Working Gardens in 19th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Country: Contrasting High Victorian Style with the Common Working Garden

This presentation contrasts 19th Century high Victorian style with the common “working garden” in PA Dutch country with lessons for today’s gardeners.  The PowerPoint show features garden graphics, historical photos, and period magazine illustrations. Important changes in technology are highlighted. Resource books are available for browsing.

• Location:
  HPT Headquarters - 123 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603
• Date:
  Wednesday, June 10th, 2026
• Time:
  6:00pm - Doors Open,
  6:30pm - Presentation Starts

Biography of Mike Cassidy (2026)

Lancaster County Master Gardener Program, Penn State Extension

Contact Mike at newrycassidy@comcast.net: 717-368-1235

Michael Cassidy is a former state legislator from Blair County.  He received a BA in Political Science and a MA in American Studies from Penn State. He retired as a policy analyst and staff director from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He also served as long-term adjunct faculty at Penn State and Temple Universities.

Mike and his wife Jeanne restored two log homes in Maytown (built c.1790s and c.1810), designed gardens and outbuildings appropriate to the 19th century, and planted native and heirloom plants providing a friendly habitat for birds, bees and butterflies.  Together they also present several programs on the Civil War home front representing the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster, a Ladies Aid Society 1861-1865.

As a Lancaster County Master Gardener with Penn State Extension, Mike focuses on historic gardens especially in PA Dutch Country, native plants, and the Pollinator Library Program for children.  Mike’s Lancaster Master Gardener Speakers Bureau Programs include:

“Working Gardens in 19th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Country: Contrasting High Victorian Style with the Common Working Garden.” This presentation contrasts 19^th Century high Victorian style with the common “working garden” in PA Dutch country with lessons for today’s gardeners.  The PowerPoint show features garden graphics, historical photos, and period magazine illustrations.

“What Early American Cookbooks Tell Us about Gardening in the 19^th Century.”  This illustrated PowerPoint presentation explores what our ancestors really grew in their gardens by looking at early American cookbooks from the Northeast U.S. as well as information about early PA German foodways and the Landis Valley Farm Museum heirloom seed project. Reprints of historic cookbooks and other resources are available for browsing.

“Books For Growing Young Gardeners: Recommendations for Young Gardeners and Their Caregivers.” Originally presented to Keystone State Literacy Association- Lancaster/Lebanon on March 23, 2023, and as a Lancaster County Master Gardener Webinar aired on April 5, 2023 -- now available for MG Speaker Bureau bookings. These recommendations are geared to parents, grandparent, and other caregivers include books appropriate for children categorized by topic and age. Also including books written primarily for grandparents with project ideas for children. A sampling of recommended books is available for browsing.

“Jumping Worms and Other Invasive Species in Pennsylvania Landscapes and Gardens.” This is an introduction to invasive plants and animals. (Free program)

“Pollinator ‘Week’ Library Program.” A Summer children’s story-time program for libraries about pollinators with information for parents about native plants and bees. (Free to Lancaster Libraries)

Other programs are in development including “The Gardeners’ Ethos: A Perspective on the Distinguishing Character of Gardeners”.