2012
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Poinsettia Care
December 31, 2012
- Modern poinsettia varieties stay attractive for a long time if given proper care.
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Why do farmers plant cover crops?
December 31, 2012
- If you have been driving around the county lately, you may have noticed that a lot of the corn and soybeans have been harvested. You may also notice that some of the crop fields are greening up again. Have you ever wondered why the fields begin to green up in the winter, at the end of the growing season?
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Plants with Winter Interest Blog Series
December 31, 2012
- Check out the Franklin County, PA Master Gardener Blog for this series titled, "Plants with Winter Interest." Learn all the facts about winter plants.
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First Aid for Trees- Post Storm Damages and Treatment
November 6, 2012
- The International Society for Arboriculture (ISA) has some recommendations for dealing with trees damaged by last week’s storm.
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Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Pennsylvania
November 6, 2012
- Earlier this month, the state Department of Agriculture confirmed the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Pennsylvania in a captive deer on a deer farm in Adams County.
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What to do with Pumpkin and Winter Squash?
November 1, 2012
- Penn State Extension’s Food Preservation Team tells us how to store and preserve pumpkins and winter squash.
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Wooly Bear Caterpillars – Purported Peerless Prognosticators
November 1, 2012
- Dr. Michael Raupp, Extension Entomologist with the University of Maryland (AKA “the Bug Guy”) discusses Banded Wooly Bear Caterpillars – the larvae of Isabella Tiger Moths, or Pyrrharctia isabella, and their cousins.
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Freezing and Canning Fall Vegetables, Root Cellars, and Sauerkraut!
November 1, 2012
- Learn some information about these topics: Freezing Fall Vegetables, Canning Fall Vegetables, Root Cellars, and Sauerkraut!
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*CANCELLED* Mandatory Volunteer Training 10/30/12
October 29, 2012
- The Mandatory Volunteer Training scheduled for tomorrow, October 30, has been cancelled due to the weather. Stay safe.
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Fall Colors
September 19, 2012
- With the Autumn Equinox coming this week, Penn State Extension would like to introduce you to Howie Neufeld, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Physiology at Appalachian State University and otherwise known as the Fall Color Guy.
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Congratulations to the 2012 4-H Roundup Winners
September 19, 2012
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2012 Tomato Tasting Day in the News!
August 24, 2012
- The Herald-Mail published a great article about the Tomato Tasting Day held on August 22, 2012.
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West Nile Season Early and Numerous
August 15, 2012
- Ray Eckhart, Penn State Extension Educator for the West Nile Program in Franklin County, wants the public to be aware of the high level of West Nile virus being found throughout the state in the mosquito and bird population this year.
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Master Gardener Sunflowers Blog Post
August 13, 2012
- Interested in Sunflowers? Check out this Franklin County Master Gardener Blog Post and learn some more interesting facts!
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Earwig Control
July 17, 2012
- If you notice a rapidly moving insect that is light brown to black with what appears to be pinchers at the tail end of its body, you are looking at an earwig.
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Dairy and Ice Cream Holidays!
July 3, 2012
- Logan Horst, Penn State Dairy Educator celebrates the Holidays! We all know when the major holidays are and we celebrate them accordingly, but how many of you know that the whole month of June is set aside as “Dairy Month,” and the month of July as “Ice Cream Month?”
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Garden Eyecatchers, or "What's that Plant?"
June 27, 2012
- Master Gardener Kathy Engle starts a new series highlighting the “eyecatchers” in her garden, or those specimens that invariably elicit a “What’s that Plant” query from visitors.
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What's In Bloom- June 2012
June 27, 2012
- View some of the beautiful plants we have blooming in our Demonstration Gardens! Our Franklin County Penn State Extension Facebook Page provides some great Photographs of the different plants and flowers, as well as which garden they are located in. All Photographs by Jen Wetzel.
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2012 Penn State Extension Open House
June 8, 2012
- June 20 from 3:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Bring your friends and family to this Free event and learn how Penn State Extension impacts your life everyday! Lots of activities for kids!
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Master Gardener Plant Sale
May 18, 2012
- Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale Going on This Saturday!
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2012 4-H Benefit Auction Items
April 30, 2012
- Join us on May 4th at Hurley Auctions in Greencastle, PA for the Annual 4-H Benefit Auction. Doors and food stands open at 4:00 and the Silent Auction also begins at 4:00. The live auction begins at 6:30. See our Facebook page for pictures and descriptions of some of the great items we have to offer! Come out and benefit a great cause.
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2012 4-H Dairy Calf Sale Catalog
April 17, 2012
- View the 2012 4-H Dairy Calf Sale catalog on our Facebook page.
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Easter Lillies- History and After-Easter Care
April 10, 2012
- Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont offers some history and information about care for Easter Lilies, or Lilium longiflorum.
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37th Annual Franklin County 4-H Calf Sale
April 3, 2012
- Join us for the 37th Annual Franklin County 4-H Calf Sale on Saturday April 21st at 7:00 p.m.
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The Star of Spring...Magnolia Stellata "Star Magnolia"
April 2, 2012
- Master Gardener Jill Hudock shares her experience with the Star Magnolia.
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Penn State Extension Water Testing Program
April 2, 2012
- Penn State Cooperative Extension – Franklin County is offering a water testing program during National Drinking Water Week. The program encourages private well owners to test their water at group rates.
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Addressing Misinformation about "Pink Slime"
March 27, 2012
- Dr. Edward Mills, associate professor of dairy and animal science at Penn State University would like to correct some misinformation stemming from recent news stories about lean, finely textured beef (LFTB), unfortunately dubbed “pink slime”.
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4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club Makes Public Opinion Front Page News!
March 27, 2012
- "Puppy Starts Path to Becoming a Service Dog in Chambersburg Area"- an article by the Public Opinion talks about the Newest Seeing Eye Puppy, Boyd, named after 4-H Franklin County Seeing Eye Puppy Club Leader Donna Boyd's Husband who passed away 2 years ago.
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2012 4-H Strawberry Plant Sale
March 22, 2012
- Now taking orders for the 4-H Strawberry Plant Sale. 8 different varieties available. Only $5.83 per bundle of 25 plants! Orders are due March 26, 2012.
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Northern Forests Regenerating
March 16, 2012
- U.S. Forest Service scientists released an assessment this month that shows forest land has expanded in northern states during the past century despite a 130-percent population jump and relentless environmental threats. At the same time, Forest Service researchers caution that threats to forests in the coming decades could undermine these gains.
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4-H/jcp Tech Team Franklin- FIRST Robotics Competition in Pittsburgh
March 9, 2012
- The 4-H/jcp Tech Team Franklin is competing at the FIRST Robotics Competition March 7-10 in Pittsburgh.
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Repotting Houseplants
March 7, 2012
- A tip from Kansas State University for repotting your houseplants.
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Year Round Landscaping
March 7, 2012
- As a book end to our series on plants with Winter Interest, Master Gardener Kathy Engle recaps and provides tips for year round landscaping.
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Paperbark Maple- A Very "A-Peeling" Tree
February 27, 2012
- Master Gardener Jill Hudock shares her experiences with another marvelous specimen for the winter landscape – the paperbark maple.
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Pruning Overgrown Apple Trees
February 21, 2012
- Apple trees that are not pruned for several years, will often produce so many branches that little energy is left for fruit production. Overgrown apple trees are also difficult to harvest and spray. Gardeners who have such a tree are often at a loss as to how to get it back in shape.
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Soil Temperatures and Vegetables
February 21, 2012
- One of the most neglected tools for vegetable gardeners is a soil thermometer. Soil temperature is a much better measure of when to plant than air temperature or the calendar. Planting when soil is too cool can cause seeds to rot and transplants to sit there.
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Forcing Stems of Woody Plants for Indoor Bloom
February 14, 2012
- Stems of a number of woody plants can be forced into bloom for indoor display. Some plants are easier to force than others.
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All-America Selections for 2012
February 14, 2012
- All-America Selections tests and introduces new flowers and vegetables each year that have done well in trials across North America. This year there were two flower winners, one bedding plant winner and two vegetable winners. Descriptions are taken directly from All-America Selection materials.
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How to Read Seed Catalogs
February 6, 2012
- Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor at the University of Vermont has some sound advice on how to read seed catalogs.
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What's New in Sweet Peppers?
February 6, 2012
- There are many new varieties of sweet bell and longhorn sweet peppers available for commercial and home growers. (From Kansas University)
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Witchhazels- Plants with Winter Interest Part 4
January 26, 2012
- Master Gardener and Landscape Designer Jill Hudock shares her enthusiasm for winter blooming Witchhazel.
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Year of the Dragon Workshop POSTPONED
January 20, 2012
- Due to the weather forecast, the Year of the Dragon workshop for Saturday January 21 is now postponed until next Saturday, January 28 at 9:30 am. Any questions, please call us at 717-263-9226. Thank you!
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Plants with Winter Interest
January 11, 2012
- Check out the Franklin County Master Gardener Blog to see the newest additions to the Plants with Winter Interest Series!
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Valuing Pennsylvania's Forests
January 11, 2012
- Pennsylvania's nearly 17 million acres of forest provide an array of values including clean air and water, recreation opportunities, wood products and habitat for thousands of plants and animals.
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How Clean is Your Stormwater?
January 11, 2012
- With all of the rain that we have had over the last several months, many homeowners have had to deal with an excess of stormwater. How clean is that stormwater that runs off of your property or off of your neighbors?
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Kissing under the Mistletoe
January 11, 2012
- How did mistletoe become a benign symbol of love and greeting, associated with the holiday season? Dr. Leonard P. Perry, Extension Professor at the University of Vermont provides some possible answers.
