The Mount Joy Area Historical Society will host Master Gardener Michael Cassidy from Penn State Extension as its guest speaker at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, at the Cemetery Road Schoolhouse, 120 Fairview St., Mount Joy.

He will present "Working Gardens in 19th-Century Pennsylvania Dutch Country." He will contrast the 19th-century high Victorian style garden with the common "working garden" in Pennsylvania Dutch country, with lessons for today's gardeners. The presentation will feature garden graphics, historical photos, and period magazine illustrations.

Cassidy is a former state legislator from Blair County. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in American studies from Penn State. He is retired from his role as a policy analyst and staff director for the Pennsylvania state legislature, and he served as long-term adjunct faculty at Penn State and Temple University. With his wife, he restored two early log homes in Maytown; designed gardens and outbuildings appropriate to the 19th century; and planted native and heirloom plants, providing a friendly habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies. As a Master Gardener, Cassidy focuses on historic gardens, native plants, invasive plants and jumping worms, and the Pollinator Library Program.

Refreshments and tours of the museum will be available following the program. The meeting is free and open to the public, and donations will be accepted.

The historical society's building is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Members of the public may stop by to see the displays of Mount Joy memorabilia. For more information about the historical society, visit http://www.mountjoyhistory.com.