Rodale's Honeybee Conservancy

The Honeybee Conservancy at Rodale Institute promotes natural and sustainable beekeeping practices through education and outreach. Participants in the program can place their hives on our 333 acre organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, creating a beekeeping community network to support the honeybee stewards even after completion of the course.

Read more about the Rodale Honeybee Conservancy.

My Monet Garden Club Programs

Presented by

Monday, August 13 - "English Muffins" by Sylvia Bogosh

English Muffins and Sacred Spaces: A garden can be a place with many surprises. A bench in a quiet corner, a pond, an arbor or a place of rest. A large yard, small yard or no yard at all. Everyone can create their own space.

Wednesday, August 29 - "Monarch Magic" by Phillip Mailin

September 24 - "Plant Progagation" by  Scott Davis

October 22 - TBA

Gardening Events of Interest

On Thursday, July 26 is the Flower Trials Field Day by Penn State Extension Garden in 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim.

http://trialgardenspsu.com/CMS/uploads/files/2012FlowerTrials%20reg%20form%20B.pdf

Penn State Extension Event on Sat, July 28, Summer Gardening Experience.

The event starts at 9AM to 2 PM and is located at the Southeast Ag Research & Extension Center, 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim PA, 653-4728.

http://extension.psu.edu/cumberland/events/files/2012-summer-garden-experience-brochure 

Sunday, August 12 - We are visiting the Rodale Institute Gardens, 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown.

http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/events

Sunday, Sept 9 – We will be touring the Hershey Gardens to visit the Butterfly House. Cost is $10.00 and $11.00.

http://www.hersheygardens.org/garden_attractions/butterfly_house.php  

Sunday, Oct. 14 – Fall is nice at the Brandywine Wildflower Garden in Chadds Ford. The admission cost is $8.00 and $12.00.
http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/gardens.html#fall

My Monet Garden Club Plant Swap

Our next meeting is Monday, May 14 at 7:00PM. The Garden Club is having its first plant swap for its members and friends. So everyone please bring something to share.  

First My Monet Garden Club Meeting for the 2012 Season

Just a reminder that tonight is our first My Monet Garden Club meeting tonight at the Eastern Lancaster County Library at 7:00PM in the downstairs board room.

See you then!

Spring Cleaning Your Garden - Getting Your Garden Ready to Grow

When To Start Spring Cleaning in Your Garden     
     By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide

There's no point in pretending you're not going to be out in your garden the first warm second of spring. While there is no harm in cleaning up fallen branches and debris, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball in your hand, before walking on it and compacting it. But don't wait too long to start your clean up. It's much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets tangled up in the new growth.

1. Flower Garden Spring Clean-Up

The first task is removing and composting any dead annual plants that remained over winter. These will not return and any self-seeders will already have done their job.

If you didn't prune back your perennials last fall, they're probably looking pretty ugly as spring sets in. Many perennials actually prefer to be left standing throughout the winter, for extra protection. But by definition, herbaceous perennials will die back to the ground during winter. If you did leave your perennials standing last fall, once you start to see new growth at the base of the plants, it's safe to begin removing winter mulch and pruning them down to ground level.

To continue with this interesting article, click here.

Suggested Perennial Plants to Prune in the Spring - Perennials Plants To Leave Standing Until Spring Cleaning
By Marie Iannotti

Gardeners in warm climates can treat fall, and sometimes even winter, as supplemental growing seasons. But for gardeners who experience hard winters, fall is a great time to get a head start on garden clean-up. We hear a lot about four seasons of interest in the garden, but this rarely applies to perennial plants. Most perennials turn ugly as the temperatures drop.

However there are a few that remain evergreen, especially in milder areas. These can be left standing for interest as well as to fuel the vigor of the plant. And there are perennials that simply don’t fare well if they are pruned too late in the season.

The following list is a recommendation of plants that are best pruned in spring. There will, of course, be exceptions. Any plant that is diseased, infested, or otherwise in poor condition, should be pruned in the fall. Consider this listing and the complementary Plants to Prune in the Fall, as guidelines. You will learn what works and what doesn’t, for your own garden.

To continue with this interesting article, click here.

Local and Regional Flower Shows for 2012

New Jersey Flower and Garden Show - Feb. 16 - 19, 2012; New Jersey Convention Center, Edison, NJ

PA Garden Expo - Feb. 24 - 26, 2012, Farm Show Complex; Harrisburg

Southeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, March 9 - 11, 2012; Greater Reading Expo Center; HBA of Berks County














Philadelphia International Flower Show  - March 4 - 11, 2012; Philadelphia Convention Center


Greater Rochester Flower and Garden Show: GardenScape 2012 - March 15 - 18, 2012; Rochester New York, Monroe County Fair & Expo Center (Dome Arena)

Boston Flower and Garden Show - March 14 - 18, 2012; Boston, Seaport World Trade Center

Washington Home and Garden Show, March 9 - 11, 2012; Washington DC

National Cherry Blossom Fesival - March 20 to April 27, 2012; Washington DC


American Horticultural Society - Nationwide Flower and Garden Shows