2022-2023 Hort Happy Hour & Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

Lunch & Learn and Happy Hour Webinar Series for Master Gardener Volunteers: 

Fall 2022 - Spring 2023

Recordings


Wednesday, October 5 
4 - 5 PM

Gardening in the winter:  indoors and out
Tim mcdermott, EXTENSION EDUCATOR, FRANKLIN COUNTY, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Bio

Dr. Timothy McDermott has been an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past six years after twenty years in private practice veterinary medicine and surgery. He assists client resident backyard growers, community gardeners, teacher educators and urban farmers increase their production of fresh local produce through his work in local food production systems in Franklin County. He utilizes his veterinary expertise for Extension work in backyard poultry, small ruminant, insect-vectored disease and companion animal programming to client residents, the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, and 4-H student livestock project education. He is a proud member of Buckeye Nation as a '96 grad of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Recording

Handout


Thursday, October 20 
12 - 1 PM

Fall Lawncare:  Preparing your lawn for winter
Pam Sherratt, Turfgrass specialist, The Ohio State University

Bio

Pam Sherratt is a turfgrass specialist and lecturer in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. Pam received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Lancashire in England and her master’s degree from The Ohio State University. Pam devises and implements the Buckeye Sports Turf Program and disseminates sports turf research to the industry. She is currently writing an online class for groundskeepers & athletic field managers and manages a website with 2800 subscribers. Pam makes 25-30 in-state visits to athletic fields each year, manages the annual sports turf short course, produces an annual sports turf calendar, speaks at several instate workshops and seminars, serves on several industry boards (in and out of state), and writes Extension/Outreach grants. Her research focuses on athletic field stability and reinforcement, sand selection for athletic fields, cool season grass traits; wear tolerance, establishment speed, overseeding options, rhizomatous tall fescues & other newer grass varieties.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, October 26
4 - 5 PM

Going Batty:  Why you should love bats too!
marne titchenell, program specialist, Wildlife, School of natrual resources, The Ohio State University

Bio

Marne Titchenell received her bachelor of science in wildlife management and forestry from The Ohio State University in 2004. She continued her study of forest wildlife at OSU School of Environment and Natural Resources, where she obtained her master of science in 2007. In late 2007, she became a Wildlife Extension Program Specialist, for OSU Extension. Her areas of expertise include wildlife habitat management, forest wildlife ecology and managment, bat ecology and management, among many others.  

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, November 2
4 - 5 PM

Poisonous Plants of the garden and landscape
JT Benitiz, Extension Educator, Butler County, The Ohio State University

Bio

J. T. Benitez has been raising poultry for nearly his entire life. He got his start by raising laying hens, broilers, ducks, geese, and turkeys in his backyard and was heavily involved in 4-H programs. This involvement in 4-H soon led to him interning for the organization and eventually building a career from it. After earning a master’s in management from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011, Mr. Benitez began working for Purdue University Extension in Harrison County. Two years later, he moved to Union County as a 4-H Educator. In addition to his varied job duties as a 4-H Educator, Mr. Benitez worked as the Indiana State Fair 4-H Poultry Show Manager for six years. In early 2019, Mr. Benitez moved to Ohio and started work as an Extension Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources for The Ohio State University Extension in Butler County 

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, November 9 
12 - 1  PM

Seed Saving 101:  Annuals, perennials and woody plants
Merry Tapp, master gardener volunteer, Morrow County, The Ohio State University

Bio

Merry holds a BS in Horticulture from Ohio State University - 1998.  She has been a Master Gardener Volunteer since 2001. Currently have 16 acres I take care of and play in!
 

Recording

Handout


Thursday, November 17 
12 - 1  PM

Planting Trees from a-z
Kathy Smith, Extension Program director - forestry, School of natural resources, The Ohio State University

Bio

Kathy Smith received her B.S. in Forest Resource Management and M.S. in Natural Resource Management with a focus on forest products from The Ohio State University.  She spent the first 11 years of her career working as a watershed forester with the Ohio Division of Forestry in west central Ohio working with private woodland owners.  She came to OSU in 2001 as the coordinator for the Ohio Woodland Stewards program with the goal to expand and enhance the program to better meet the needs of Ohio’s woodland owners.  As the Extension forestry program director she works to provide clientele with up to date information on today’s resource issues impacting Ohio’s landowners.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, December 7 
4 - 5 PM

THe Joys of christmas plants, Merry and bright

Nicole flowers-kimmerle, horticulture educator, university of illinois extension

Bio

Before joining Extension, Nicole received her Bachelor of Science in crop science from University of Illinois, Master of Science Agronomy in weed science from University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught high school science at Midwest Central in Manito. Extension has been a part of Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle’s life ever since she was a  4-H member in Mercer County’s Alexis All Star 4-H Club. As an adult, Nicole continued her Extension connection through the Master Naturalist training and participation in Teacher Tuesdays science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming. “One of my many goals is to provide people with the chance to learn about and experience the diversity of this area of Illinois; from the river to wetlands to prairies to sandy soils, this area has a lot to discover.”

Recording

Handout

Thursday, December 15 
12 - 1 PM

Slime time:  Frontiers in slug and snail management in north america
rory mcdonnell, associate professor,  crop and soil science, oregon state university

Bio

My research and Extension program is focused on 1) understanding the ecology of invasive slugs and snails in agriculture, horticulture, urban areas, the natural environment and at the interface of these systems, and 2) developing and implementing novel strategies for the management of these pests. We are currently investigating the potential for using plant extracts as novel biorational molluscicides, assessing the potential for using natural enemies as biological control agents, and identifying novel attractants for use in both trapping, and attract-and-kill strategies.

Recording

Handout

Slug Guide


Wednesday, January 4 
4 - 5 PM

THe cultural importance of spiders

codey mathis, graduate student, department of entomology, penn state university

Bio

Codey Mathis is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Entomology at Penn State University. Her research focuses on improving our understanding of plant-pollinator communities to better inform the conservation of these important insects, as well as critically evaluating existing monitoring methodologies. Mathis received her Master’s in Biology at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she studied pollinator communities in timber harvests, and her bachelor’s in Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. She is from the Pacific Northwest and enjoys hiking with her beagle, reading books about epic fantasy and science history, and volunteering at a local wildlife center.

Recording

Handout

Common Spiders of Ohio Field Guide


Thursday, January 19 
12 - 1 PM

Veggies on Trial:  You be the judge
ed brown, extension educator, Athens County,  The Ohio State University

Bio

Ed comes to Athens County after 9 years as an Agricultural Educator in Arkansas.  His background is in livestock production, forages, home/commercial horticulture, forestry and other areas.  If you have a need for information and Ed doesn't know the information he will work with other educators to make sure you receive excactly what you need to know.  Ed is originally from Athens County, growing up in the Amesville area where he attended Amesville Elementary before moving out of state.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, February 1 
4 - 5 PM

Getting back to basics with House plants

Pam Bennett, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERsiTY

Bio

Pam is an Associate Professor with The Ohio State University and serves as the State Master Gardener Volunteer Program Director and Horticulture Educator for OSU Extension in Clark County. She specializes in herbaceous ornamental plant trials and presents programs on annuals and perennials as well as other landscape topics locally, statewide, and nationally.  Pam has also lectured in South Korea, China, Greece and Turkey.  She is a Clark County Park District Commissioner, and a Board member of the Hartman Rock Garden.  She is the Past-President of the Friends of the Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden. Pam is the co-author of an award-winning book, Garden-pedia, An A-to- Z Guide to Gardening Terms, writes a weekly gardening column for eight counties receiving the Cox Publishing brands, authors the bi-monthly Ask the Expert Column for Ohio Gardening magazine and is a frequent writer for popular gardening magazines as well as trade publications. 

Register

Recording

Handout - click here for the Growing Indoor Plants with Success (University of Georgia Extension Bulletin)

Handout - PPT outline of houseplant 101 presentation  


Thursday, February 16 
12 - 1 PM

How to grow sunflowers at home
brooks warner, extension educator, scioto County, The Ohio State University

Bio

Brooks Warner Earned his B.S Degree in Agriculture from Wilmington College in Ohio. He started his extension career in 2020 with North Dakota State University as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Nelson County, ND. While with NDSU Extension Brooks provided programs on agronomic crops, soil health, and livestock production. In 2022 he came to OSU Extension as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in Scioto County, Ohio, where he is rebuilding the ANR program to fit the needs of Scioto County farmers and stakeholders.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, February 22
4 - 5 PM

Dealing with the Divas of the Garden:  A new Dahlia Grower's experience
tara harper, 2022 ambassador of the growing kindness project

Bio

Tara is a lifelong gardener and flower farmer.  She is an active member of the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society and an Ambassador of the Growing Kindness Project where she grows and shares her cut flowers within the community.  

Recording

Handout


 

Wednesday, March 1 
4 - 5 PM

Flowers:  Beauty, Biology, Color and Chemistry

ann chanon, extension educator, lake county, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERsitY

Bio

Ann Chanon is a native of Northeastern Ohio. She developed her love for woody plants and flowers at an early age. She turned her passion into a profession by earning a B.S. in Horticulture from The Ohio State University, M.S. in Horticultural Science from Texas A&M University, and Ph.D. in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University. The emphasis for all three degrees was woody plant improvement. Ann is currently the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Lake County. She worked for five years as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Lorain County. Prior to joining Extension, Ann worked for 12 years as a Research Associate at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department. She contributed to projects including, germplasm improvement and domestication of a new crop species, studies on fruit quality and secondary compound production in black raspberries, and other small fruits, and the effect of environmental stress on plant metabolites. Other employment experiences include floral and seed biology technician at Pan American Seed in West Chicago, IL., and internships with Herman Losely and Son Inc. Nursery, and Holden Arboretum.

Recording

Handout

Wednesday, march 8
12 - 1 PM

Live Tour of the CEARC (New Hydroponic research building)
Tim McDermott, extension educator, Franklin County,  The Ohio State University

Bio

Dr. Timothy McDermott has been an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past six years after twenty years in private practice veterinary medicine and surgery. He assists client resident backyard growers, community gardeners, teacher educators and urban farmers increase their production of fresh local produce through his work in local food production systems in Franklin County. He utilizes his veterinary expertise for Extension work in backyard poultry, small ruminant, insect-vectored disease and companion animal programming to client residents, the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, and 4-H student livestock project education. He is a proud member of Buckeye Nation as a '96 grad of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.


Wednesday, March 22 
4 - 5 PM

Summer Blooming Bulbs

Mimi Rose, Director, Pesticide Safety Education Program, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERsitY

Bio

Mary Ann Rose holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture from Penn State University. Throughout her career she has served as a Landscape and Nursery Specialist for The Ohio State University, Research Scientist for TruGreen ChemLawn and consultant to the agrichemical industry. In July, 2013, Mary Ann began as Director of the Pesticide Safety Education Program. She oversees the program that provides recertification conferences, new applicator schools, print, and web-based information for the 30,000 licensed applicators in the State of Ohio. 

Recording

Handout

Thursday, March 23 
4 - 5 PM

Annual Trial Update 2022
Pam Bennett, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERsitY

Bio

Pam is an Associate Professor with The Ohio State University and serves as the State Master Gardener Volunteer Program Director and Horticulture Educator for OSU Extension in Clark County. She specializes in herbaceous ornamental plant trials and presents programs on annuals and perennials as well as other landscape topics locally, statewide, and nationally.  Pam has also lectured in South Korea, China, Greece and Turkey.  She is a Clark County Park District Commissioner, and a Board member of the Hartman Rock Garden.  She is the Past-President of the Friends of the Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden. Pam is the co-author of an award-winning book, Garden-pedia, An A-to- Z Guide to Gardening Terms, writes a weekly gardening column for eight counties receiving the Cox Publishing brands, authors the bi-monthly Ask the Expert Column for Ohio Gardening magazine and is a frequent writer for popular gardening magazines as well as trade publications. 

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, March 29 
12 - 1 PM

Spiders as important agents of biological control

Eric yip, postdoctoral scholar, department of entomology, penn STATE UNIVERsitY

Bio

Eric Yip is an assistant research professor at Penn State interested in behavior.  His work has examined social behavior in spiders to understand how mutual aggression can evolve into mutual cooperation.  He started working on social spiders as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, where he examined how ecological conditions favor the evolution of cooperative breeding.  For his Ph.D. at Cornell University, he moved on to spider parental care and sibling associations and how movements among groups affect social behavior.  He is currently applying animal behavior principles to plants to understand how plants process information to defend themselves against their specialist herbivores.  Despite evolving into a plant biologist, Dr. Yip still loves to talk about spiders and share their fascinating biology.

Recording

Handout

Wednesday, April 5 
4 - 5 PM

Beekeeping 101:  how and why to get started

barb bloetscher, State apiarist, the ohio department of agriculture

Bio

Barbara Bloetscher has been the State Entomologist/Apiarist at the Ohio Department of Agriculture since 2009, after 23 years at The Ohio State University Extension.  As State Apiarist, she oversees the Apiary Program and addresses questions and issues related to the Inspection Program, honey bees and other pollinators.  She also identifies insects and other arthropods submitted from Ohio Nursery inspectors and businesses. 

Barb has kept her own colonies of honey bees for over 35 years and belongs to several beekeeping clubs as well as The Ohio Lepidopterists and other insect related organizations.

 

Recording

Handout

Thursday, April 13
12 - 1 PM

Starting Seed:  Vegetables and Herbs
Tim McDermott, extension educator, Franklin County,  The Ohio State University

Bio

Dr. Timothy McDermott has been an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator within the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past six years after twenty years in private practice veterinary medicine and surgery. He assists client resident backyard growers, community gardeners, teacher educators and urban farmers increase their production of fresh local produce through his work in local food production systems in Franklin County. He utilizes his veterinary expertise for Extension work in backyard poultry, small ruminant, insect-vectored disease and companion animal programming to client residents, the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, and 4-H student livestock project education. He is a proud member of Buckeye Nation as a '96 grad of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Recording

Handout


Thursday, April 20 
12 - 1 PM

Attracting birds to your backyard
bob westerfield, extension horticulturalist, univeristy of georgia

Bio

Robert Westerfield is a faculty member for the University of Georgia Horticulture department where he has served with them for 34 years.    He is a state specialist with responsibilities in vegetables, fruits, as well as ,ornamentals. He was also the state Master Gardener coordinator for 6 years with the department.

He has written over 150 publications on horticulture including many articles for gardening magazines about attracting wildlife to your backyard. Robert does a radio show monthly often talking about ways to enhance the landscape and garden to attract more beneficial insects and animals.  Robert does approximately 30 talks a year to various groups including  Master gardeners, county agents and small farm operators.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, May 3 
4 - 5 PM

Spotted lanternfly in ohio:  Bugs on the move

amy stone, Extension educator, Lucas County, the ohio state university

Bio

Amy Stone is an Extension Educator with Ohio State University in Lucas County.  She began working with Extension in 1992, and has been in Lucas County since 2000. 

Amy has earned degrees from Owens Community College and the University of Toledo including a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education.  Her specialization is horticulture and has evolved to include invasive species and began with a local infestation of the gypsy moth in the county in the mid-nineties.  In 2003, Amy collected and submitted the first known infestation of the emerald ash borer in Ohio.  Amy worked on EAB for nearly ten years on USDA project dollars from APHIS and the US Forest Service.  Work with Purdue University and Michigan State University, along with the USDA Forest Service on Emerald Ash Borer University continues.   As Ohio faces numerous invasive species threats, Amy is part of an Extension team to address those threats through outreach and education efforts. 

Recording

Handout

 

Thursday, May 18
12 - 1 PM

Trends in medicinal plants
simona marincean and Marilee Benore, associate professors of chemistry, university of michigan-dearborn, 

Bio

Professor Simona Marincean is an organic chemist with years of experience in synthesis and characterization of small organic molecules.  Following her BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering at the University of Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, she worked for Farmec Corporation, a cosmetic firm in Romania. She then moved to the US and received a PHD and postdoctoral experience from Michigan State, in Physical Organic Chemistry. She has been a faculty member at the University of Michigan Dearborn since 2007.  Her research focusses on computational modeling of reaction path

Professor Benore is a biochemist with interests in vitamin research as well as gender and STEM careers. Following her BA degree in Chemistry from Thomas More College in Kentucky, she worked as an ink chemist prior to attending graduate school. At the University of Delaware she received a PhD in chemistry, and then was a postdoc   in the pharmaceutical industry for three years. She has been a faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn since 1989, and held various position on campus and is active in outreach. At UM Dearborn she revisited her early interests in natural products and worked with Professor Marincean and others to create the certificate in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.ways and synthesis of novel conjugates for vitamin assays. At UM Dearborn she is part of the team offering courses and a new certificate in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.

Recording

Handout


Wednesday, June 7 
4 - 5 PM

it's complicated:  plant and insect interactions

jennifer moody, assistant researcher senior, kansas biological survey & center for ecological research, the university of kansas

Bio

I have carried a love of plants and insects through my life and work, from studying the pollination biology of the Missouri Evening Primrose to teaching plant-insect interactions to new generations of learners. I am interested in how people use plants, including in their gardens and landscaping. I am currently a research scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological research, where I work on a wide range of projects studying ethnobotany, the ecosystems and flora of Kansas, and wetland vegetation. I have managed the KU Native Medicinal Plant Garden and helped developed a new dye plant garden there.

Recording

Handout