Standing Stone Garden Club

04/23/2026

We will be raffling this painting off at the plant and bake sale May 9th, starting at 8:00 a.m.

04/22/2026

We swore in our new officers last night!

01/27/2026

If you're looking for a place to buy good quality cheap seeds MIgardener is the place to go.
They're $2 a pack. They have a lot of heirloom varieties. And a wonderful flower selection.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1PwxtrJCXo/

The mission is simple, get people gardening and growing their own food in a simple and more fun way.

12/06/2025

Come down to Huntingdon County Historical Society McMurtrie house and gallery
And enjoy the hometown holiday celebration with us. All Items Are Half Off! All proceeds go back into the community. Enjoy looking at all of the spectacular decoration the ladies of the Garden Club have put up in the McMurtrie house. Located on 4th and Allegheny.

12/05/2025

Today and tomorrow come out and see what the ladies have done decorating Huntingdon County Historical Society McMurtrie house.
Today Friday December 5th we will be open
10- 7 tomorrow Saturday December 6th we will be open 10-6 we have lots of wonderful things to see and to buy in our annual fundraiser.

12/04/2025

A preview of what we will have for sale at the hometown holiday celebration this upcoming weekend Friday the 5th 10 -7 and Saturday the 6th 10 -6
located at 4th and Allegheny Street
All proceeds go back to the community.

wreaths are$30 to $35, swags $15 to $20, center pieces $15 and up, gifts $5 and up

12/02/2025

Want Your Apple Trees to Truly Thrive? Build an Apple Tree Guild 🍎🐝

One of the most reliable, time-tested ways to grow healthier, more productive fruit trees is to plant them as part of a guild—a small, supportive ecosystem designed around the tree.
This is a core principle of permaculture: instead of planting a lone apple tree in turf grass, you surround it with plants that protect, feed, and strengthen it.

The layout in the image you shared is an excellent example. Every plant in the guild serves a specific function, creating a self-supporting system that reduces pests, improves soil, and boosts pollination.
Below is a breakdown of why each companion plant is included and the role it plays.

Chives (or other Alliums such as garlic)
Role: Pest and disease deterrent
Why it works:
Alliums naturally help suppress fungal issues like apple scab, and their strong scent confuses common pests, including aphids and deer. When allowed to bloom, they also draw in pollinators.

Yarrow
Role: Beneficial insect attractor
Why it works:
Its flat flower clusters attract predatory insects—ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps—that feed on harmful pests.
Yarrow also pulls minerals from deep in the soil and returns them to the surface as its foliage breaks down.

Borage
Role: Pollinator magnet and soil enhancer
Why it works:
Bees of all kinds are drawn to borage more than almost any other flower, which increases your apple tree’s pollination rate.
Like yarrow, borage mines nutrients from deeper layers of soil, helping enrich the topsoil around your tree.

Nasturtium
Role: Trap crop and living ground cover
Why it works:
Aphids prefer nasturtiums over nearly anything else, keeping them away from your apple tree.
This spreading plant also functions as a natural mulch, shading the soil and suppressing w**ds.

Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Role: Root protector
Why it works:
Specific marigold varieties release natural compounds from their roots that deter root-knot nematodes—microscopic pests that damage tree roots. Their strong scent also discourages several above-ground insects and even browsing animals.

Artemisia (such as wormwood or southernwood)
Role: Strong-scented repellent
Why it works:
Artemisia species produce aromatic compounds that confuse and deter pests, including the codling moth—a major apple pest. Their scent also discourages deer and rabbits from approaching the tree.

What This Guild Achieves
Together, these plants create a powerful support system that:
Brings pollinators to the orchard (borage, yarrow)
Reduces pest pressure above and below ground (chives, marigolds, artemisia)
Attracts natural predators to control harmful insects (yarrow)
Improves soil structure and fertility (borage, yarrow)
Minimizes w**d competition (nasturtium)
Helps maintain tree health and disease resistance (chives)
This combination allows the apple tree to devote its energy to growth and fruit production instead of survival.

10/04/2025

09/21/2025

Yesterday we had a wonderful time eating at the olde New York restaurant in State college, then walking the arboretum together. We really looked out with the weather. It was absolutely gorgeous.

09/06/2025

Join us for our Fall Mum Sale and pick up some gorgeous mums while supporting the library!

Stop by the library to purchase a voucher for a 9" mum for $8 now through October 1! Vouchers can be redeemed at Potted Memories Greenhouse in Williamsburg before October 15.

Proceeds support the Roaring Spring Community Library programs and services. Come support the library and welcome fall in full bloom!

Small bills and/or exact change is appreciated!