Penn State Master Gardeners of York County

09/03/2026

The Penn State Master Gardeners of York County loves to educate the community about native plants - and we couldn't be happier with what a wonderful Native Plant Seminar & Plant Walk on August 22 turned out to be!

This class was held at the York County Parks Nixon Park Nature Center and provided both classroom seminars and plant walks, as we took a deep dive into:

🌼Why native plants are so important
🌿What we can learn by observing thriving native plant spaces in nature
🌻How to build a native wildflower meadow in a home garden
🐦How to build a bird-friendly habitat in a home garden

🤗Thank you to everyone who joined us - and stay tuned for future classes about native plants, as our Master Gardeners are already starting to plan for 2027!

08/28/2026

Penn State Master Gardeners of York County were excited to harvest this 37.5-pound squash this week in the York County Parks John Rudy Park demonstration garden!

☎️Did you know that you can call or email the York County Garden Hotline with your gardening questions? Staffed by knowledgeable Master Gardener volunteers, they will find answers to your most pressing questions, so you too can have a great garden harvest!

💻Reach the Garden Hotline by emailing: [email protected] or calling 717-840-7408 Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please allow up to 3-5 days for a response, as our Master Gardener volunteers are in the office several days/week.

08/17/2026

🌻Learn about native plant gardening! The Penn State Extension - York County Master Gardeners are hosting a Gardening with Natives Seminar and Plant Walk Saturday, August 22 at Nixon Park Nature Center from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm!

‼️ The last day to register is tomorrow- Tuesday, August 18! There are only 4 spots left, so don't delay! (Class is limited to 30 people) ‼️

🌼What will you learn?

Discover the value of native plants and their vital role in supporting local ecosystems during this engaging, hands-on workshop. Participants will explore how native species enhance biodiversity, provide essential habitat for birds and pollinators, and contribute to healthier landscapes.

🥾The program features a guided walk through Nixon Park Nature Center, where attendees will observe native plants in their natural environment and discuss how these ecosystems function in the wild. Complementing the outdoor experience, York County Master Gardeners will lead seminar-style sessions focused on practical strategies for incorporating native plants into home gardens. Learn how to create a vibrant, sustainable landscape that supports wildlife while enhancing the beauty and resilience of your own garden space. 🦋🪻🐝🪺🌿🌼

💢Cost is $20 - registration link in the comments!
We can't wait to see you there!

08/11/2026

🤗Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday at the Open House at the Demonstration Gardens at John Rudy Park! Our Penn State Master Gardeners of York County had so many great conversations about gardening and it was wonderful to have so many enjoying all the children's activities and educational demos!

🥦Despite the (very!) rainy end to the day, we give a very big thank you to everyone who attended, those who donated to the York County Food Bank, and all our amazing partners and community organizations for sharing the day with us on Saturday!

📣This is an annual event, held on the 2nd Saturday in August - so save the date for August 14, 2027 - because this free, family-friendly event is on the books for next year!

‼️But you don't need to wait that long to visit the Penn State Extension - York County Master Gardener demonstration gardens at York County Parks John Rudy Park! The public is welcome to visit dawn - dusk at their leisure.

🪏Master Gardeners work in the gardens Monday and Thursday mornings, and most Thursday evenings, through the middle of October - stop by with your questions, we love to meet you and talk all things gardening! 🌻🌿🥕🍅🫐🪺🦋🐝

See you in the garden! 💚

08/08/2026

Open House at the Demonstration Gardens at John Rudy Park is happening NOW! Penn State Master Gardeners of York County are here until 1:30 - come enjoy this free family-friendly event with us!

Children's activities, garden displays, speakers, food trucks and so many community organizations are here and in full swing - come join us!

08/07/2026

Final preparations are underway for the Open House at the Demonstration Gardens tomorrow, Saturday, August 8, from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm, and our Penn State Master Gardeners of York County are busy as a bee getting everything ready for tomorrow!

Penn State Extension - York County Master Gardeners have partnered with the York County Food Bank for the Open House - we are so excited to support the work they do in the community, supporting food access for all!

The York County Food Bank will be at the Open House, collecting non-perishable food donations, and we encourage attendees to bring a donation to support the cause, if you are able. There will be donation bins set up througout the gardens for easy drop-off, and the York County Food Bank will be there, available to share information about their programs, resources, and answer questions.

In particular, they are in need of:
* Canned soups, vegetables, and beans
*canned fruit
*peanut butter
*pasta
*rice
*mac & cheese
*microwavable meals with pull tops
*canned meats
*cereals

Other non-perishable food items are welcome and appreciated!

Last year, we collected 286 pounds of donations - can you help us beat this number? We sure believe so, because we know the York community is so special!

Address:
400 Mundis Race Road, York PA
right by the York County Parks office!

08/06/2026

🎉The Open House at the Demonstration Gardens at John Rudy Park is 💢TWO 💢days away, and Penn State Master Gardeners of York County are looking forward to hosting this fun, family-friendly event for the community on Saturday, August 8! 🤗🌿

🍴We are excited to share that Sarah's Creamery and R&D Eats food trucks will be at the Open House, so everyone can enjoy some delicious food and ice cream treats amidst all the fun activities!

🍦 Sarah's Creamery will have home-made waffle cones, soda floats, warm brownie sundaes, made-to-order chocolate chunk cookie sandwiches + plenty of ice cream choices, too!

🍔 R&D Eats is a mobile kitchen offering a variety of seasonal and farm-to-truck specials. With creative, shareable burgers, wraps, and more, there are options for all - including a special kids' menu and options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free!

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

🤔How are your 🍅 tomatoes 🍅 growing this season? Come on out to the Open House at the Demonstration Gardens at York County Parks, John Rudy Park, this Saturday, August 8, and learn all the latest tomato gardening techniques the Penn State Master Gardeners of York County have been using this year at the demonstration garden!

📣The Penn State Extension - York County Master Gardeners will have educational tables with hands-on, interactive activities throughout the gardens, along with Master Gardeners, at the tables answering your questions!

🍅Sneak Peek of our Tomato Tasting Display -

All different types of tomatoes are growing in the garden, ready for harvest! Come learn about the types of tomatoes grown in the garden, best practices for a successful tomato harvest, and check out several tomato trellis set-up options in action, and learn what has worked best this year!

The Penn State Master Gardeners of York County Tomato Tasting table will also have a variety of tomatoes available to taste - yum!

‼️ Plus, our Master Gardeners have a fun challenge planned for you at their table! ‼️

Take your best guess at the "Guess the Weight of the Tomatoes Display" located at the Tomato Tasting table. The winner wins a *free* copy of the book, "Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of all Time" by Craig LeHollier.

Follow the Open House event in the comments for all the latest updates!

We can't wait to see you in the gardens, and talk all things tomatoes with you!