The Master Gardener organizers of the 27th annual Shirley R. Wagner Garden Symposium have once again planned an event to appeal to anyone with an interest in gardening. Speakers during the event will talk about trends in gardening, weeds, woodland wildflowers, native bees, and plants for pollinators. An update on the spotted lanternfly infestation will also be offered.
"For a gardener, this is the place to be," said symposium co-chair Brenda Walker.
Fellow co-chair Holly List added, "It's a wonderful place to talk with other gardeners."
The symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. When the doors open at 7:45 a.m., a continental breakfast will be available, and attendees may shop the Gardeners' Marketplace. Vendors will include sellers of stoneware and porcelain pottery, pollinator-attracting native plants, home and garden decor, small-batch bath and body projects, succulents, herbs, perennials, and preplanned gardens. Walker explained that preplanned gardens are approximately six to eight complementary plants sold as a group.
In addition to the businesses selling items, the Master Gardeners of Lancaster County will host the Garden Shed, offering gently used gardening materials as a preview of the group's annual plant sale, which will be held on Saturday, May 4, this year. "These are true gardeners' treasures," Walker remarked.
The newest class of Master Gardeners will display projects outlining the results of current research, including information on rain gardens, pollinators, vegetables, and more. All of the Master Gardeners were given an opportunity to include tidbits about their own gardens in the event booklet, a copy of which every attendee will receive along with seeds, information, and other resources.
Symposium attendees may visit the vendors during the breaks between sessions. Jourdan Cole of the Garden Media Group will kick things off by reviewing eight recent garden trends that encourage a love of nature.
"People have been saying they're looking forward to this (session)," List said.
Recently retired horticulture extension educator and Master Gardener Annette MaCoy will talk all about weeds and how to control them. List praised MaCoy's knowledge base and noted that she has trained many of the Master Gardeners in Lancaster County.
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve executive director Miles Arnott will discuss the life cycles of early spring plants and their ecological benefit. "We don't often use them (in planned gardens) because they're not around very long, but they add a taste of spring when we're yearning for it," List said.
Kelly Gill is a pollinator conservation specialist for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and a partner biologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. She will talk about native bees and their habitat needs, a topic that she frequently discusses during her role helping farmers, landowners, and others implement Farm Bill practices to conserve pollinators and other beneficial insects. In a second session, Gill will talk about designing and managing pollinator-friendly landscapes.
"Even a pot on a patio will help pollinators," said Master Gardener and symposium committee member Dyan Eisenberger. "They can act as way stations for insects and birds during migration."
Breakfast and lunch, as well as entries in the drawing for more than 100 prizes, will be included in the cost of attendance, and folks should register by Sunday, April 7, by visiting https://extension.psu.edu/wagner-garden or by calling the Penn State Registration Service at 877-345-0691 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, readers may contact Master Gardener coordinator Lois Miklas at lim2@psu.edu or 717-394-6851.
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