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Garden Renovation Workshop Series
Thursday evenings in September beginning September 3
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Suggested donation of $5.00 per evening
(to help pay for plants and materials)
RSVP to gardens@centrefurnace.org or call (814) 234-4779
During Thursday evenings in September, the Centre County Historical Society's Centre Furnace Mansion Garden Committee will be hosting four weekly hands-on workshops to demonstrate the process of renovating an existing garden from start to finish.
The Front Parlor Garden has been chosen for this renovation workshop because of its important proximity to the Centre Furnace Mansion and because we would like to expand the variety and seasons of interest in this garden. We would like to show you the process in which to think about renovating gardens on your own property and hopefully make the idea of renovating a bit less daunting.
This is a "hands-on" workshop series. We will be removing plant material, adding plant material, digging in soil amendments and setting a few stepping stones to connect the new outline of the garden with its current steps and walkways. So come with your gardening clothes, favorite tools (though we do have tools at Centre Furnace Mansion as well) and notebook for taking notes if you like.
The series is divided in to four specific workshops and you are welcome to attend them individually or as a series.
Week #1 Thursday September 3
Lecture by Mary Sorensen about planning and organizing a garden renovation, and choosing plant material. We will be creating a new outline for the garden, (as it will be slightly enlarged), and discuss how to divide various perennials as we begin to remove plants that we will not be keeping in the garden (between week 1 and 2, we will have the garden edged and sod removed).
Week #2 Thursday September 10
Lecture about soil preparation, demonstration about soil testing and reading soil test results for this garden by Jan Villastrigo and Ruth Merritt. We will continue to remove perennials as needed and prepare soil by digging in manure and compost.
Week #3 Thursday September 17
Lecture by Beverly Lipski about placement of plant material and brief tour of the gardens to illustrate ideas. We will then plant a new lilac tree and create a place for garden statuary (before #4, mulch and stepping stones will be brought to site).
Week #4 Thursday September 24
We will finish with a discussion about applying mulch in a perennial bed as well as demonstrate how to place and install stepping stones in a garden. We will wrap up by then adding stepping stones, mulching the bed and follow with refreshments!