Biweekly Update – September 5, 2024

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New Announcements  

  1. Welcome Grace Stern, new State Coordinator for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program!
  2. Webinar Series
    • September 24, 2:00PM | Tree Pruning Seminar | Jim McGlone Registration Link
    • In your basic training you learned how to prune trees and shrubs. Although some of the ways we prune different types of plants seem contradictory, these methods are all based on manipulating the plants’ biology. This class will cover how the evolution and biology of woody plants drives the ways we prune woody plants. Knowing the why may make it easier to remember the how. The focus of the class will be on dicot trees.
    • About presenter: Jim McGlone is retired from the Virginia Department of Forestry, where he served 17 years as an Urban Forest Conservationist in Northern Virginia. He is an ISA certified arborist and has the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. Since retirement he has focused on the environmental education portion of his old job, which he loves and has been told he is pretty good at. He is the primary author of the forthcoming 5th edition of the Trees Virginia Tree Steward Training Manual. He teaches classes to Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and Tree Stewards and speaks to the public on arboriculture, forestry, forest ecology, climate change, and conservation landscaping. He and his wife have been practicing conservation landscaping around their suburban home since 2004. As with all the webinars in the EMG CE Webinar Series, this webinar will be recorded and posted at: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/webinar-archive/ 
  1. New River Valley Master Gardeners Hydroponics Workshop | 9/14/2024 | Blacksburg Community Center, Community Room, 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg, VA
    • Hydroponics presented by: Challen Waller and Aurora Wood, Innovative Agriculture Club of Virginia Tech Learn about hydroponic growing and leave the workshop with your very own Kratky Hydroponic System Saturday, September 14th 10:30am – noon Cost: FREE for Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Interns (thanks to the generosity of the NRVMGA) Guests: $10 per person, for materials Students: $5 per person, for materials Cash or Check payable to: NRVMGA, at the door, day of workshop Space is limited to 30 participants. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/hydroworkshop2024
  2. New River Valley Master Gardeners For the Love of Foraging | 10/5/2024 | Blacksburg Community Center, Community Room, 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg, VA
    • For the Love of Foraging with Em. Learn about foraging wild foods throughout the entire year. Saturday, October 5th 11:00am – 12:30pm Register here: tinyurl.com/foragingwithEm

Old September Announcements

  1. Tree-mendous Adventures: A Family Day of Tree Education and Fun! Saturday, September 7, 2024; 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd NW, Leesburg, VA
    • Join the VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners for a family friendly day of tree-mendous fun – no registration required!  Celebrate Grandparents Day all weekend by bringing the whole family to Rust Library on Saturday, September 7. Discover the amazing benefits trees provide to our planet and our lives through engaging education presentations tailored for kids
  2. Prince William Master Gardeners’ Fall Plant Sale: Join the Prince William Master Gardeners for their Fall Plant Sale, featuring many native plants. September 7, 2024 from 9am -noon.  Cash or Checks only! More Information on our website: https://mgpw.org/plant-sales/
  3. Virginia Beach Master Gardeners Present Gardening Talks:
    • Join us on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on:  Creating Winter Interest in the Garden
      • Speaker: Heather Gargano, VBMG; Adjunct Professor, TCC Horticulture; Landscape Designer, Garden Girl Designz: Winter gardens don’t have to be drab and lifeless – especially in Tidewater. Heather will present techniques and “out of the box” ideas for spicing up the landscape and creating a garden that entices you to venture out – even in the cold.
    • 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! 
  1. Louisa Extension Master Gardeners’ Backyard Gardening Seminars:
    • Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon –Tomatoes – Saving, storing and starting from seeds
    • Saturday, October 5, 2024, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Cold Planting and Winter Sowing
    • Saturday, October 19, 2024, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Greenhouse Basics – How to set up and utilize a greenhouse for beginners
    • Location for all BYG: Louisa County Public Library, 881 Davis Highway, Mineral, Virginia.  Contact: LouisaMG@gmail.com
  2. Gloucester Master Gardeners 22nd Annual Plant Extravaganza Location: Gloucester Moose Lodge, 6565 Moose Drive, Gloucester, VA 23061. Dates and Times: Friday, September 13th, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 14th, 8:00 a.m. to noon. Ample free parking available. 
    • Please join us for our annual plant sale featuring native plants, perennials, trees, shrubs, herbs, house plants, gently used garden tools and more! Proceeds support the Gloucester Extension Master Gardeners Scholarship Fund. Gloucester Ruritan Club will be on site Friday selling hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and soda.
  3. VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Put That Tree in the Right Place! The Master Naturalist Program Director has invited Extension Master Gardeners to participate in their next CE Webinar: Sept 16, 12:00pm  Pre-registration required 
    • Description: Trees provide so many benefits and services to us, to our communities and to the environment.  Join Dr. Laurie Fox, Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech, for an overview of how to assess a site and select the right tree to fit the growing conditions and the owner’s goals.
    • About presenter: Laurie Fox is a Horticulture Associate with Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center (AREC) in Virginia Beach. Her Ph.D. research focused on phytoremediation, or cleaning the environment with plants. Her current work includes stormwater & nutrient management in the landscape, urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) including floating treatment wetlands, aquatic weed ID & management in ponds, sustainable landscapes, sustainable landscape design & practices, native plants, buffer zones, and rain gardens.
    • Our webinars and trainings related to urban forestry are supported by an Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the USDA Forest Service, administered by our sponsoring agency, the Virginia Department of Forestry.
  1. Louisa Extension Master Gardeners’ Bracketts Farm Charitable Garden: Fall/Winter Gardening & Garlic Planting: Mini Course on Cool Weather Vegetable Gardening & Volunteer Social (This is a hands-on event.)

Old October Announcements

  1. Fall Leadership Development Training (Updated schedule): In-person Leadership Development Training returns this October. We will have meetings in each district; however, Agents, Coordinators and EMG volunteers may go to any meeting location. Currently, we have the following locations and dates set-up: 10/2 – Pulaski; 10/9 – Bedford; 10/16 – Henrico; 10/23 – Culpepper; 10/30 – Airfield 4H Center.  Each session is scheduled from 10-3.
    • Our tentative topics include a recorded State Office update, Communications Topics for units/associations, Unit Support offered by the VMGA, the Accessibility and Connection Report (2021) and Project Management including project proposal, evaluation and approval. 
    • Each session will include a working lunch with Lightning Sessions by units on local projects. We are working on finalizing details and getting the DestinyOne registration site set-up, so be on the lookout for complete details in early September. 
  1. Heart of Virginia Lunch & Learn Series Prince Edward Extension Office, 100 Dominion Dr., Farmville, VA
  • 10/3/24 – 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session on Mushrooms
  • 11/21/24 12-1 pm Bring your lunch and join us for a session of fun holiday decoration make and take with Prince Edward Extension Agent, Erin Small.  The class is limited in size and registration is required. Call to register 434-392-4246.
  1. 2024 PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PUMPKIN CONTEST Prince George Farmers Market Join the Prince George Master Gardeners for our 2024 Pumpkin Contest on October 26, 2024.

Old November Announcements

  1. VMGA November Educational Event: SAVE THE DATE!  November 9th
    • This event will feature a lineup of expert speakers, each bringing a wealth of knowledge in their respective fields:
      •                                      Janet Davis of Hill House Nursery will delve into the Propagation of Woody Plants, with a special focus on native species. Janet’s expertise in nurturing and multiplying these essential plants will provide valuable insights for anyone interested in expanding their garden or landscape.
      •                                      Matt Bright from Earth Sangha will speak on the importance of Keystone Plants and Plant Communities. Keystone plants play a critical role in supporting local ecosystems, and Matt will guide us in understanding which species are vital for the health and biodiversity of our natural surroundings as well as how you create Plant Communities with them.
      •                                      Pat Lust, Professor Emerita from Longwood University, will share her extensive knowledge on Seed Propagation. Pat’s session will cover the fundamentals of starting plants from seed, offering both practical tips and a deeper understanding of the science behind successful propagation.
    • Following the morning lectures, participants will have the opportunity to visit Hill House Nursery, located just 15-20 minutes from the Fire House. This field trip will allow attendees to see many of the propagation techniques discussed during the lectures in action and explore the nursery’s diverse collection of plants. (We will carpool to and from the nursery). This event promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning your journey in horticulture. Don’t miss this chance to learn from some of the best in the field and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Mark your calendars for November 9th, and join us for a day of education, inspiration, and community!

 

Posted in biweekly update.

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