Home News Master Gardeners learn of invasive, non-native plants at May meeting

Master Gardeners learn of invasive, non-native plants at May meeting

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J.L. Gerhart

Pickaway County Master Gardener Volunteers held their monthly meeting on May 13 at the OSU Extension Office conference room.

The special speaker was Jim Osborn, a Naturalist at Stages Pond Preserve, who spoke about invasive, non-native plants that have been introduced from other states or countries. The hour was filled with many educational facts which help to identify harmful plant species.

Paul Hang, MGV coordinator, reported this year’s training class has been completed, and mentors have been assigned to our newest members. Mr. Hang thanked everyone who assisted in this year’s class.

The Founders Day Celebration, a free event open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. June 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 E. Mound St., Circleville. Guest speaker is Cheryl Harner, environmental education, who will be speaking about “Lawns and Lawn Alternatives.”

Master Gardeners will again have an information table at the Farmers Market this summer. There will be free plant and vegetable seeds, free plants, literature on horticultural issues and folks available to answer gardening questions. The Farmers Market is located at 135 E. Franklin St. It will be every Saturday morning, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, from May 30 through Sept. 12, but not on July 4.

Jorge and Mary Alice Ripoll, co-chairpersons, reported the annual Plant Sale on May 16 was again quite successful. Many thanks to the Pickaway County Library for allowing the sale to be held on their parking lot. Also, thank you to the many local shoppers who made this plant sale a success.

Erika Wiggins reminds us that the Master Gardener “Helpline” is open for questions about horticulture, gardens, vegetables, flowers, etc. Call
740-474-7534 and a Master Gardener Volunteer will call you to help answer your questions.

Karyn Brown, MGV, is assisting a teacher at Westfall with an FFA project to plant a vegetable garden.

MGV’s Debbie Bicknell, Cheryl VanDeusen, Nancy Heskett and Becky Messer spoke to second and third graders in the Westfall district.

Sheran Cherrington, MGV, has proposed a project for children at the library this summer, with the topic of “Pollinators,” such as ants, bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, moths, wasps, as well as other unusual animals. Wind and water also play a role in the pollination of plants.

The Master Gardener Volunteers have designed, planted and currently maintain several gardens in Pickaway County for everyone to enjoy. The Children’s Garden at the south side of the North Court Street Library; Phenology Garden at Five Points Park; Garden at the OSU Extension Office on Island Road; Gardens at the Pickaway County Fairgrounds; and the Flagpole Garden at Mary Virginia Crites-Hannan Park on Route 188.

The Ohio State University Extension (OSUE) Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Program is an educational program designed to meet the consumer
horticulture needs of Ohio citizens. Its purpose is to train volunteers and utilize their expertise to teach people more about plants and pests, their culture, and their importance to the environment and to our quality of life.

This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal