenges.
The fruit and vegetable gardens with their many varieties yield more than 6,000 pounds of produce, which is donated to local food banks each year. Fruit growers will be able to see the varieties of pears and blackberries ripening now, as well as vegetables. A variety of tomatoes will be available to sample, and attendees may purchase fresh-picked produce.
The event will also include exhibits on pollinators, growing garlic, invasive plants, rain barrels, the Audubon Society and topics such as "Keep York Beautiful" and "Pests Bothering People, Pets and Property." Talks and demonstrations by Master Gardeners will include "Composting" by Jack Geoghan at 9:15 a.m., "Growing Tomatoes" by Jerry Cook at 9:45 a.m., "Spotted Lanternfly" by Tim Abbey at 10:15 a.m., "Growing Vegetables in Containers" by George Fetrow at 10:45 a.m., and "Backyard Sundials" by Ron Bolton at 11:15 a.m.
Attendees may bring their problem plant or insect samples to discuss with Master Gardeners. They may also bring soil samples for free soil pH testing by Master Gardeners. Participants may make a free flower-and-herb tussie mussie to take home, and children's activities will be available.
For more information, readers may visit http://extension.psu.edu/york or call 717-840-7408.
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