Flowers brighten fair
If you’re enjoying the flowers planted throughout the 51st Annual Fayette County Fair, just thank the Penn State Master Gardeners. Rose Bodkin of Uniontown and Ginny Bryan of Acme are Penn State Master Gardeners in Fayette County who use their gardening skills and love for gardening to plant and maintain the flowers for the fair.
The women volunteer their time, beginning in May, and continue working with the plants throughout the fair.
The master gardeners are also taking on more responsibility this year.
“For several years, we’ve planted flowers at the fairgrounds,’ said Bodkin. “This is the first time they’ve let us pick our own flowers and design the flower beds.’
Bryan noted, “It has been a little stressful, worrying about whether or not everything will bloom just in time for the fair. We had a few challenges along the way. Some of the flowers didn’t perform as we expected and we did a lot of feeding to bring them up to par. Japanese beetles invaded the wave petunias and geraniums, but those were treated and are gone, but not without some damage to the plants. Of course, the dry hot weather has kept us busy with watering three to four days a week.’
Bodkin and Bryan scheduled their planting date for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The women worked with fair board member Bill Gallagher and Josh Crawford.
Organizing her thoughts about the planting, Bryan wrote, “In selecting the plants, I wanted to carry on the geranium theme from the Geranium Festival that was premiered in Connellsville for Memorial Day. So I went to the geranium specialists at Oglevees and selected my favorite color, fuchsia pink, for the long boxes. I also bought a heat and sun tolerant begonia, which is planted at the entrance and in the bed by the Grange Building. Finally, a lovely pink New Guinea Impatience was chosen for the border of the Grange Bed.
“The boxes planted with geraniums are accented with white alyssum, blue lobelia and variegated vinca vine. The square boxes are planted with a pink begonia, surrounded by white wave petunias, flanked by variegated vinca vine and accented with white alyssum and blue lobelia. These boxes will all be placed as freestanding displays all over the fairgrounds. All of the accent plants were purchased from a local greenhouse in Bullskin Township, Wood’s Nursery.’
Bodkin said the Master Gardeners built a brick, raised-flower bed garden for the outside area between the horticulture and art show exhibits of the Grange Building, donating it to the fair. A plaque will be installed. The Master Gardeners who helped build the bed included Bodkin, Bryan, Cheryl Chiplaskey, Bill Gallagher, Judy Tchinski, Mike Tchinski, Rosemary Johnson, Sharon Rosendale and Judy Stradley.
In addition, Gallagher and the Tchinskis planted two trees at the fairgrounds. One was planted and dedicated to Gallagher for his work through the years with the fair.
Bryan also noted Bodkin is an herb enthusiast. The two small beds in front of the Youth Building are planted with a variety of herbs.
Information on these plants and recipes with herbs will be available at the Master Gardeners booth, located inside the Youth Building.
“Our job is to beautify but also to teach people so they can have their own gardens,’ said Bodkin. “We are going to label the flowers so people know what they are, and we’ve tested them in different environments so people can see what grows well in shade or sun.’