About Us and Presentations

With a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1989) and a Doctoral degree in Education from Immaculata University (2002), Dr. McKnight-Seltzer is an experienced educator.

Mary L. McKnight-Seltzer, Ed.D.

Master Gardener, Penn State University (2003 to present). Consulting Rosarian (2011 to 2022) and Master Rosarian (2022 to present), American Rose Society. Current President of the Philadelphia Rose Society (2020 to present).

Established in 2007, Ideas in Bloom combines the science of botany with the art of design. So, your garden becomes a beautiful, welcoming, and rewarding place.

Our philosophy: There is a creative solution to every gardening problem, for example, a steep slope, a neighbor's less-than-attractive yard features, and heavy shade.The right plant for the right place assures success.

As a Master Gardener from Penn State University since 2003,and as a paid presenter for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society from 2008 to 2013, Dr. McKnight~Seltzer offers you competent, professional service. She welcomes the opportunity to deliver personalized and caring work, tailored just for the look you want for your garden. Also, a Certificate in Landscape Design and Master Home Gardening from Temple University (2010) helps her to bring you the most up-to-date offerings from the horticultural field. The photos on this website show examples of her work in her garden and those of her clients.

Our company is based on the belief that our customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals.

We would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry.

~AVAILABLE PRESENTATIONS~

PowerPoint presentations with handouts for attendees are available on a variety of horticultural topics for a fee of $250.

New for 2024

*Container Shade Gardening ...for those with a "postage stamp" yard

Ask about other gardening topics!

Upcoming Presentations

Examples of Earlier PowerPoint Presentations

Simply Roses

Roslyn Public Library

Roslyn, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

All About Roses

Conshohoken Library

301 Fayette Street

Conshohocken, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Small-Space Gardening

PHS Philadelphia International Flower Show

Convention Center

Philadelphia, PA

Indoor Gardening with Colorful & Flowering Houseplants

Old York Road Garden Club Grace Presbyterian Church

Old York Road

Jenkintown, PA

Simply Roses

Springfield Public Library

Papermill Road

Springfield, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Dependable Perennials for Low Maintenance Gardens

Holmesburg Free Library of Philadelphia

7810 Frankford Avenue

Philadelphia

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

All About Roses

Old York Road Garden Club

Grace Presbyterian Church

Old York Road

Jenkintown, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Yet More About Roses

Dickinson Square

4th & Tasker Streets

Philadelphia, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

The Four Season Garden

Wadsworth Free Library

1500 Wadsworth Ave.

Philadelphia, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

A Garden for All Seasons

Whitemarsh Township Bldg.

616 Germantown Pike

Lafayette Hill, PA

Indoor Landscaping with Colorful & Flowering Houseplants

Maple Glen Garden Club

Springfield, PA

Fun with Holiday Flowers and Houseplants

Ambler Senior Activities Center

45 Forest Avenue

Ambler, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Your Indoor Garden

Norristown Public Library

Swede St.

Norristown, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

All About Houseplants

Whitpain Farms

Butler Pike

Blue Bell, PA

Gardening in Small Spaces

North Wales Library

Lansdale, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Variegated Houseplants

Glenside Library

Keswick Avenue

Glenside, PA

For the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Container Gardening

Blue Bell Public Library

Skippack Pike

Blue Bell, PA

Beautiful Container Gardens

Gwynedd Estates

Norristown Road

Ambler. PA

For the Philadelphia Horticultural Society

The Cutting Garden

Morris Arboretum

Northeastern Avenue

Philadelphia, PA

Let's Get Growing: A Gardening Lecture Series for 2011

12:30pm to 2pm

Lectures below are in the Center on the Hill in

The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

8855 Germantown Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19118

Cost: $15 per person/per lecture which includes detailed handouts

Please register with Jackie Yorko at 215-247-4654

Tuesday, April 12.....Easy Indoor Landscaping with Colorful & Flowering Houseplants.....Practical advice about selecting, caring for, and

arranging houseplants to add beauty and life to your home, including the best plants for the best places.

Tuesday, April 19.....Gardening in Smaller Spaces.....Small gardens can be intimate and charming with some simple designs and gardening "tricks of the trade."

Tuesday, May 3.....Roses Made Easy.....Simple and straightforward steps for enjoying roses from May through October, including rose selection, planting, care, and maintenance with a What to do When calender.

Tuesday, May 17.....Four Seasons of Interest.....Learn to select plants and design your garden so that you can enjoy your landscape more and have flowers blooming from January to November.

Tuesday, May 24.....Success with Shade Gardening.....Brighten up dark areas of your landscape with the best plants for shade in our growing area---even many flowering plants!

Tuesday, June 7.....Container Gardening.....Containers can be an attractive, practical

, space-saving, and versatile way to grow plants---from small trees and shrubs to flowers to vegetables and herbs. Our class will explore this portable world.

Earth laughs in flowers.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"