Leslie Cerf
Hi Philly MGers!
Hi Philly MGers!
I went to the Grow West 2018 Master Gardener State Conference the last weekend in June
with a fellow Philadelphia County Master Gardener (MG), Sally Gendler. I wish you all could have
been there!
with a fellow Philadelphia County Master Gardener (MG), Sally Gendler. I wish you all could have
been there!
Six Southwestern Pennsylvania counties hosted the four day event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort
in Seven Springs, PA. The event included tours of Pittsburgh city proper, private gardens, a tour of two
Frank Lloyd Wright’s local masterpieces, lectures by PSU professors, gardening authors, and a
speech by the founder of Master Gardening. There was also an expansive and competitive silent
auction, a garden market with handmade birdhouses, tools and plants, as well as a make your own
vertical garden workshop. Furthermore, the hotel which is a cross between the Poconos and a little
Swiss Alps village had lots to offer too, from lovely, rustic seating overlooking summer greenery and
activities to stores and a serious spa lovers hideout called Trillium Spa.
in Seven Springs, PA. The event included tours of Pittsburgh city proper, private gardens, a tour of two
Frank Lloyd Wright’s local masterpieces, lectures by PSU professors, gardening authors, and a
speech by the founder of Master Gardening. There was also an expansive and competitive silent
auction, a garden market with handmade birdhouses, tools and plants, as well as a make your own
vertical garden workshop. Furthermore, the hotel which is a cross between the Poconos and a little
Swiss Alps village had lots to offer too, from lovely, rustic seating overlooking summer greenery and
activities to stores and a serious spa lovers hideout called Trillium Spa.
I always wanted to see Wright’s Falling Water and pairing a MG event to a visit to the iconic architect’s
masterpieces was just the ticket to get me to go. The 4 hour drive from Philly was filled with lovely
scenery, rolling hills and dairy farmland everywhere.
masterpieces was just the ticket to get me to go. The 4 hour drive from Philly was filled with lovely
scenery, rolling hills and dairy farmland everywhere.
The first morning, as I left my room for the Wright houses pre-conference tour, I walked past someone
who looked familiar, Angela Weathers from Franklin County MG. We turned to each each other,
laughed, and spent the day together on the tour. We had a two-hour tour at Kentuck Knob and Falling
Water and I’m so glad I met a friend to share the experience with. Falling Water is nothing less than
a man-made wonder.
Though picturesque, nothing like it will ever be built again because Wright had
such a unique style plus modern laws would never allow something like this to be built there. Just to
keep Falling Water preserved is challenging as water is streaming everywhere around and it’s also in
the middle of mountain woodlands filled with blooming laurels and rhododendron.
Following our tour, there was a cocktail social at the top of a ski lift. Unfortunately, the lift only stayed open
for a ½ hour so we missed that trip but we sat on the seat later and had our picture taken anyway.
who looked familiar, Angela Weathers from Franklin County MG. We turned to each each other,
laughed, and spent the day together on the tour. We had a two-hour tour at Kentuck Knob and Falling
Water and I’m so glad I met a friend to share the experience with. Falling Water is nothing less than
a man-made wonder.
 |
| Leslie at Kentuck Knob |
Though picturesque, nothing like it will ever be built again because Wright had
such a unique style plus modern laws would never allow something like this to be built there. Just to
keep Falling Water preserved is challenging as water is streaming everywhere around and it’s also in
the middle of mountain woodlands filled with blooming laurels and rhododendron.
 |
| Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water |
Following our tour, there was a cocktail social at the top of a ski lift. Unfortunately, the lift only stayed open
for a ½ hour so we missed that trip but we sat on the seat later and had our picture taken anyway.
 |
| Sally and Leslie on Ski Lift |
We met new gardener friends like Diane Diffenderfer, Wayne County Office Coordinator, and David
Gibby, founder of the Master Gardener program, who was honored at the banquet. It meant so much
to him to see hundreds of the master gardeners there. As Gibby received a standing ovation, he told
stories of all the help he needed at the Washington State University Extension office and how he
created this volunteer program.
Gibby, founder of the Master Gardener program, who was honored at the banquet. It meant so much
to him to see hundreds of the master gardeners there. As Gibby received a standing ovation, he told
stories of all the help he needed at the Washington State University Extension office and how he
created this volunteer program.
During the whole conference homemade cookies were on plates everywhere to help keep our energy
up through all the busy breakout sessions and speakers, as it is the local master gardeners’ hosting
tradition. The first day right after breakfast we listened to “Container Savvy” gardening by Jessica
Walker and learned about starting a home orchard, where I received “A Field Guide to Tree Fruit
Disorders, Pests, and Beneficials” by Penn State Extension which was printed in both English and
Spanish. Later, there was a pesticide education update talk followed by “Growing Native Plants from
Seed” by Mark Tebbitt, native seed starting expert. Tebbitt described in detail the seven types of
germination codes and his potting method.
up through all the busy breakout sessions and speakers, as it is the local master gardeners’ hosting
tradition. The first day right after breakfast we listened to “Container Savvy” gardening by Jessica
Walker and learned about starting a home orchard, where I received “A Field Guide to Tree Fruit
Disorders, Pests, and Beneficials” by Penn State Extension which was printed in both English and
Spanish. Later, there was a pesticide education update talk followed by “Growing Native Plants from
Seed” by Mark Tebbitt, native seed starting expert. Tebbitt described in detail the seven types of
germination codes and his potting method.
 |
| Conference attendees gathering between sessions |
The second day at breakfast we heard Brie Arthur, author of Foodscapes, who was so inspiring and
such a avid gardener! I learned that Arthur’s mentor was Roseland Creasy who coined the term “edible
landscapes”. Questions were raised like “Why do we separate our flower and vegetable gardens and
who says we have to?” It would make suburban landscaping so much more relevant and meaningful
as foodscaping adds to the health and complexity to the home garden. I think it’s a wonderful idea!
such a avid gardener! I learned that Arthur’s mentor was Roseland Creasy who coined the term “edible
landscapes”. Questions were raised like “Why do we separate our flower and vegetable gardens and
who says we have to?” It would make suburban landscaping so much more relevant and meaningful
as foodscaping adds to the health and complexity to the home garden. I think it’s a wonderful idea!
After Arthur’s talk, I traveled back home with lots of silent auction goodies that Sally so kindly collected
for me at the end of the conference. I highly recommend these conferences as a chance for continuing
education credits and an opportunity to see the beautiful and unique state of Pennsylvania!
for me at the end of the conference. I highly recommend these conferences as a chance for continuing
education credits and an opportunity to see the beautiful and unique state of Pennsylvania!
See you soon!
