Monthly Archives: August 2025

Biweekly Update – August 21

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New Announcements

  • State Office Webinar Series All webinars are recorded and posted in the webinar archive
  • Backyard Gardening Kids – Louisa Extension Master Gardeners – Join the Louisa Master Gardeners anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6th at the Mineral Farmers Market for our final 2025 Backyard Gardening for Kids event! This fun, hands-on activity will teach children how to create their own birdseed feeders — and they’ll get to take them home to hang up and attract birds to their yard or patio. No fee and no need to RSVP — just come and join the fun! We hope to see you there! https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ayu6hB8M9/
  • Bracketts Charitable Garden: Fall/Winter Gardening & Garlic Planting Workshop Join the Louisa Master Gardeners at the Bracketts Farm Charitable Garden for a hands-on, educational morning in the garden! Date: October 6, 2025  Time:  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Location: Bracketts Farm Charitable Garden 1117 Bracketts Farm Road, Louisa, VA  Fall & Winter Vegetable Gardening – We will discuss how to grow cold-hardy veggies, improve soil, use companion planting, and extend your growing season.
    • Garlic Planting Workshop – Get step-by-step guidance on planting garlic—from clove prep to overwintering techniques for a robust harvest.
    • Sweet Potato Harvest & Tips – Help harvest sweet potatoes for donation and learn how to grow your own slips at home!Volunteer Appreciation Social – Enjoy baked goods and refreshments as a thank-you for your hard work! The workshop is open to the public – all experience levels are welcome.  Tools and materials provided. Please bring gloves, water, and a hat
    • RSVP Residents: Email us at lemggivinggarden@gmail.com Louisa Master Gardeners: Sign up on Better Impact Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EpziiTxr9/
  • Optimizing Vegetable Gardens with Soil and Water Management – Continuing Education Event In-person by VMGA Education Committee Register and information at https://vmga.net – More information here.
  • Notable Trees of Virginia Beach – Zoom – VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on:  Notable Trees of Virginia Beach:  Take a tour of the remarkable trees in Virginia Beach with the Founder of the Virginia Beach Notable Tree Program.  See the magnificent trees in our area and learn what makes each of them “notable”, and sometimes even a Champion Tree! Go to VBMG.org and click on the Zoom link!  Check out upcoming Gardening Talks for 2025 as you explore our website! 

Old September Announcements

  • The Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners‘ invite you to join us 9/4 at noon at the Prince Edward Extension Office for informative Lunch & Learn sessions:
    • Lawn Renovation – 9/4
  • Join the James City County Master Gardeners for a guided tour of Lewis-Ginter Gardens, a picnic lunch in Byrd Park and a stroll through Maymont Gardens, conveniently transported by bus departing and returning to Williamsburg on Sept 11. Learn more and register here.
  • Newport News Extension Master Gardeners 2025 Fall Plant Sale – September 13, 2025 – Brittingham-Midtown Community Center 570 McLawhorne Drive Newport News, Virginia | Our fall plant sale features native shrubs and trees, native plants (plugs and pots) as well as houseplants, ornamentals, perennials, herbs, veggie plants, and a few surprises, too. All plant sales benefit our Horticulture Grants for Newport News Public & Private Schools & other Master Gardener Programming. Our Master Gardener Help Desk will be on site to answer your horticulture questions. For details visit our website: http://nnmastergardeners.org/
  • Louisa – Mineral Farmer’s Market 2025 Backyard Gardening for Kids: Hands-on gardening sessions for kids held at the Mineral Farmers Market on the following Saturdays from 8:00am – 12pm.  No cost to attend.   https://www.louisacvmg.org/events-calendar
    • Sept 14 – Bird seed Feeders 

Old Announcements

  • Allium leafminer – Participate in a citizen science project to monitor the spread of this new pest of alliums!
  • NICH Infographics – A great advocacy resource if you need to explain the value of plants in different settings!

Biweekly Update – August 6

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New Announcements

  1. State Office Webinar Series All webinars are recorded and posted in the webinar archive
  2. Submit your fall plant sale information! Last spring we compiled a list of spring plant sales; we are doing the same for fall plant sales. If your unit is planning a fall plant sale, submit it to be included on our list. Submit here.
  3. Join the James City County Master Gardeners for a guided tour of Lewis-Ginter Gardens, a picnic lunch in Byrd Park and a stroll through Maymont Gardens, conveniently transported by bus departing and returning to Williamsburg on Sept 11. Learn more and register here.
  4. VMGA Fall Event – Join Virginia Master Gardeners for an In-Person Continuing Education Opportunity offered by Virginia Master Gardeners Association, Education Committee. Flyer here.
    • When: Saturday September 20, 2025 9:30am-3pm
    • Where: Wilder Bldg. 20901 Carter Woodson Ave. VSU
    • Registration Fee (Lunch included): VMGA Members: $20.; Non-VMGA Member $25. Registration at https://vmga.net/education-event-saturday-may-182024/(Please note: Virginia Extension Master Gardeners are not automatically members of VMGA. Go to https://vmga.net for information on the advantages of becoming members of VMGA and https://vmga.net/# to join VMGA).
    • Our Speakers are Dr. Leonard Githinji Topic: Soil and Water Management in Vegetable Gardens. He leads the Sustainable and Urban Agriculture program at VSU, and was appointed as a state program leader for agriculture with Virginia Cooperative Extension.Dr. John Hoben Topic: Soil Fertility and Water Quality. John is a Research Scientist with the Stewart Lab of the Environmental Soil Science Research Groups.  He trains the groups in soil fertility, water quality, and protein biochemistry.  John’s research interests include bioremediation of soil and water and focusing on how microbial communities transform nutrients.
    • Field Trip Options: Randolph Farm (just 1.7miles from Wilder Bldg.) OR Learn about overhead watering drip irrigation techniques with hands on demonstration.

Old August Announcements

  • Cut Flower Workshop at The Carver Center with Rapidan River Master Gardeners – Grow and Design with Cut Flowers – Join us for an immersive and hands-on cut flower workshop and take home a beautiful floral design that you created!  Register here.

    Old September Announcements

    • The Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners‘ invite you to join us 9/4 at noon at the Prince Edward Extension Office for informative Lunch & Learn sessions:
      • Lawn Renovation – 9/4
    • Newport News Extension Master Gardeners 2025 Fall Plant Sale – September 13, 2025 – Brittingham-Midtown Community Center 570 McLawhorne Drive Newport News, Virginia | Our fall plant sale features native shrubs and trees, native plants (plugs and pots) as well as houseplants, ornamentals, perennials, herbs, veggie plants, and a few surprises, too. All plant sales benefit our Horticulture Grants for Newport News Public & Private Schools & other Master Gardener Programming. Our Master Gardener Help Desk will be on site to answer your horticulture questions. For details visit our website: http://nnmastergardeners.org/
    • Louisa – Mineral Farmer’s Market 2025 Backyard Gardening for Kids: Hands-on gardening sessions for kids held at the Mineral Farmers Market on the following Saturdays from 8:00am – 12pm.  No cost to attend.   Events calendar
      • Sept 14 – Bird seed Feeders