New Announcements:

1.    Join us for Extension Master Gardener College, June 22-26 in Blacksburg. Full program available now! Registration opens mid-April. Lean more

2.    VBMG Spring Plant Sale – April 30 & May 1, 2022, HR AREC, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455  – The Spring Plant Sale traditionally held at Virginia Beach Farmer’s Market each spring will be held at HRAREC, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. The sale offers thousands of plants grown by Virginia Beach Master Gardeners in their own gardens or from seeds or cuttings. Featuring a wide selection of plants, the sale has something for all gardens – plants for sun, shade, or something in between – annuals, perennials, native and pollinator plants, vegetables, herbs, tropicals and houseplants, trees, and shrubs. More information at https://www.vbmg.org/spring-plant-sale.html

3.    Abingdon Garden Faire Returns – 4/16/2022 – Abingdon Garden Faire returns with a one-day outdoor show, Saturday April 16, 2022 from 9:30 to 5:00 on the front lawn of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. There will be a host of garden related vendors, food trucks, tool sharpening service and gardening information available. No admission charge. Presented by Washington County Master Gardeners. Like us on Facebook or go to www.gardenfaire.net for more information.

4.    Extension Master Gardener College Scholarship – Nomination Period is Open! – The Virginia Master Gardener Association is accepting nominations for the 2022 Diane Relf EMGC Scholarship. The merit-based Scholarship is intended to cover the majority of the costs to attend EMGC this year. (Volunteers will receive more information about the conference from the State Office in April, and registration will open in May.) All active EMGs attending are eligible for nomination if they are not a prior recipient of the Scholarship. See https://vmga.net/wordpress/vmga-diane-relf-scholarship-guidelines/ for details and how VCE Agents or Coordinators can nominate up to two volunteers from their units by 4/30/22. If you have any questions or would like more information and application emailed to you, please contact Scholarship Committee Chair Stacey Morgan Smith at VMGAScholarship@gmail.com

5.    Popular Plant Sale Returns on April 30^th – 4/30/2022 – Williamsburg Botanical Garden – James City County Williamsburg Master Gardener Association (JCCWMGA) is hosting a plant sale on Saturday, April 30 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden (WBG) located within Freedom Park at 5537 Centerville Road. This long-awaited sale runs only on Saturday, April 30, rain or shine. Admission to the WBG and parking are free. The sale offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs. Much of the plant stock has been raised by the Master Gardeners themselves. In addition to plants, visitors can shop the Green Elephant sale for gently used garden tools, books, equipment, and specialty items to perk up their garden decor. Shoppers will enjoy connecting with fellow gardening enthusiasts and getting expert advice from the JCCW Master Gardeners Help Desk team who will be on-site during the sale to answer questions. Learn more here.

6.    Virginia Master Gardener Association Membership Drive – 4/9/2022 – 670 River Ridge Road Dillwyn, Virginia 23936 – We welcome your participation in the VMGA 2022 Membership Drive. Current Students, Interns and Master Gardeners are invited to join us at the Board of Directors Meeting. Purchase a $12.00 VMGA membership gift certificate for a new Virginia Master Gardener. Learn more here.

7.    Bees: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – 4/18/2022 – Zoom program – VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, April 18, 2022, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Bees: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The presenter is Frank Walker, President of the Norfolk Beekeepers. Mr. Walker will discuss the latest research on bees and how we can support them. He will discuss why it is necessary to grow native plants and what plants we should grow to help the bees survive and thrive. Beekeepers are savvy but they cannot do it alone. They need the community to support their efforts in creating a bee friendly pollinator world. Find out what you can do to make this happen. Gardening Talks is presented via Zoom and is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No registration is required. Gardening Talks are one hour. Go to VBMG.org and click on the Zoom link! Check out upcoming Gardening Talks for 2022 as you explore our website!

8.    Learn to Identify and Help Control the Spotted Lanternfly – 4/12/2022 – The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901 – Learn to Identify and Help Control the Spotted Lanternfly At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, The Center at Belvedere in Charlottesville and the Piedmont Master Gardeners will host a free presentation by Carrie Swanson, the local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, on how to identify and help control the Spotted Lanternfly. Detected in Albemarle County last year, this invasive insect poses a significant threat to area vineyards, orchards and hops yards. In addition, masses of these insects can cause significant damage to homeowners’ landscape trees and gardens. The Center at Belvedere is at 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901. To RSVP for this in-person event, visit https://thecentercville.org/calendar/event/44890

9.    Norfolk Plant Sale – March 31 and April 1 Hermitage Museum & Gardens in Norfolk – Featuring houseplants, native garden plants and vegetable seedlings. New this year is a garden book sale, cut flower sale, and the Green Elephant Shop with gently used tools and other garden goodies. More info here.

Old April Announcements

10. 10th Annual Spring Symposium – Made for the Shade – 4/2/2022 Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Fredericksburg, VA If you have problems landscaping in the shade, including lawns, this is the one day symposium for you. Come hear Bryce Lane, Jenny Rose Carey, and Geoff Rinehart talk about being successful gardeners in the shade. The fee for this all day symposium covers four presentations, free parking, light breakfast, and buffet lunch. For more information visit www.mgacra.org/2022-symposium

Old Announcements

11. If you would like an infographic showing your local unit’s 2021 statistics, please email Devon dvj@vt.edu Infographic template available here. Note: We have not pre-made infographics for each unit this year and will instead be working with you to develop them on request.

12. Updated indicia statement:

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

 

As always, remember to use the indicia statement on all material you distribute to the public. For promotional material for events, you also need the ADA statement, available here.

 

Other Announcements:

1.    Send us your announcements! Have you converted educational programs to an online format? You can still submit those announcements for the biweekly email! Submit an item for the biweekly update here.

2.    Follow the State Office on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

New Announcements:

1.    Join us for Extension Master Gardener College, June 22-26 in Blacksburg. Full program available now! Registration opens mid-April. Lean more

2.    VBMG Spring Plant Sale – April 30 & May 1, 2022, HR AREC, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455  – The Spring Plant Sale traditionally held at Virginia Beach Farmer’s Market each spring will be held at HRAREC, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. The sale offers thousands of plants grown by Virginia Beach Master Gardeners in their own gardens or from seeds or cuttings. Featuring a wide selection of plants, the sale has something for all gardens – plants for sun, shade, or something in between – annuals, perennials, native and pollinator plants, vegetables, herbs, tropicals and houseplants, trees, and shrubs. More information at https://www.vbmg.org/spring-plant-sale.html

3.    Abingdon Garden Faire Returns – 4/16/2022 – Abingdon Garden Faire returns with a one-day outdoor show, Saturday April 16, 2022 from 9:30 to 5:00 on the front lawn of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. There will be a host of garden related vendors, food trucks, tool sharpening service and gardening information available. No admission charge. Presented by Washington County Master Gardeners. Like us on Facebook or go to www.gardenfaire.net for more information.

4.    Extension Master Gardener College Scholarship – Nomination Period is Open! – The Virginia Master Gardener Association is accepting nominations for the 2022 Diane Relf EMGC Scholarship. The merit-based Scholarship is intended to cover the majority of the costs to attend EMGC this year. (Volunteers will receive more information about the conference from the State Office in April, and registration will open in May.) All active EMGs attending are eligible for nomination if they are not a prior recipient of the Scholarship. See https://vmga.net/wordpress/vmga-diane-relf-scholarship-guidelines/ for details and how VCE Agents or Coordinators can nominate up to two volunteers from their units by 4/30/22. If you have any questions or would like more information and application emailed to you, please contact Scholarship Committee Chair Stacey Morgan Smith at VMGAScholarship@gmail.com

5.    Popular Plant Sale Returns on April 30^th – 4/30/2022 – Williamsburg Botanical Garden – James City County Williamsburg Master Gardener Association (JCCWMGA) is hosting a plant sale on Saturday, April 30 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden (WBG) located within Freedom Park at 5537 Centerville Road. This long-awaited sale runs only on Saturday, April 30, rain or shine. Admission to the WBG and parking are free. The sale offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs. Much of the plant stock has been raised by the Master Gardeners themselves. In addition to plants, visitors can shop the Green Elephant sale for gently used garden tools, books, equipment, and specialty items to perk up their garden decor. Shoppers will enjoy connecting with fellow gardening enthusiasts and getting expert advice from the JCCW Master Gardeners Help Desk team who will be on-site during the sale to answer questions. Learn more here.

6.    Virginia Master Gardener Association Membership Drive – 4/9/2022 – 670 River Ridge Road Dillwyn, Virginia 23936 – We welcome your participation in the VMGA 2022 Membership Drive. Current Students, Interns and Master Gardeners are invited to join us at the Board or Directors Meeting. Purchase a $12.00 VMGA membership gift certificate for a new Virginia Master Gardener. Learn more here.

7.    Bees: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – 4/18/2022 – Zoom program – VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, April 18, 2022, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Bees: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The presenter is Frank Walker, President of the Norfolk Beekeepers. Mr. Walker will discuss the latest research on bees and how we can support them. He will discuss why it is necessary to grow native plants and what plants we should grow to help the bees survive and thrive. Beekeepers are savvy but they cannot do it alone. They need the community to support their efforts in creating a bee friendly pollinator world. Find out what you can do to make this happen. Gardening Talks is presented via Zoom and is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No registration is required. Gardening Talks are one hour. Go to VBMG.org and click on the Zoom link! Check out upcoming Gardening Talks for 2022 as you explore our website!

8.    Learn to Identify and Help Control the Spotted Lanternfly – 4/12/2022 – The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901 – Learn to Identify and Help Control the Spotted Lanternfly At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, The Center at Belvedere in Charlottesville and the Piedmont Master Gardeners will host a free presentation by Carrie Swanson, the local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, on how to identify and help control the Spotted Lanternfly. Detected in Albemarle County last year, this invasive insect poses a significant threat to area vineyards, orchards and hops yards. In addition, masses of these insects can cause significant damage to homeowners’ landscape trees and gardens. The Center at Belvedere is at 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901. To RSVP for this in-person event, visit https://thecentercville.org/calendar/event/44890

Old April Announcements

9.    10th Annual Spring Symposium – Made for the Shade – 4/2/2022 Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Fredericksburg, VA If you have problems landscaping in the shade, including lawns, this is the one day symposium for you. Come hear Bryce Lane, Jenny Rose Carey, and Geoff Rinehart talk about being successful gardeners in the shade. The fee for this all day symposium covers four presentations, free parking, light breakfast, and buffet lunch. For more information visit www.mgacra.org/2022-symposium

Old Announcements

10. If you would like an infographic showing your local unit’s 2021 statistics, please email Devon dvj@vt.edu Infographic template available here. Note: We have not pre-made infographics for each unit this year and will instead be working with you to develop them on request.

11. Updated indicia statement:

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

 

As always, remember to use the indicia statement on all material you distribute to the public. For promotional material for events, you also need the ADA statement, available here.

 

Other Announcements:

1.    Send us your announcements! Have you converted educational programs to an online format? You can still submit those announcements for the biweekly email! Submit an item for the biweekly update here.

2.    Follow the State Office on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

New Announcements:

1.    Applications for the new EMG State Office micro-grant program are OPEN! The spring 2022 round of grants will support community, school, or after school gardens. EMG units can request up to $1,000 to support a project. For more info and to access the application form, visit the website here. Applications are due midnight on Sunday March 27.

2.    Gardening in the Northern Neck: Landscape, Viewscape, Escape! – Saturday, March 26, 2022 – White Stone, VA:  The Northern Neck Master Gardeners present Gardening in the Northern Neck. This year’s theme is “Landscape, Viewscape, Escape!” Featured speakers: Colston Burrell, Bryce Lane, and Joseph Tychonievich. Saturday, March 26, 2022. White Stone Church of the Nazarene 57 Whisk Drive White Stone, VA 22578 Cost $50. Register is required. Information and registration forms are available at www.nnmg.org/gnn

3.    Loudoun County Master Gardener Virtual Symposium: Gardening in Rhythm with Nature – March 19, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Recording available for registrants: Featured speakers: Marianne Willburn: Keep Calm and Garden On: Gardening in the Midst of Climate Change Ian Caton: Super Tough Wildflowers Elyse Jurgen: Green Mulch: Using Native Plants as Groundcovers Chris Riley: Things Your Trees Wish You Knew For more information, fees and registration see https://loudouncountymastergardeners.org/events/annual-symposium/

4.    Prince George Master Gardener Association “The Shrub Layer” with Peggy Singlemann – Thursday, March 10,2022 6PM-730PM 6:00PM-7:30PM Registration is free. More info here

5.    National Invasive Species Awareness Week events in Richmond area: For more info, see the flyer here or go to: https://jamesriverpark.org/invasives/

a.    Sunday, February 27: NISAW Kickoff Event at Pony Pasture 1:00-4:00 pm.

b.    Tuesday, March 1: Zoom program “A Growing Problem: The Hidden Threat of Invasive Plants in Our Gardens and What We Can Do about It” hosted by Richmond Public Library (https://rvalibrary.org/events/ ) 7 – 8 pm

c.     Friday, March 4: Boogie for the Biosphere – Learn about Invasive Plants; celebrate invasive removal volunteers; meet Baby Goats; and listen to great Blues music at Legend Brewing Company, 5 pm Inavasive plant removal days in James River Park More info here.

d.    Volunteers may sign up for one of 8 James River Park Invasive Removal Events– Monday, February 28–Saturday, March 5th at https://www.handsonrva.org/ Event Details are HERE and attached.

6.    Chesapeake Master Gardener Plant Sale 8-6pm on Friday, April 29th and 8am to Noon on Saturday, April 30th at Battlefield South Park- new location 120 Reservation Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322. More info here. Plant sale list here.

7.    If you would like an infographic showing your local unit’s 2021 statistics, please email Devon dvj@vt.edu Infographic template available here. Note: We have not pre-made infographics for each unit this year and will instead be working with you to develop them on request.

Old March Announcements:

8.    Piedmont Master Gardeners Announce Spring Lecture Series – March 3, 10, 24 and 31, Zoom – The Piedmont Master Gardeners have lined up a slate of leading experts on sustainable landscaping, indigenous gardening wisdom, and small fruit production for their 2022 Spring Lecture Series, to be presented online from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on four Thursdays in March. Admission for each lecture is $10. To register and get Zoom link visit https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/events/ The schedule includes:

a.    March 3 – C. Colston Burrell, “Beauty, Integrity and Resilience: Can A Garden Have Everything?”

b.    March 10 – Renée Gokey and Christine Price-Abelow, “The Three Sisters: Indigenous Origins and Best Growing Practices.”

c.     March 24 – Jayesh Samtani, “Home Garden Berries: Selection, Cultivation and Growing Alongside Ornamental Plants.”

d.    March 31 – Barbara Ryan  “Designing with Native Plants”

9.    Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program – Every Saturday, March 5 – May 21, 9AM – 3PM – In-Person Program, Randolph Farm

e.    To help meet the growing demand for academically trained urban agriculture professionals, Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture is offering its fourth Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program this spring. Designed for anyone charged with starting or managing an urban farm or who wants to increase their marketability to do so, the course provides a curriculum rich in the science-based knowledge needed to successfully and safely grow produce in an urban environment. Courses include: sustainable soil management, plant propagation and nursery management, permaculture, plant disease and pest management, greenhouse production (hydroponics and aquaponics), animal husbandry (backyard chickens and rabbits), urban farming business planning and management, and many more. Learn more and register now

10. Wildlife Corridors: How Native Trees and Plants can Restore Biodiversity– March 7, 2022, Zoom / Join the talk at vbmg.org

f.      On March 7th, the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners are offering a one-hour presentation on Wildlife Corridors: How Native Trees and Plants Can Restore Hampton Roads Biodiversity.  This presentation is free and open to the public. This presentation discusses the growing biodiversity loss due to development, parcel fragmentation, and invasive species. A viable solution is to introduce habitat to developed areas and private lands. This talk will demonstrate different ways to accomplish this goal. Our presenter is Kendall Topping, Community Forestry Specialist at the Virginia Department of Forestry This Gardening Talk will be provided via Zoom beginning at 7PM. All the Gardening Talks are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Go to VBMG.org and click on the Zoom link!  Check out the additional upcoming Garden Talks for 2022!

11. Gardening in the Valley Symposium – March 12, 2022, Shenandoah University, Winchester The NSVMGA will hold it's Gardening in the Valley Symposium on March 12th at Shenandoah University. This event is approved for 8 hours of education hours for Master Gardeners. Please review the flyer for more information.

12. Patrick County EMGs Master Your Garden symposium, March 12, 2022, at the Patrick & Henry Community College in Stuart, Virginia, 212 Wood Brothers Drive. Inquiries may be sent to anissa.smrtnis1@gmail.com

13. Grow the Good Life (Zoom) March 5 and March 12 – Bedford Master Gardeners explore gardening over two weekends: March 5 “The impact of climate change on our environment has been a topic of much interest globally but what effect does it have locally?” and March 12 “How you can have a beautiful garden even when you no longer have the energy or time to invest & the usefulness of weeds” Click here for the flyer

14. Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium, March 18. 2022, Best Western Inn & Conference Center Waynesboro Virginia: Waynesboro Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the return of the Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium. This in-person only event will take place on Friday, March 18, 2022 at the Best Western Inn & Conference Center. Special COVID considerations have been made to ensure the health and well-being of participants. Complete details can be found on the Parks and Recreation website www.playwaynesboro.com

Old April Announcements

15. 10th Annual Spring Symposium – Made for the Shade – 4/2/2022 Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Fredericksburg, VA If you have problems landscaping in the shade, including lawns, this is the one day symposium for you. Come hear Bryce Lane, Jenny Rose Carey, and Geoff Rinehart talk about being successful gardeners in the shade. The fee for this all day symposium covers four presentations, free parking, light breakfast, and buffet lunch. For more information visit www.mgacra.org/2022-symposium

16. VMGA Membership Drive Current Students, Interns and Master Gardeners – April 9 2022 – Gathering in Central Virginia: 670 River Ridge Road  Dillwyn, Virginia 23936

a.    You are invited to gather with the Virginia Master Gardener Association Board of Directors and Members in Central Virginia.  We welcome you to be a part of our 2022 Membership Drive.  Thank you in advance for the gift of your time. Learn more here

Old Announcements

17. Call for proposals IMGC 2021 – Overland Park, Kansas June 18-22, 2023 – Overland Park, Kansas June 18-22, 2023 From the conference organizers: “We are excited to open the call for proposals for breakout session and workshop speakers. Breakout or concurrent sessions are 60 minutes in length. Workshop sessions can be 90 minutes to 2 hours in length and should be more interactive with participants. We are looking for a diverse lineup of topics and speakers. Please consider presenting at the conference and sharing this link with your colleagues. Proposals will be accepted through February 25, 2022. We are using Qualtrics for the submissions.” https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UT5316TivCYq4m

18. Updated indicia statement:

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

 

As always, remember to use the indicia statement on all material you distribute to the public. For promotional material for events, you also need the ADA statement, available here.

19. Extension Resources website down until further notice: The new publication website https://resources.ext.vt.edu/ is being permanently retired and a transition to the old system is underway. To find publications in the meantime, search https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/ or https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/

 

Other Announcements:

1.    Send us your announcements! Have you converted educational programs to an online format? You can still submit those announcements for the biweekly email! Submit an item for the biweekly update here.

2. Follow the State Office on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube