Pansies to add a splash of color to Brownsville winter
BROWNSVILLE – Despite this weekend’s forecast for snow flurries, volunteers will be out planting pansies in Brownsville. The winter pansies should provide bright spots of color through the winter and spring, according Lou Orslene, the executive director of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation and a master gardener.
The flowers, received at a highly discounted price from Lowe’s in Washington, will be placed in the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy garden located at Broadway and Market streets. Orslene said another master gardener from Brownsville, Pam Adamson, has been the driving force behind the winter pansy project in the borough.
“She’s a wonderful volunteer who’s really taken charge,” Orslene said.
Adamson has already overseen the planting of winter pansies in a new garden plot near the Market Street ramp of the Lane Bane Bridge. The site was prepared by Adamson, her husband, their children and her sister who did the weeding, cleaning and trimming needed before the flowers could be planted by community volunteers.
“They’ve taken off well there and look nice. They’ll really look nice peeking through the snow in the spring,” Orslene said.
Orslene said that while it is a bit late in the year for planting, it shouldn’t affect the flowers.
“You can really plant up until the ground freezes,” Orslene said.
Funds for the project came from members of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce and from Robert Petriello. The project has been a collaboration of the Master Gardeners of Fayette County, the Brownsville Garden Club, BARC and Mayor Norma Ryan, Orslene said.
The Master Gardeners Program is operated by the Penn State Extension Service and takes about a year to complete, Orslene said.
“A master gardener is a community volunteer who goes through a series of modules for training with the Penn State Extension Service,” Orslene said.
Orslene said the potential master gardeners learn about plant propagation, the use of native species, and other aspects of gardening before being tested. They must also perform 50 hours of community service before becoming certified as master gardeners, then 24 hours of service a year to maintain their master gardener certification.
“We have a lot of projects throughout the tri-county area,” Orslene said.
The courses generally combine students from Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
Orslene said Bill Gallagher from the Penn State Extension Service has been instrumental in helping to plan and coordinate the Brownsville flowerbeds.