Join the Master Gardener Volunteers at various branches of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County for a Morning with the Masters speaker series. MGVs will be on hand to assist and discuss garden-related topics on the first and third Wednesdays of the month!
Cost: Free, no registration is required
Time: 11 am- 12 pm
2026 Schedule:
- February 4: How to Successfully Start Plants from Seeds – Jim and Peg Zeleznik
- Austintown Library, 600 S Raccoon Rd, Youngstown, OH 44515
- Join our Master Gardener Volunteers to discuss the most up-to-date information available to help you successfully start your plants from seed. Starting plants from seed can save you money and increase the variety of plants available for your gardens—especially those hard-to-find natives needed for our pollinators.
- February 18: How to Successfully Start Plants from Seeds – Jim and Peg Zeleznik
- Main Library - 305 Wick Ave
- Join our Master Gardener Volunteers to discuss the most up-to-date information available to help you successfully start your plants from seed. Starting plants from seed can save you money and increase the variety of plants available for your gardens—especially those hard-to-find natives needed for our pollinators.
- March 4: Soils the Foundation of Gardening – David Sprague
- Newport Library - 3730 Market St
- Find out about the soil under your feet. A healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving home landscape. Learn what makes a good soil and how to test & amend it to improve plant health and create a sustainable, enjoyable landscape for years to come.
- March 18: Growing Degree Days – David Sprague
- Boardman Library - 7680 Glenwood Ave
- Did you ever wonder what calendar nature uses? How does nature know when it's time for buds to open and insects to emerge? Find out what nature uses for a calendar and how to access and use nature’s calendar with Growing Degree Days. Learn how to use Growing Degree Days to manage pests and time herbicide applications. And learn about Phenology, which is another way to access nature's calendar.
- April 1: 10 Ways to Improve Your Vegetable Garden – Bob and Marianna Eister
- Canfield Library - 43 W Main St
- Come learn how to improve care of your garden plants. Pollination, soils, watering and growing tips to improve your harvest and ways to get help to solve garden problems will be discussed.
- April 15: The Many Fascinations of the Hummingbird – Carol Kirsch
- Michael Kusalaba Library - 2815 Mahoning Ave
- Small but mighty, hummingbirds are more than beautiful—they’re vital pollinators. Learn about their incredible migration and how to attract them to your garden with the food they need to thrive.
- May 6: Bluebirds – Katie Shipka
- East Library - 430 Early Road
- Come learn how to improve care of your garden plants. Pollination, soils, watering and growing tips to improve your harvest and ways to get help to solve garden problems will be discussed.
- May 20: What is Citizen Science? – Kary Shively and Claire Glove
- Struthers Library - 95 Poland Ave, Struthers, OH 44471
- Learn ways you can participate in research projects and provide data to further scientific learning about key issues.
- June 3: Planting a Garden – Stephanie Hughes
- Sebring Library - 195 W Ohio Ave
- Whether you have planted a garden for years, or this is your first time, you can learn so much! Tips on sunlight, watering, fertilizing, to soil analysis, all can lead to your best garden results ever, or, at least until next year! Come and gain insights into the vast topic of Summer gardening.
- June 17: Oak Tree Hotel – Carol Kirsch
- Brownlee Woods Library - 4010 Sheridan Rd
- Do you realize the neighborhood oak tree provides much more than shade in the summer and leaves in the fall? Learn how this simple tree supports 100s of our local wildlife and have fun matching the “guests” who frequent the oak to their “5-star accommodations”. This presentation is great for all ages!
- July 1: Raising Monarch Butterflies – Katie Shipka
- Poland Library - 311 S Main Street
- From eggs to the beautiful butterfly, learn about reasons for its decreased population, and the importance of various types of milkweed and pollinator flowers. Watch the caterpillar enter the pupa stage and emerge, becoming the Monarch butterfly, ready to travel on its amazing migration.
- July 15: Why Don’t I have Butterflies all Season? – Lois Martin-Uscaianowski
- Springfield Library - 10418 Main St
- Explore the fascinating life cycle of butterflies, learn which species are native to our area, and discover the difference between host and nectar plants while highlighting six of the most common and sought-after butterflies. Attendees will also gain tips for creating a beautiful flower garden that supports generational butterflies!
- August 5: Is This Soil Any Good? | Jim Merva
- Campbell Library - 436 Struthers-Coitsville Rd
- Be it a raised bed, or surface level garden, how would I determine if this soil is any good for a successful garden? This session will provide the gardener insights, helpful tips and resources to create and maintain a successful garden soil.
- August 19: Fall Lawn Care: How to Help Your Lawn In the Fall – David Sprague
- Tri-Lakes Library - 13820 Mahoning Ave
- Fall is the best time of the year to care for your lawn. Learn about seeding, fertilizing, soil testing, weed control and more in the fall to give your lawn a head start for next year.
- September 2: Plants with Three Supporting Benefits in One | Kary Shively
- Austintown Library - 600 S Raccoon Rd
- By including 3 in 1 plants in your garden, you can help sustain pollinator populations while also attracting colorful birds and butterflies throughout the seasons. We’ll explore some native perennial plants as well as annuals that offer support to these wonderful creatures.
- September 16: Vanilla – Stephanie Hughes
- East Library - 430 Early Road
- Every home has it in the kitchen. Everyone has tasted its wonderful flavor. But did you know vanilla is an orchid? Or that it is the only flavoring regulated by our government? Come and enjoy the rich history of vanilla, and learn how to choose the best kinds of this yummy flavor.
- October 7: Lasagna Gardening a.k.a. Sheet Mulching | Karen Gates
- Michael Kusalaba Library - 2815 Mahoning Ave Youngstown
- Get your flower or vegetable garden plots ready for planting. Without using a rototiller, prepare your soil for spring using cardboard and compost. This method saves the soil from erosion, and saves the valuable nutrients that are in the top 6" of your plots.
- October 21: Plants with a Past: The History of Herbs – Marilyn McKinley
- Canfield Library - 43 W Main St, Canfield, OH 44406
- Take a step back in time to explore how herbs have been used across cultures and centuries. From the ancient Egyptians and Romans to Indigenous traditions and early Americans, herbs have played an important role in daily life. Blending historical facts with folklore and a touch of humor, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of herbs and how their uses have evolved into the modern world.
- November 4: Winter Care for Backyard Wildlife | Kathy Emptage
- Struthers Library - 95 Poland Ave, Struthers, OH 44471
- Learn simple, effective ways to support backyard birds, beneficial insects, and small mammals through the winter months. Go beyond raking leaves and piling fallen branches to discover how summer flower plantings and thoughtful yard practices can provide food, shelter, and habitat year-round.
- November 18: Feeding Winter Birds | Katie Shipka
- Boardman Library - 7680 Glenwood Ave, Youngstown, OH 44512
- Attracting winter birds is both easy and enjoyable. Learn about what size and type of birds to attract, various types of feeders that are available and the many choices of seeds. Find out about the 5-7-9 Rule to discourage squirrels to your feeder!