By Blake Jackson
At this year’s Ag Progress Days, set for August 12-14, visitors can gain valuable gardening knowledge from Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in the Yard and Garden Area.
Located at West 11th Street and Demonstration Alley, this area will offer educational presentations, hands-on activities, and guided garden tours to help gardeners of all levels enhance their horticultural skills.
Throughout the three-day event, experts including Master Gardeners, horticulturists, entomologists, and plant pathologists will be available to share science-based gardening tips. The “Ask a Master Gardener” tent will allow visitors to consult with Master Gardeners from across Pennsylvania on a variety of topics, including soil health, pruning, garden planning, plant care, and pest management.
Guests can explore demonstration gardens highlighting pollinator-friendly plants and sustainable gardening practices. The Centre County Master Gardeners will provide guidance and answer questions along the way.
Visitors can also learn about the Master Gardener Pollinator Friendly Habitat Certification program and techniques for establishing successful home gardens.
A special attraction is the butterfly house, where attendees can discover the importance of pollinators and which plants attract them. Children can participate in fun, interactive activities in the youth tent, such as an insect scavenger hunt.
Adjacent to the gardens, the Bee Tent will feature an observation hive, beekeeping equipment, and educational displays about Pennsylvania’s native bee species. A daily presentation titled “Wild Bees of Pennsylvania” will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building theater.
The Yard and Garden Area will also showcase research from Dr. Margarita López-Uribe’s entomology lab at Penn State, focusing on bee biodiversity, ecology, and evolution.
Visitors will learn how bees support Pennsylvania’s agriculture and explore the work of the Center for Pollinator Research.
Master Gardeners are also collaborating with the López-Uribe lab on a long-term community-science initiative to study native bees. This project provides advanced training in bee identification and contributes to pollinator research across the state.
Presentation Schedule Highlights:
- Aug. 12: Flower Arranging, Apple Tree Pruning, Home Composting
- Aug. 13: Native Trees, Cultural Practices of Apple Trees
- Aug. 14: Soil Test Interpretation, Native Plants
For more details, visit the Ag Progress Days website.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-joshua-resnick
Categories: Pennsylvania, General