Lyndsay Feathers/Master Gardener
| Special to The Times
Snow blankets Kingwood Gardens on Tuesday
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Kingwood Center Gardens after a fresh snowfall.
Spring is quickly upon us, and to kickstart the season, Penn State Master Gardeners of Beaver County are hosting Smart Gardening Workshop: “Improvements for Ecological Impact” on March 28 at Penn State Beaver.
We have a full-day event planned, jam-packed with evidence-based presentations and practical ways to make improvements in your gardens and landscapes.
What: Smart Gardening Workshop
Where: Penn State Beaver Campus Lodge, Student Union Building
When: Saturday, March 28, 2026 – 8:30 am-3 p.m. · Advance registration required: bit.ly/SGW2026 by March 23
Cost: $65
Breakfast and lunch are included
Gardeners are always looking to make improvements to grow bigger and better. Growing in sustainable ways that positively impact our ecosystem, in addition to providing us beauty and joy, is a desire many of us share. At this year’s event, four fantastic speakers will offer a variety of ways gardeners can make improved, smart gardening decisions:
Susan Boser, extension educator, water specialist, will speak about techniques gardeners can use to improve the management of excess water in their yards.Judy Semroc, naturalist and founder of Nature Spark, will dazzle participants with her presentation on camouflage and mimicry in nature and ways gardeners can improve their backyard habitat to welcome these creatures.Alexis Evans, horticulturalist at Old Economy Village, will discuss challenges and opportunities for using native plants to improve modern landscapes. Her session will feature the historical agricultural context of the Harmonists, along with the results of her recent research project to remediate contaminated soil by growing flax.Sara Hermann, Penn State entomology professor, will share results from her research about monarch caterpillar predation and milkweed selection and discuss recommendations for home gardeners looking to improve their monarch habitats.
So, come spend the day with us! Check-in begins at 8:30 am, and the workshop will begin at 9 a.m. Breakfast and lunch are included. The silent auction returns this year with an array of thoughtfully curated baskets and gardening items. The auction tables will be open for perusal and bidding during breaks, with bidding ending before the last presentation. Checks, cash and credit cards are accepted.
New this year, Reforest Our Future will distribute complimentary tree saplings for all participants. Advance registration is required for the workshop and is open until March 23 – sign up online at bit.ly/SGW2026 or call 1-877-345-0691 to register by phone. Until then, we’ll be dreaming of spring!
Lyndsay Feather is the Penn State Master Gardener Coordinator in Beaver County.
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