Speakers Bureau

Programs are offered on a variety of topics and are generally 45 minutes to 1 hour in length. The program fee ranges from $50 to $75 based on your organization's ability to pay. This fee funds our many outreach programs, including Speakers Bureau and our demonstration gardens in North and South Park. After scheduling a program, we will send you a confirmation letter with speaker information and program details. If your group is interested in scheduling a speaker or if you have any questions, please contact our office at 412-473-2540.

Basic Gardening Skills

Pruning: The Kindest Cut

Pruning is one of the least-understood aspects of gardening, and yet is critical for a healthy and attractive landscape. Knowing when to prune can be just as important as knowing how to prune. When done correctly, pruning can rejuvenate overgrown trees and shrubs, increase plant vigor, and improve appearance. Proper formative pruning also gets young trees and shrubs off to a good start, resulting in healthier and more beautiful assets in the landscape. This class will cover tools, safety, and pruning techniques for trees and shrubs.

Starting Plants from Seed

Starting your own transplants gives you a greater selection of varieties than you are likely to find in your local garden center, especially if you want to grow heirloom or unusual varieties of plants. Learn what you need to do to succeed at starting and growing your own transplants.

Making More Plants

Not sure how to tackle that overgrown clump of daylilies? Want to share your favorite plants with gardening friends? This session will provide you with the information you need to confidently divide and propagate just about any plant in your garden. We'll show you how simple it is to take cuttings and make divisions, and will also cover the concepts of layering and grafting. A discussion on seed starting will focus on how you can direct-seed many flowers and vegetables in the spring garden.

Frugal Gardening: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

You can incorporate these three Rs into your garden. Many of us are looking for ways to save money. Others are looking for ways to live more ecologically-friendly lives. Come to this class and learn a host of frugal gardening tips. Following the yearly garden calendar, we will discuss ways to reduce costs and save time (And isn’t time just another form of money?)

Fall Clean Up: Savoring the Last of the Season

(evening only)
Fall is a great time to be in the garden. The weather is cooler, and there is still time to create new beds, divide perennials, and tackle hardscaping projects. We can also enjoy the outdoors as we “put the garden to bed.” Learn tips and techniques for preparing your garden for winter. Not only will you be rewarded with a healthier garden next summer. Also, your garden will be more beautiful all winter long.

Garden Design

Designing Your Landscape

(evening only)
Whether you are starting with a bare lot or want to renovate an overgrown yard, there are several principles for turning your property into a beautiful landscape that meets your functional needs. Come and learn the basics that professionals use to create pleasing outdoor spaces. Discover how to devise a master plan for your property, or how to rework just one area of your garden. We will also discuss hardscaping, the elements of form, color, and repetition of plant material, and how you can incorporate these into your overall site design.

Rain Gardens to the Rescue!

Rain gardens are a means to manage water year round.  They function to detain water so that it gradually infiltrates into the soil, rather than flooding areas.  When correctly installed, rain gardens serve to link the built environment of paving and buildings with the natural environment.
This program includes information on constructing a rain garden as well as a list of appropriate plants.

Pond Basics

Explore the exciting world of ponds.  Learn how to build a backyard pond and the best place to locate it.  This lecture will cover the best pond plants for our  area and how to keep your pond happy and healthy.

Ornamental Plants

Best Plants for a Carefree Garden

Would you love to have a wonderful perennial garden without hours of maintenance?  Have your previous attempts at gardening ended in failure?  This class will provide you with information on selecting trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs which require little or no maintenance, have long bloom times, multi-season interest and are disease resistant.  Let us help you beautify your space and still give you time to enjoy it!

Containers by Design

Container gardening is more popular today than it has ever been. It is a flexible way to garden, allowing even the person with a small urban lot or patio the ability to grow flowers. Learn how to select plants that will complement your containers, as well as provide interesting textural and color variations. Techniques for maintaining healthy plants throughout the season will be provided.

Let’s Try Something New!

Based on the 2011 plant trials at the demonstration gardens in North and South Park, Master Gardeners will share some of the newest and best introductions of annuals and perennials that were grown in the gardens.  The demonstration gardens showcase flowering plants that perform well in our climate and soils, and require minimal maintenance.  This presentation includes favorites of the Master Gardeners and visitors to the garden, as well as nectar and host plants for bees and other pollinators.  Several varieties of basil and garlic are now grown in the demonstration gardens.  Varieties of basil, garlic and tomatoes that received the most votes at the tastings during Garden in the Parks Field Day in August 2011 are also featured.   

Pollinator Gardening

Did you know that one out three bites of food that you eat is dependent on pollinators? In addition to honeybees, there are thousands of native bees that are important pollinators. Learn how to create a pollinator-friendly landscape that encourages biodiversity in the environment.

Organic Pest Control 

Is your garden out of control?  Have you done all the "right things", but are still losing the war against insects and diseases?  Are you looking for safe, organic solutions?  If so, it is time to take a look at research-based, organic pest control strategies and products.

Bulbs. Bulbs. Bulbs!!

(evening only, except during summer)
Nothing refreshes a gardener’s soul like those first flowering bulbs peeking up through the snow and cold…spring can’t be too far off. Come join us for a look at a variety of bulbs, as well as the proper planting and care of these spring-blooming treasures.

The Garden in Winter

(evening only)
Some say that the test of a true gardener lies in how their garden looks in winter. Come learn how you can make your garden look great and interesting even through this neglected season through the use of form, structure, color, texture, and yes, even flowers!

Edibles

Edible Landscaping

With an increased interest in growing your own food, heirloom fruits and vegetables are now mainstream.  Seed  companies and nurseries are providing homeowners with many more options of attractive edible plants for the landscape.  Fruits and vegetables can easily be incorporated into a shrub border providing both beauty and a source of quality food.  If space is limited, edibles can be grown in containers or window boxes.   Consider planting a flowering fruit tree rather than a purely ornamental specimen.  It is fun to experiment with edibles and the rewards are delicious!

Herbs

Growing and harvesting your own culinary herbs adds fresh zest to dishes, a touch of nature to home décor and wonderful fragrance. In this class, learn how to start herbs and maintain them through the growing season.

Vegetable Gardening

Growing your own food is one of the most satisfying forms of gardening. In today’s economy, many are now turning to their backyard vegetable plots to help lessen high grocery bills. Vegetable gardening provides the opportunity to select the varieties you like; plus it provides your family with fresh produce that is free from harmful pesticides. This class will cover the basics of planning your vegetable garden, preparing the soil, selecting plant and seed varieties (including hyb rids and heirlooms), starting plants from seed, planting, tending your plants, troubleshooting problems, harvesting, extending the season, getting the most out of small plots, and putting the garden to bed for the winter.

Preserving the Harvest

How do you choose the right plant varieties if you want to preserve? How do you pick which method to preserve your harvest? Preserving is easy, fun, and satisfying. Come to this class and learn the basics of canning, drying, and freezing. Recipes included.

Seasonal Crafts

Crafts for Autumn & Winter

Autumn and winter are wonderful times to combine your love of crafts and gardening. We can help you with some basic techniques so that you can use plantings from your own garden to decorate your home or make homemade gifts. Complete growing and decorating instructions will be available for each project.

Tour the Demonstration Gardens

During the months of August and September, groups can schedule special tours of the demonstration gardens. Master Gardeners will highlight the best performers in the annual trial gardens and talk about the on-going pollinator project at the gardens.