Monthly Archives: April 2024

Biweekly Update – April 16

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New Announcements

  1. Master Gardener College registration now open: Register here before prices increase May 8
    1. Program and more information here
    2. Want more in-person programming? Register for the VMGA annual meeting on June 15
  2. EMG Webinar Series 2024: All webinars will be recorded and posted to our website (https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/webinar-archive/). Please register for each webinar
    1.  #inVAsives – April 22, 1:00pm | Scott M. Salom – Overview of invasive forest insects pests in VA – Join Dr. Scott Salom of Virginia Tech’s entomology department for this introduction to forest and insect pests in Virginia. Register now
  3. Flora Fest 2024 – VCE- Charlotte 133 Legrande Ave. Charlotte Courthouse VA 23938 – Please join the Charlotte County Extension Master Gardeners (CCMG) on April 27, 2024 at the Charlotte County Extension Office for Flora Fest 2024. The plant sale will run from 8:30 am till 12:30 pm with locally grown and very reasonably priced house plants, perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Both sun and shade varieties will be available. Stop by one of the educational booths to learn more about plants and gardening. Bring the kids out to enjoy free Children’s activities. Don’t forget lunch Good Eats Food Truck will be joining us this year!! Raffle tickets can also be purchased for a chance to win a lap quilt. You do not need to be present to win and all proceeds will benefit the CCMG’s. For more information, contact the Charlotte County Extension Office at (434)542-5884, 133 LeGrande Ave., Charlotte Court House, VA 23923.
  4. Abingdon Garden Faire 2024 – April 19 & 20 – Higher Education Center, I-81, Exit 14, Abingdon, VA – Features a garden market place of perennials, annuals, herbs, trees, vegetables, yard art, outdoor furniture and table cloths, etc. Plus a two-day Gardening Symposium with programs about invasive species, growing the best flowers for arraigning, native plants, reclamation of abandoned mine sites and workshops for making rain barrels, creating topiary art, and unique floral designs. More details on FaceBook: Washington County VA Master Gardeners
  5. Rapidan River Master Gardener’s Plant and Garden Sale – 4/27/2024  – A variety of indoor and outdoor plants will be available for sale, as well as gardening implements. Nicholas Sigalas – Owner and Cutler at Nick’s Sharpening Service will be on site all day to sharpen anything that needs to be sharpened ! Proceeds from this event will benefit the many community projects that the RRMG supports such as pollinator gardens, school projects, library seed exchanges, working with senior citizens, county farmers markets education tents and our Carver Demonstration Garden. https://www.facebook.com/events/2553505248157607
  6. RAMGA Plant Sale 2024 – 5/11/2024 – Ruritan Barn, 1260 Valley Pike, Lexington Va – The Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners will hold their annual plant sale on Saturday May 11 from 8:30 till noon at the Ruritan Barn, 1260 Valley Pike. There’ll be a wide variety of annuals, vegetables, perennials, trees and shrubs, ready to enhance your home’s curb appeal. The event
  7. Rapidan River Master Gardener’s Plant and Garden Sale – Rapidan River Master Gardeners is having a HUGE Yard and Garden Sale with plants, garden decorations & tools. April 27th, 9am – 5pm at Carver Center 9432 N James Madison Hwy, Rapidan, VA 22733
  8. Western Tidewater EMG Spring Plant Sale – May 4th 9-1, Rain date May 11th – Blackwater Regional Library Please join the Western Tidewater Master Gardeners for our annual Spring Plant sale. May 4,9am-1pm, Rain date May 11th Blackwater Regional Library, 14362 New Town Haven Lane,Carrollton,VA 23314 We will have a variety of plants for sale. Cash or check only. will include garden-related stations for activities and information. Be there or be square. RAMGA.org
  9. Starting Natives Plants by Seeds – April 17, 2024 11 am Prince William VCE ANR – Join Zoom Meeting https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/87639804182 – Master Gardener Pat Lust from Units Goochland/Powhatan will explain how to grow native plants from seed. Some are a bit more difficult than others. She has been growing native plants from seed for her Units plant sales for several years. Come join us and learn how she does it.
  10. VMGA Spring Continuing Education – Conservation Landscaping – 5/18/2024  Via Zoom – The Science and Practical Application to Create or Restore Biodiversity in the Home Restoration Ecology of Urban Trees – Dr. David BurkeResearch chair of the Holden ArboretumConcentrating on soil ecology, His presentation examines interaction between plants and soil microorganisms, especially mutualistic and associative soil organisms, to restore critical balances in urban trees and plants. Ph.D. from Rutgers University.  Restore Biodiversity with Keystone Plants – Krista De Cooke,Innovation Project Manager for Homegrown National Park.How the homeowner can improve biodiversity that supports the birds, and the insects on which they rely. M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee; MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Haslam College of Business. Register here: https://forms.gle/gMeaDSWeYzU3c2kh7  Once registered, you will be sent a reminder with the Zoom link the week of the event.
  11. Spring Celebration and Plant Sale – 4/20/2024 – Glencarlyn Library Demonstration Garden – Honor Arbor Day, Earth Day, plants and nature at the annual Spring Celebration and Plant Sale at the Glencarlyn Library Demonstration Garden in Arlington on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activites are available for the entire family including a kids’ table, family crafts in the library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Master Gardener-led Tree Walk at 1, visits to Arlington’s oldest home the Ball-Sellers House all day, and nature-related vendors including native plants from Hill House Nursery, local vegetable and herb starts and plants propagated in the demonstration garden. Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to help you find the right plant and answer your garden-related questions.
  12. Chesapeake Master Gardener Plant Sale – 4/26/2024 8-6 pm and 4/27/2024 8-noon at Warren Farms 448 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23322 – Chesapeake – It’s Planting Time! Perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, native plants, trees, shrubs, & fruit trees. Ready to make your garden green. Expert advice available at the sale.
  13. How to Grow Beautiful Roses– 5/6/2024 – VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: How to Grow Beautiful Roses Speaker: Robert Gormley, VBMG Growing beautiful roses isn’t as difficult as most people think. This program outlines the steps to successfully growing the queen of flowers and the official flower of the United States. We also cover some problems you may encounter and how to overcome them 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 2024 as you explore our website!
  14. Nelson County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale – 05/04/2024 – Rockfish Valley Community Center – The Nelson County Master Gardeners annual Plant Sale will be held on the first Saturday in May (5/4) from 9 am to 1 pm . There will hundreds of plants available, including native perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and trees. In addition, we will be raffling off baskets of garden items and selling gently used garden equipment in our Recycled Gardener sale. Please come and check out the plants!

Old Announcements – April:

  1. #inVAsives – Film Screening: “Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species” – 4-20-24 from 2-4 PM at the Lyric Theater, Blacksburg VA. Uninvited introduces the concept of invasive species and explains how diverse partnerships and strategies can be used to prevent the spread of harmful species. Following the screening, a panel of invasive species professionals will be on hand to answer audience questions.
    1. If you’re not near Blacksburg, you can watch the film on your own here.
    2. As part of the documentary, they encourage viewers to report invasive species.  But we don’t use those reporting sites in Virginia.  Instead of using https://www.imapinvasives.org/, Virginia residents are encouraged to report using EDDMapS.org or directly with VA DCR.  Both methods linked at this page: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invsp-whatyoucando-map
  1. Suffolk EMG Plant Sale at the Earth & Arts Festival – 4/20/2024 – Downtown Suffolk
    1. Suffolk EMGs are again participating in the City’s Earth & Arts Festival, which includes the Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale. The event has moved to take over historic Downtown Suffolk on Main Street, from 10 – 4. Attendance is free, and the plant sale proceeds support VCE MG programming. EMGs will also hold a rain barrel workshop (registration/fee applies), planned native tree seedling giveaway, and children’s gardening booth. More detail, including plant list, to come in early April at https://www.suffolkmastergardener.org/plant-sale/.
  1. Annual Spring Garden Fest! GPMGA – 4/27/2024 – Reynolds Community College – Goochland Campus – Annual Spring Garden Fest! Saturday, April 27, 2024 https://www.gpmga.org/sgf 8 am to 3 pm Reynolds Community College 1851 Dickinson Road Goochland, VA A FREE, family friendly event that is a celebration of all things related to gardening so stop by to see: The GPMGA Plant Sale – a wide variety of plants at great prices! Ask the Master Gardener booth – free gardening help and advice Gardening vendor booths – lots of fun items to delight gardeners

Old Announcements May:

  1. HCMGA 22nd Annual Festival of Gardening – 5/4/2024 On the lawn outside city auditorium at Glass H.S. – Plants to satisfy vegetable gardeners, native plant enthusiasts, annuals, tropicals, houseplants, and more will be available at the 22nd annual Festival of Gardening sponsored by the Hill City Master Gardener Association on Saturday, May 4, on the grounds at E. C. Glass High School. Rain or shine, Master Gardeners will offer plants for sale from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  2. Submit a digital brag board for College 2024! Showcase your unit’s amazing projects by creating a short presentation for us to play at virtual EMGC: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwXmuS-69_asJVdSc_noWb2xRVAfv2QcmrGHvZUuMX29kqHA/viewform?usp=sf_link
    1. Save the date! Master Gardener College (EMGC) 2024 will be held virtually June 5-9.
  1. Heart of Virginia Lunch & Learn Series Prince Edward Extension Office, 100 Dominion Dr., Farmville, VA
    1. 4/4/24 – 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session on Saving & Starting Seeds
    2. 5/4/24 – 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session on Rain Barrels
    3. 6/6/2024 – 12 – 1 pm  All about African violets with Jill Fischer.
    4. 6/29/2024 11 am – 12 pm  Water Gardens for everyone!
    5. 8/1/24 – 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session on Lawn Renovation
    6. 10/3/24 – 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session on Mushrooms