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 30th – 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.
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