The Penn State Extension of Philadelphia County has a program for gardeners to receive training to become master Gardeners, who have the purpose of educating people about starting gardens, maintaining them, and answering questions.

Northwest Philadelphia has produced many of these gardeners over the years, who put their energy and knowledge  to work maintaining gardens in Chestnut Hill and Mt Airy as well as elsewhere in the city. 

Houston and Jenks elementary schools have small perennial gardens that are maintained by master gardeners and volunteers from the neighborhood and schools.

Master gardeners have maintained a large pollinator garden at Awbury Arboretum for around 10 years. There are flowering perennials for every season to support our pollinators and the garden plays a major role in our insect education since the flowers are visited by so many bugs. These bugs are important to the health of our gardens and the planet. Visitors are always welcome and we set up tours and scavenger hunts in the garden when Awbury has special events open to the public. 

Awbury has other attractions that are managed by other groups, including a “Food Forest” for woody plants that support fruit and a “Dye Garden,” which includes plants used in dyes. The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild keeps beehives there, and other volunteer groups maintain various farm animals, including chickens, and goats. All gardens are open to the public and signage is being improved to identify the plants and educate visitors on the purposes of the gardens. 

The gardens at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park near the Shofuso Japanese House are another favorite that benefits from master gardeners’ volunteer efforts. There, we have a massive edible garden that we use for training, talking with visitors about the vegetables and fruits (they are welcome to pick a vegetable or two), and helping the Horticulture Center maintain some of its land so that it remains attractive to users of the facility. 

A short walk away, master gardeners maintain another “Food Forest,” which includes one tree you’ll find interesting: the pawpaw, North America’s only native tropical-style fruit. (Try picking them before the squirrels get them!) Next to the Food Forest is a beautiful pollinator garden that is very walkable and has a palette of plants that is similar to that of Awbury’s. 

The Master Gardeners of Philadelphia County will be recruiting for a new class of master gardeners starting in May. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of Philadelphia, and passionate about gardening and sharing their love of gardening with others.

Adam Eyring is a Master Gardener who volunteers at several local gardens.

For more information on the Master Gardener program, visit extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/philadelphia.