Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

Are you looking for a pollinator-friendly way to treat mosquitoes?

"The most pollinator-safe method to manage mosquitoes is source reduction. This eliminates standing water where mosquitoes breed. Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water found in clogged gutters, birdbaths, old tires, forgotten toys, and plant saucers. Regularly emptying or cleaning these containers can drastically reduce mosquito populations without the use of chemicals. Weekly container checks are very pollinator-friendly because they target mosquitoes at their breeding stage without affecting the adult insects that visit flowers.

--While some aromatic plants are marketed as mosquito repellents, research shows that they are ineffective until the essential oils are extracted and concentrated. The living plant does not repel mosquitoes at all! Crushing or rubbing stems or leaves onto our clothing may smell great, but their repellent properties are fleeting, and skin irritation may result."

Mosquitoes are an annoyance and a public health hazard. It is possible to manage mosquitoes in a pollinator-friendly way that preserves beneficial insects.

06/10/2026

📣 Happening Today - Wednesday, June 10, 2026 📣

Master Gardener Gloria Klima will talk about the importance of composting and two ways to create compost for your garden. This is open to the public. We would love for you to attend.

June 10, 2026 at 5:30 pm at the South Park Learning Garden

Corner of Brownsville Road and Corrigan Drive near the South Park Theatre.

We look forward to seeing. you.



(Photo by Lori Voll, Penn State Master Gardener)

06/07/2026

The South Park Learning Garden is looking spectacular this season. Take a trip to the park to see it in person.

Photos by MG Kathy DeSantis

06/02/2026

Here’s your next podcast to add to your current rotation: Keeping It Green https://extension.psu.edu/keeping-it-green

06/02/2026

The deep red of Fire-pink (Silene virginica) is breathtaking! Not only is it visually pleasing to humans, but also hummingbirds LOVE this plant. It’s not uncommon to see two or more chasing each other off while another sneaks in and enjoys the nectar.
Naturally, it occurs in dry forests, rocky woodlands, and along road banks in the Mountains and Piedmont of Virginia.
The word “pink” doesn’t refer to the color, but to the shape of the flowers. The ends of the petals are often notched like someone cut them with pinking shears!

📸 Ashley Moulton, VNPS publicity Chair

05/31/2026

We’re partnering with Phipps Conservatory for this Summer Short Course: Saving Seeds. For more information and registration please click on the link below ⬇️

https://my.conservatory.org/10487/shortcourse2026

Tues., July 28 | 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Phipps Special Events Hall

Saving seeds is an ancient practice, but one which remains essential to preserving the genetic diversity in our landscapes. It’s also a great way to get a lot of free plants! Spend the day with Phipps and Penn State Extension learning the essential skills and rationale for saving seeds from edible, native and woody plants in our landscape.

Saving seeds is an ancient practice, but one which remains essential to preserving the genetic diversity in our landscapes. It’s also a great way to get a lot of free plants! Spend the day with Phipps and Penn State Extension learning the essential skills and rationale for saving seeds from edible...

05/22/2026

Geranium maculatum, pictured here, is an herbaceous perennial native to Pennsylvania, along with most of the eastern United States. Growing up to 18 inches tall, it adapts to a variety of conditions, though it prefers part shade with moist soil. In summer, after its seeds have ripened, it may die back, particularly if the soil dries out.*

“Wild geranium blooms over a period of about a month (sometimes longer in cooler weather) in late spring to early summer,” writes Susan Mahr for the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” with “[f]lower buds [] set the previous year, enclosed in the winter bud at the tips of the rhizomes.”** The flowers are pollinated by “[h]oneybees, bumblebees, many types of native solitary bees, and syrphid flies,” with ants and beetles also being occasional visitors.** According to Susan, “[u]nder good conditions leaves will remain green throughout the season, but the foliage may yellow or go summer dormant if the soil dries out.”*

Susan recommends that you incorporate Geranium maculatum into “shady borders, native plant gardens or open woodland gardens,” particularly in combination with associated native species.”**

Check out the Penn State Extension Rain Garden Plants fact sheet, cited below, to learn more about wild geranium!

Sources:
* “Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum,” Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Horticulture, Division of Extension (accessed May 1, 2024) (https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wild-geranium-geranium-maculatum/) -

“Rain Garden Plants: Wild Geranium,” Jodi Sulpizio (Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, York County), Penn State Extension (April 11, 2022) (https://extension.psu.edu/rain-garden-plants-wild-geranium).

05/21/2026

“Replacing the whole lawn at once can lead to w**d, mud and erosion problems, so it requires careful planning and more work.

A good place to remove some grass could be along a fence or sidewalk. If you have a tree in your yard, consider putting a flower bed around it. This is called a soft landing because it gives caterpillars a safe place to go after they finish feeding on your tree's leaves. There, they can make their chrysalises and cocoons among flowers and leaf litter, safe from lawnmowers, and emerge as adult butterflies and moths. Bees, fireflies and other insects will find homes there too.”

Turning your grass into a garden isn't as complicated as you think, but it will take time and effort. This step-by-step guide breaks down the process, from killing your lawn to picking plants to grow.