Gardening Resources and Insect Information
I created some of the resources below as part of my work with the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners program. They are freely available for educational use with attribution. Please contact me for more information. Others are just about things I’m interested in.
Articles and Pages
Slides
Plant for Success Handout Series
The handouts below provide information for novice gardeners about how to maximize growing potential and ensure garden success.
Plant for Success: Encourage Pollinators
Plant for Success: Improve Your Soil
Plant for Success: Rotation and Succession Planting
Plant for Success: Create a Pollinator Garden See related slides here.
Solitary Bees
Most bees in Pennslyvania are solitary bees. Read about the carpenter bees, wool carders, leaf cutters, and mining bees that I’ve photographed in my garden here.
Flies in the Garden
Read about the various roles that flies play in a healthy garden ecosystem.
Storing Dahlia Tubers
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” November 2023 issue.
Carpenter Bees
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” February 2024 issue.
Early Flowering Plants
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” April 2024 issue.
Late-Season Perennials for Pollinators
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” September 2024 issue.
Leave the Leaves
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” November 2024 issue.
Pruning Roses in Winter
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” January 2024 issue.
Crop Rotation
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” March 2024 issue.
Wasps
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” May 2024 issue.
Starting Lilies from Bulbils
This article originally appeared in the Penn State Extension Master Gardener, Dauphin County Newsletter, News for You, as part of my column, “In the Garden Now.” October 2024 issue.
These PowerPoint slides provide detailed information about the insect pollinators, predatory insects and spiders, and flies in my garden. Note: these are large files that will take some time to download. Click on the image to view.
Create a Pollinator Garden
Insect Pollinators of Central PA
Predatory Insects and Spiders of Central PA
Flies in the MY Garden
Here is the final presentation for my Master Gardener certification.