Symposium offers something for new, experienced home gardeners
For some, the start of a garden is aspirational; others have been digging in the dirt for as long as they can remember.
Both – and every gardener in between – will take something away from an April 11 gardening symposium, said Jamie Ursic, part-time coordinator for the Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County.
Called “It Starts in Your Backyard,” the symposium includes two keynote presentations and eight breakout sessions, each presented twice throughout the day.
One keynote speaker will discuss year-round color in the garden, and the other will present on pollinators in the backyard. The breakout sessions cover native plants, landscape design, invasive plants, food preservation, houseplant care, healthy soil, tree maintenance, and understanding labeling like organic, free-range and pasture-raised.
Throughout the year, the master gardeners continue to learn and grow – literally and in their knowledge of plants, Ursic said.
When attendees walk away, Ursic said they will have an idea – or a better idea – about “how to thoughtfully and intentionally plan a garden.”
“We want everyone to realize that they can contribute to our ecosystem. Their backyard garden is just as important as any large-scale professional garden,” Ursic said.
While there is a $65 fee for the symposium, the day also includes a garden marketplace that is free and open to the public.
The symposium will be held at the Loft Conference Center in Canonsburg-Southpointe on Saturday, April 8, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5n77v5w2.