SHOWING HOW THEIR GARDENS GROW: Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County maintaining the Cottage Garden at Mercer Educational Gardens are, from left, Kathleen Yurwit, Hightstown; Sheryl Fuller, Trenton; Mary Wagner, Pennington; and Ann Vaurio and Marge Steinberg, Princeton.

In celebration of 25 years of service to the home gardeners of Mercer County, the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County are presenting a summer series of Saturday morning talks and demonstrations, Hands-on in the Garden, at Mercer Educational Gardens (MEG), located at 431 A Federal City Road in Pennington, adjacent to the Mercer County Stables. The series, which begins June 15, is free and open to the public.

Each program in the series will begin at 10:30 a.m., run 60-90 minutes, and feature one of the display gardens, with a focus on improving soil, proper siting and watering practices, and maintenance. These programs are all outside and some walking may be involved. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water, sun protection, insect repellant, and seating, if needed.

The schedule begins June 15 with The Plants That Keep Giving — Perennials; and continues on June 22 with Beautiful Low Maintenance Gardening with Native Plants; on June 29 with Success with Herbs; August 3 with Butterfly Trail at MEG; August 10, Composting; and August 24, Creating Garden Drama with Annual Plants.

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Ewing. Master Gardeners take part in many volunteer programs throughout the county, and answer home horticulture questions through the Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, (609) 989-6853, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on the Master Gardener program, the Mercer Educational Gardens, or other Extension educational programs, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension at (609) 989-6830 or visit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website at www.mgofmc.org.