Author Archive: EMG Communications

Bi-weekly Update – February 7, 2023

Posted on by

New Announcements

  1. A New Look for Extension Master Gardeners!
  • We are excited to introduce our new Extension Master Gardener program logo! This new logo is the result of a multi-program process in Virginia Cooperative Extension aimed at developing new, more modern logos for all of our Master Volunteer programs that help tie our programs together and tie them back to VCE as our supporting agency. The consulting firm that developed the new logo gathered feedback at several stages from EMG volunteers and other program stakeholders, and we are happy with the results. This more streamlined logo will be much easier to use in a consistent way on a variety of media. VCE has provided us with guidelines for use and additional resources (including customized logos for each unit) available here: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/2023-logo/. Your unit EMG Coordinator/Extension Agent will receive additional details about the logo this week. 

2.              Virginia Farm to School Regional Network Meetings

  • The VDOE-SNP and VCE will host Virginia Farm to School Regional Network meetings immediately following the Bringing the Farm to School Workshops. These meetings are an opportunity to gather all farm to school stakeholders throughout the region to network and discuss goals, activities, and upcoming priorities for the year. Regions are based on the Virginia Superintendent Regions. Meetings are free to attend and open to the public. Registration must be completed via the online registration form (virginiadoe.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_01iXPdIhhAIz1hI).
  • Meeting dates are as follows:

·       Regions 5 and 8: Friday, February 17, 2023, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Miller Center in Lynchburg, Virginia

·       Regions 6 and 7: Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Housing Center in Wytheville, Virginia

·       Regions 3 and 4: Friday, February 24, 2023, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Culpeper Baptist Church in Culpeper, Virginia

·       Regions 1 and 2: Thursday, March 2, 2023, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at The Smithfield Center in Smithfield, Virginia

 

3.              PCMG Spring Symposium – March 11, 2023 – Patrick County Community Center

  • PBS naturalist Patrick McMillan will deliver two presentations – Underutilized Native Plants and Gardening for the Senses — at the Patrick County Master Gardeners Spring Symposium on March 11 at the Patrick County Community Center, just off Route 58 in Stuart, VA. Admission is $10, including mid-morning refreshments. Doors will open at 8:15 a.m. with the program beginning at 9 and running through noon. Early registration is recommended in light of the popularity of the speaker and the limited capacity of the auditorium. Pre-registration forms will be available at various venues in Stuart, as well as on the PCMG Facebook page or by contacting PCMG volunteer Glenda Cobbler at 932 Palmetto School Road, Stuart, VA 24171.

4.              Piedmont Master Gardeners Announce Online Spring Lecture Series – March 2, 9, 16, 30

  • “Gardening for a Healthy Planet” will be the theme of the Piedmont Master Gardeners’ 2023 Spring Lecture Series, to be presented online from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on four Thursdays in March. Admission is $10 for each lecture. To register for the webinars, visit piedmontmastergardeners.org/events/. The schedule includes:
  • March 2—Michael Carter Jr., Africulture and Unique Organic Vegetables You’ll Want in Your Home Garden. Michael Carter Jr. will highlight the many contributions the African continent and people of African descent have made to farming and food traditions in the United States. He will also introduce some of the unique plants he grows organically at his family’s certified Virginia Century Farm in Orange County. Carter is the fifth generation of his family to farm this property and is managing director of Carter Farms and Africulture, a nonprofit focused on educating the public about the principles, practices, plants, and people of African descent that have contributed to U.S. agriculture.
  • March 9—Bob Schamerhorn, Attracting Birds and Other Wildlife to Your Garden with Easy-to-Create Water Features. Bob Schamerhorn’s multimedia presentation will demonstrate water’s powerful attraction to birds and other wildlife in every season and will suggest ways to enhance our enjoyment of nature by bringing water into our backyards. Based in Richmond, Schamerhorn is an award-winning nature photographer and a lifelong bird and nature enthusiast. His work has appeared in numerous exhibitions and publications, including Virginia Wildlife and Audubon, the National Audubon Society’s magazine.
  • March 16—Kim Eierman, Designing a Pollinator Victory Garden for a Changing Climate. Kim Eierman, an ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants, will cover the dramatic decline of pollinators due to factors that include climate change and will offer simple strategies gardeners can use to support bees and an array of other pollinator species. Based in Westchester County, New York, Eierman is author of The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline withEcological Gardening. She teaches at the New York Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, among other places.
  • March 30—Elisa Meara and Alex Thompson, Attractive, Functional, Sustainable Solutions to Managing Stormwater Runoff in the Home Yard and Garden. Landscape designers Elisa Meara and Alex Thompson will show how smart planting and attractive rain gardens can reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants that threaten rivers and streams feeding the Chesapeake Bay. A graduate of London’s Inchbald School of Design, Meara hails from the Dominican Republic and is owner of the Native Plant Landscape Design Corp. in Falls Church. Thompson grew up in the English countryside and holds a master’s degree in landscape design from The George Washington University. She strives to create “outdoor rooms that people and nature can love.”

5.              Grow the Good Life 2023 – March 11, 2023 – Moneta, VA and Zoom

  • The Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association offers its annual Grow The Good Life. Three presentations provide instruction and advice on how to get more out of your garden space without increasing the size of your garden. Grow the Good Life 2023 will take place on March 11, by Zoom and in person, from 9am – 3pm. The in person location is Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 13586 Old Moneta Road, Moneta, VA. Attendance fee: $25 for Zoom attendance $35 for in person attendance (includes lunch). Register in advance with the Sign Up form found on the website: www.bedfordareamastergardeners.org

6.              Disease Alert: Vascular streak dieback on trees and woody ornamentals

7.              HOPE from the Garden – In Harmony with Mother Nature – March 1, 2023 – Webinar

  • Mid-Winter Advanced Education Webinar. Sponsored by Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners Association and VMGA. HOPE from the Garden – In Harmony with Mother Nature. March 1, 2022, 9:30am – 1:00pm, via Zoom. David Close, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, VA Tech- “Trees Are the Answer’. Beth Mizell, Executive Director of Blue Ridge PRISM – “Native Alternatives for Invasive Plants in Your Landscape”. Ross Braun, former USDA Soil Conservationist – “Soil Science is not Rocket Science”. This seminar is open to all VA EMG volunteers. Register for this event at this link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qGDYOVlkShmHbRPQVjDLHQ 

 

8.              Spring Pruning – March 6, 2023 7:00 PM – Virtual Meeting/Zoom

  • VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Spring Pruning: Presented by Jason Heizer of Bartlett Tree. We often think of winter as the proper time to prune, but spring flowering shrubs and trees require a different schedule to preserve their flower buds. Jason will talk techniques and timing for pruning a variety of flowering trees and shrubs. 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 2023 as you explore our website!

9.              Share Your VCE Master Gardener College Tips

  • Have you attended VCE’s Master Gardener College in Blacksburg? If so, VMGA would like your advice! What did you bring with you that was vital to staying in an on-campus residence hall? If you stayed at a hotel, what tips do you have for getting to and around campus and getting meals? What did you do in your downtime? Share any tips you have to help other conference attendees have the best experience. VMGA is writing a series of articles and a one-page tips sheet. Please visit https://bit.ly/EMGCtips to share your information or email treasurer@VMGA.net.

 

10.           VA Community Engagement Index Survey

  • The Virginia Community Engagement Index is an opportunity to take part in an exciting research study being conducted here in Virginia. As its name implies, this survey will ask you to consider the various ways you engage and contribute to your community — from checking in on a neighbor to volunteering and donating to causes you care about. You will also be asked to consider the challenges we face and how best to meet those challenges through greater levels of civic and community engagement. In short, your insights will be critical to helping leaders in Virginia develop more opportunities for people to give back and strengthen our communities together! This survey is being conducted on behalf of the Virginia Service Commission and will take no longer than 15 minutes of your time. All responses you give will remain confidential. No reporting associated with the results will contain personally identifiable information, and all findings will be reported in aggregate. SURVEY LINK: https://sirresearch.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8xqwTJprXcxGVbE?org=vsc 

 

11.           Register Now! Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners 2023 EcoSavvy Symposium, “Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening: Good for You, Good for Our World” – March 4th, 2023, 10:00AM-12:00PM – Live Zoom Event (A recording will be available to all registered participants for post-event viewing)

  • Come explore the healing powers of gardening and make the world a better place for you and your loved ones with experts hosted by the Green Spring Master Gardeners: Kathleen Wellington, LPC, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, will share the cultural and scientific evidence that gardening restores our physical, mental and spiritual health. Laurie Fox, PhD, Horticulture Associate, Virginia Tech, will then show us how to put this power into practice with gardening techniques to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. Registration closes on Friday, March 3, 2023. To register, visit bit.ly/register-ecosavvy23 or call 703-642-5173. Cost (updated): $24 in county / $27 out of count. Code: GRF.K8L9 (virtual). A recording will be available to all registered participants for post-event viewing. Participants are eligible to earn up to 2 Landscape Industry Certified continuing education units (CEUs) from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

 

Old February Announcements

12. 5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium – Saturday, February 11,

2023 – Verizon Auditorium George Mason University

 

Old March Announcements

13. Gardening in the Valley Symposium – March 11, 2023 – Shenandoah University, Winchester

  • Save the date for the Gardening in the Valley Symposium. The symposium will be held at Shenandoah University, Henkel Hall. Check our website for more information. Topics this year include, The Ecology of the Garden, The Journey from the Vineyard to the Tasting Room, Intentional Garden Design, The Best Flowers for the Best Life and Fungi of Appalachia and Home-Grown Mushrooms. Cost will be $65 per person and proceeds go to our NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium

 

14. In Your Own Backyard: 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar – Saturday, March 25, 2023 – White Stone, VA

  • The Northern Neck Master Gardeners (NNMG) have announced the date and theme for the 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar (GNN). The theme of the 2023 seminar is “In Your Own Backyard.” Gardening in the Northern Neck will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, 57 Whisk Drive in White Stone. This will be the 29th Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar. Speakers will be Heather Holm, a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author; Barbara Pleasant, an avid gardener and award winning author; and Edward Olsen, Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture agent for Henrico County. The fee for the seminar is $50. Lunches will be available for an additional fee. Additional information is available at nnmg.org/gnn/. Registration forms will be available on February 1, 2023, at www.nnmg.org/gnn.

 

Old April Announcements

15. MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405.

  • The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html

 

Old June Announcements

16. International Master Gardener Conference 2023 – June 18 – 22, 2023

  • Registration is open for the 2023 International Master Gardener Conference in Kansas this June. Early registration of $397 runs through March 1. It includes 5 keynote speaker presentations, 8 rounds of concurrent sessions, a trade show and 6 meals. If you enjoyed our 2021 virtual conference in Virginia, you’re sure to love the opportunities that are available during this in person conference! Learn more at www.imgc2023.com.

 

17. Save the Date! MG College 2023: June 8 – 11, 2023

  • Save the date for Master Gardener College 2023! MG College will take place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg from June 8 – 11. Tree Steward training will begin the day before on June 7th. More information about sessions, tours, and speakers will be announced through our Master Gardener College In Season in the coming months. We look forward to seeing many of you in June!

 

Biweekly Update – January 23, 2023

Posted on by

New Announcements

  1. MEET THE NEW DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
  • Dr. Mike Gutter joined Virginia Cooperative Extension on November 1, 2022 as the new director and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. With the understanding that Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) brings science-backed information to everyone they can reach within the commonwealth, Dr. Gutter wants VCE to continue to ask “How can we help?” Join us on January 25th to hear Dr. Gutter discusses his vision for Virginia Cooperative Extension to become the go-to partner for community-engaged work, technology transfer, workforce development, rural community social issues and much more. Register for this Zoom session at: https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/meetvcedirector 
  1. Indoor Plant Clinic – Saturday Feb 4, 2023 – Bowman Library, Frederick County
  • The Northern Shenandoah Valley Ext Master Gardeners will have a clinic on Saturday Feb. 4 at Bowman Library. There will be speakers on plant propagation and a kids table. The MGs will have free house plants that you can pot up and take home. Information will be available on what kind of plants are appropriate for the indoors and how to maintain them when you take them home. The event is free and no registration is required.
  1. Seed Swap Date Change – Saturday February 4, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street, Louisa, VA
  • The Louisa Extension Master gardeners have a date Change for their Seed Swap. The date is now February 4, 2023 with an inclement weather date of February 11, 2023.
  1. Save the Date! Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners 2023 EcoSavvy Symposium, “Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening: Good for You, Good for Our World” – March 4, 2023 – Live Zoom Event
  • The VCE Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners invite you to their 19th annual EcoSavvy Symposium, “Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening: Good for You, Good for Our World” on Saturday, March 4th, 2023 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM via live Zoom streaming. Come spend two hours with us learning from Kathleen Wellington, LPC, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, how gardening affects your physical, mental and spiritual health and from Laurie Fox, PhD, how to apply sustainable gardening techniques using plants to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. Registration opens on January 31. Call 703-642-5173 to register or register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. The registration code is: “GRF.K8L9 (virtual)”. Cost is $25 for Fairfax County residents and $27 for out of county residents.
  1. Indoor Plant Clinic – February 4, 2023 – Bowman Library, Frederick County
  • The NSVMGA EMGs will have a free Indoor Plant Clinic. We will have 3 speakers and topics include Plant Propagation, Topiary and Orchid care. Speakers start at 11 am and continue every 45 minutes. Attendees will be able to plant a division, rooting or cutting from house plants and take them home. www.nsvmga.org/events 
  1. Register Now for the Green Spring EcoSavvy Symposium – March 4, 2023 – Live Zoom Event
  • The 19th Annual EcoSavvy Symposium, Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening, Good for you, good for our world. Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM – Live Zoom Event. The Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners invite you to join them for two fascinating presentations exploring the healing power of gardening upon our physical, mental and health and the restorative power of sustainable gardening upon all of us and our world. Kathleen Wellington, LPC, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional will introduce us to the cultural and scientific history of how gardening affects your physical, mental and spiritual health. Laurie Fox, PhD, Horticulture Associate, Virginia Tech then will illustrate sustainable gardening techniques using plants to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. Presented by: VCE Green Spring Master Gardeners. Registration 703-642-5173 or online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Cost: $25 in county/$27 out of county. Code: GRF.K8L9 (virtual)
  1. Gardening in the Valley Symposium – March 11, 2023 – Shenandoah University, Winchester
  • Save the date for the Gardening in the Valley Symposium. The symposium will be held at Shenandoah University, Henkel Hall. Check our website for more information. Topics this year include, The Ecology of the Garden, The Journey from the Vineyard to the Tasting Room, Intentional Garden Design, The Best Flowers for the Best Life and Fungi of Appalachia and Home-Grown Mushrooms. Cost will be $65 per person and proceeds go to our NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium 
  1. International Master Gardener Conference 2023 – June 18-22, 2023
  • Registration is open for the 2023 International Master Gardener Conference in Kansas this June. Early registration of $397 runs through March 1. It includes 5 keynote speaker presentations, 8 rounds of concurrent sessions, a trade show and 6 meals. If you enjoyed our 2021 virtual conference in Virginia, you’re sure to love the opportunities that are available during this in person conference! Learn more at www.imgc2023.com. 

Old January Announcements

9.             NSVMGA Seed Exchange at Blandy Farm – January 28, 2023 – Virginia State Arboretum, Clarke County

  • Annual Northern Shenandoah Valley VCE Master Gardeners will have their annual free seed exchange at Blandy Farm in Clarke County on Saturday, Jan. 28.  It is free admission and free parking at Blandy to get your choice of flower, vegetable, shrub and tree seeds.  Doors will open at 10 and the event runs until 2 pm. There will be a book and magazine swap.  Bring your extra seeds to share. Please check the Blandy website to make sure you are not bringing any invasive seeds. MG website is nsvmga.org for more information.

10.          Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA. 

  • Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

 

Old February Announcements

13.          Louisa EMG Seed Swap – Feb 4, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093 

  • Chase Away Those Winter Blues by Collecting Seeds and Starting Plans for Your Spring Garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardeners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
    Please join us to beat those Winter Blues!     Read more here.

14.          IMGC 2023 Search for Excellence Open – Deadline February 6, 2023

15.          Shade Gardening – February 6, 2023, 7-8 pm – Zoom program

  • VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Shade Gardening:  Presented by Stacie McGraw, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener, Explore the differences between full and part shade gardens, as well as dry and moist shade.  Plant selection for each will be discussed, along with how to sneak in spring color and year-round interest.  We’ll also look at the adaptations that allow shade plants to thrive in low light conditions: 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 2023 as you explore our website!

16.          5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium – Saturday, February 11, 2023 – Verizon Auditorium George Mason University

 

Old March Announcements

16.          In Your Own Backyard: 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar – Saturday, March 25, 2023 – White Stone, VA

  • The Northern Neck Master Gardeners (NNMG) have announced the date and theme for the 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar (GNN). The theme of the 2023 seminar is “In Your Own Backyard.” Gardening in the Northern Neck will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, 57 Whisk Drive in White Stone. This will be the 29th Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar. Speakers will be Heather Holm, a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author; Barbara Pleasant, an avid gardener and award winning author; and Edward Olsen, Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture agent for Henrico County. The fee for the seminar is $50. Lunches will be available for an additional fee. Additional information is available at nnmg.org/gnn/. Registration forms will be available on February 1, 2023, at www.nnmg.org/gnn.

 

Old April Announcements

17.          MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405. 

  • The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html 

Old Announcements

18.          Save the Date! MG College 2023

  • Save the date for Master Gardener College 2023! MG College will take place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg from June 8 – 11. Tree Steward training will begin the day before on June 7th. More information about sessions, tours, and speakers will be announced through our Master Gardener College In Season in the coming months. We look forward to seeing many of you in June!

 

Biweekly Update – January 23, 2023

Posted on by

New Announcements

  1. MEET THE NEW DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
  • Dr. Mike Gutter joined Virginia Cooperative Extension on November 1, 2022 as the new director and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. With the understanding that Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) brings science-backed information to everyone they can reach within the commonwealth, Dr. Gutter wants VCE to continue to ask “How can we help?” Join us on January 25th to hear Dr. Gutter discusses his vision for Virginia Cooperative Extension to become the go-to partner for community-engaged work, technology transfer, workforce development, rural community social issues and much more. Register for this Zoom session at: https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/meetvcedirector 
  1. Indoor Plant Clinic – Saturday Feb 4, 2023 – Bowman Library, Frederick County
  • The Northern Shenandoah Valley Ext Master Gardeners will have a clinic on Saturday Feb. 4 at Bowman Library. There will be speakers on plant propagation and a kids table. The MGs will have free house plants that you can pot up and take home. Information will be available on what kind of plants are appropriate for the indoors and how to maintain them when you take them home. The event is free and no registration is required.
  1. Seed Swap Date Change – Saturday February 4, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street, Louisa, VA
  • The Louisa Extension Master gardeners have a date Change for their Seed Swap. The date is now February 4, 2023 with an inclement weather date of February 11, 2023.
  1. Save the Date! Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners 2023 EcoSavvy Symposium, “Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening: Good for You, Good for Our World” – March 4, 2023 – Live Zoom Event
  • The VCE Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners invite you to their 19th annual EcoSavvy Symposium, “Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening: Good for You, Good for Our World” on Saturday, March 4th, 2023 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM via live Zoom streaming. Come spend two hours with us learning from Kathleen Wellington, LPC, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, how gardening affects your physical, mental and spiritual health and from Laurie Fox, PhD, how to apply sustainable gardening techniques using plants to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. Registration opens on January 31. Call 703-642-5173 to register or register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. The registration code is: “GRF.K8L9 (virtual)”. Cost is $25 for Fairfax County residents and $27 for out of county residents.
  1. Indoor Plant Clinic – February 4, 2023 – Bowman Library, Frederick County
  • The NSVMGA EMGs will have a free Indoor Plant Clinic. We will have 3 speakers and topics include Plant Propagation, Topiary and Orchid care. Speakers start at 11 am and continue every 45 minutes. Attendees will be able to plant a division, rooting or cutting from house plants and take them home. www.nsvmga.org/events 
  1. Register Now for the Green Spring EcoSavvy Symposium – March 4, 2023 – Live Zoom Event
  • The 19th Annual EcoSavvy Symposium, Feel-Good EcoSavvy Gardening, Good for you, good for our world. Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM – Live Zoom Event. The Green Spring Extension Master Gardeners invite you to join them for two fascinating presentations exploring the healing power of gardening upon our physical, mental and health and the restorative power of sustainable gardening upon all of us and our world. Kathleen Wellington, LPC, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional will introduce us to the cultural and scientific history of how gardening affects your physical, mental and spiritual health. Laurie Fox, PhD, Horticulture Associate, Virginia Tech then will illustrate sustainable gardening techniques using plants to reclaim contaminated soil and groundwater. Presented by: VCE Green Spring Master Gardeners. Registration 703-642-5173 or online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes. Cost: $25 in county/$27 out of county. Code: GRF.K8L9 (virtual)
  1. Gardening in the Valley Symposium – March 11, 2023 – Shenandoah University, Winchester
  • Save the date for the Gardening in the Valley Symposium. The symposium will be held at Shenandoah University, Henkel Hall. Check our website for more information. Topics this year include, The Ecology of the Garden, The Journey from the Vineyard to the Tasting Room, Intentional Garden Design, The Best Flowers for the Best Life and Fungi of Appalachia and Home-Grown Mushrooms. Cost will be $65 per person and proceeds go to our NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium www.nsvmga.org/events/symposium 
  1. International Master Gardener Conference 2023 – June 18-22, 2023
  • Registration is open for the 2023 International Master Gardener Conference in Kansas this June. Early registration of $397 runs through March 1. It includes 5 keynote speaker presentations, 8 rounds of concurrent sessions, a trade show and 6 meals. If you enjoyed our 2021 virtual conference in Virginia, you’re sure to love the opportunities that are available during this in person conference! Learn more at www.imgc2023.com. 

Old January Announcements

9.             Seed Exchange at Blandy Farm – January 28, 2023 – Virginia State Arboretum, Clarke County

  • Annual Northern Shenandoah Valley VCE Master Gardeners will have their annual free seed exchange at Blandy Farm in Clarke County on Saturday, Jan. 28.  It is free admission and free parking at Blandy to get your choice of flower, vegetable, shrub and tree seeds.  The doors will open at 2. There will be a book and magazine swap.  Bring your extra seeds to share. Please check the Blandy website to make sure you are not bringing any invasive seeds. MG website is nsvmga.org for more information and the Seed Exchange flier is attached.

10.          Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA. 

  • Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

11.          NSVMGA Seed Exchange at Blandy – Saturday Jan 28, 2023 – State Arboretum at Blandy, Clarke County

  • The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners will have their annual seed exchange at the State Arboretum at Blandy Farm in Clarke County. Doors will open at 10 and the event runs until 2 pm.

 

Old February Announcements

13.          Louisa EMG Seed Swap – Feb 4, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093 

  • Chase Away Those Winter Blues by Collecting Seeds and Starting Plans for Your Spring Garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardeners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
    Please join us to beat those Winter Blues!     Read more here.

14.          IMGC 2023 Search for Excellence Open – Deadline February 6, 2023

15.          Shade Gardening – February 6, 2023, 7-8 pm – Zoom program

  • VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Shade Gardening:  Presented by Stacie McGraw, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener, Explore the differences between full and part shade gardens, as well as dry and moist shade.  Plant selection for each will be discussed, along with how to sneak in spring color and year-round interest.  We’ll also look at the adaptations that allow shade plants to thrive in low light conditions: 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 2023 as you explore our website!

16.          5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium – Saturday, February 11, 2023 – Verizon Auditorium George Mason University

 

Old March Announcements

16.          In Your Own Backyard: 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar – Saturday, March 25, 2023 – White Stone, VA

  • The Northern Neck Master Gardeners (NNMG) have announced the date and theme for the 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar (GNN). The theme of the 2023 seminar is “In Your Own Backyard.” Gardening in the Northern Neck will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, 57 Whisk Drive in White Stone. This will be the 29th Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar. Speakers will be Heather Holm, a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author; Barbara Pleasant, an avid gardener and award winning author; and Edward Olsen, Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture agent for Henrico County. The fee for the seminar is $50. Lunches will be available for an additional fee. Additional information is available at nnmg.org/gnn/. Registration forms will be available on February 1, 2023, at www.nnmg.org/gnn.

 

Old April Announcements

17.          MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405. 

  • The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html 

Old Announcements

18.          Save the Date! MG College 2023

  • Save the date for Master Gardener College 2023! MG College will take place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg from June 8 – 11. Tree Steward training will begin the day before on June 7th. More information about sessions, tours, and speakers will be announced through our Master Gardener College In Season in the coming months. We look forward to seeing many of you in June!

Biweekly Update – January 9, 2023

Posted on by

Biweekly Update – January 9, 2023

New Announcements

1.    Save the Date! MG College 2023

  • Save the date for Master Gardener College 2023! MG College will take place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg from June 8 – 11. Tree Steward training will begin the day before on June 7th. More information about sessions, tours, and speakers will be announced through our Master Gardener College In Season in the coming months. We look forward to seeing many of you in June!

2.    In Your Own Backyard: 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar – Saturday, March 25, 2023 – White Stone, VA

  • The Northern Neck Master Gardeners (NNMG) have announced the date and theme for the 2023 Gardening in the Northern Neck seminar (GNN). The theme of the 2023 seminar is “In Your Own Backyard.” Gardening in the Northern Neck will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, 57 Whisk Drive in White Stone. This will be the 29th Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar. Speakers will be Heather Holm, a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author; Barbara Pleasant, an avid gardener and award winning author; and Edward Olsen, Virginia Cooperative Extension Horticulture agent for Henrico County. The fee for the seminar is $50. Lunch will be available for an additional fee. Additional information is available at www.nnmg.org/gnn. Registration forms will be available on February 1, 2023, at www.nnmg.org/gnn.

Old January Announcements

3.             Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Seed Swap – January 21, 2023 – Rockbridge Area Relief Association, 350 Spotswood Dr., Lexington 24450

  • RAMGA members have grown, collected, cleaned, and packaged a wide variety of seeds to share with our community.

4.             Native Snakes of Virginia – January 21, 2023 – 10am- 2:30pm – Historic Manassas Courthouse, 9250 Lee Ave, Manassas, VA

  • Learn to accurately identify local snake species of Virginia. Review some best practices on how you can limit snakes from coming onto your property and/or into your house. Deep dive into the notorious Eastern Copperhead as well as discuss the other two venomous snakes of VA (Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattler). For registration questions, email to mastergardene@pwc.gov 

5.             NSVMGA Seed Exchange at Blandy – Saturday Jan 28, 2023 – VA State Arboretum at Blandy, Clarke County

  • The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners will have their annual seed exchange at the State Arboretum at Blandy Farm in Clarke County. Doors will open at 10 and the event runs until 2 pm. MG website is nsvmga.org for more information 

6.             Louisa EMG Seed Swap – January 28, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093 

  • Chase away those winter blues by collecting seeds and starting plans for your spring garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardeners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
    Please join us to beat those Winter Blues! Read more here.

7.             Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA. 

  • Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

 

Old February Announcements

8.             5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium – Saturday, February 11, 2023 – Verizon Auditorium George Mason University

9.             Shade Gardening – February 6, 2023, 7-8 pm – Zoom program

  • VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Shade Gardening:  Presented by Stacie McGraw, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener, Explore the differences between full and part shade gardens, as well as dry and moist shade.  Plant selection for each will be discussed, along with how to sneak in spring color and year-round interest.  We’ll also look at the adaptations that allow shade plants to thrive in low light conditions: 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 2023 as you explore our website!

10.          IMGC 2023 Search for Excellence Open – Deadline February 6, 2023

 

Old April Announcements

11.          MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405. 

  • The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html 

 

Biweekly Update – December 13, 2022

Posted on by

New Announcements

  1. Save the date: 5th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium – February 11, 2023, Saturday – Verizon Auditorium George Mason University
  2. Shade Gardening – February 6, 2023 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Zoom
    1. VIRGINIA BEACH MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT GARDENING TALKS: Join us on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 7 pm via ZOOM for a Gardening Talks presentation on: Shade Gardening: Presented by Stacie McGraw, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener Explore the differences between full and part shade gardens, as well as dry and moist shade. Plant selection for each will be discussed, along with how to sneak in spring color and year-round interest. We’ll also look at the adaptations that allow shade plants to thrive in low light conditions. 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 2023 as you explore our website!
  3. Native Snakes of Virginia – January 21, 2023 – 10am- 2:30pm – Historic Manassas Courthouse, 9250 Lee Ave, Manassas, VA
    1. Learn to accurately identify local snake species of Virginia. Review some best practices on how you can limit snakes from coming onto your property and/or into your house. Deep dive into the notorious Eastern Copperhead as well as discuss the other two venomous snakes of VA (Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattler). For registration questions, email to mastergardene@pwc.gov
  4. Seed Exchange at Blandy Farm – Virginia State Arboretum, Clarke County
    1. Annual Northern Shenandoah Valley VCE Master Gardeners will have their annual free seed exchange at Blandy Farm in Clarke County on Saturday, Jan. 28.  It is free admission and free parking at Blandy to get your choice of flower, vegetable, shrub and tree seeds.  The doors will open at 10am. There will be a book and magazine swap.  Bring your extra seeds to share. Please check the Blandy website to make sure you are not bringing any invasive seeds. MG website is nsvmga.org for more information and the Seed Exchange flier is attached.
  5. IMGC 2023 Search for Excellence Open
    1. Submissions for the International Master Gardener Search for Excellence are open now! Virginia EMGs are encouraged to submit. Deadline is February 6. https://imgc2023.com/awards-submissions-2/

Old January Announcements

  1. Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Seed Swap – January 21, 2023 – Rockbridge Area Relief Association, 350 Spotswood Dr., Lexington 24450
    1. RAMGA members have grown, collected, cleaned, and packaged a wide variety of seeds to share with our community.
  2. Louisa EMG Seed Swap – January 28, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093
    1. Chase Away Those Winter Blues by Collecting Seeds and Starting Plans for Your Spring Garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
      Please join us to beat those Winter Blues!       Read more here.
  3. Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA.
    1. Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

Old April Announcements

  1. MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405.
    1. The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html

Old Announcements

  1. Leadership development training recordings and materials are available! If you missed leadership development training, check out the recordings here.

Congratulations to Hanover Extension Master Gardeners on the groundbreaking at their new horticultural learning center! Read more: https://www.hanovercounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=657

Biweekly Update – November 21, 2022

Posted on by

New Announcements

  1. Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Seed Swap – January 21, 2023 – Rockbridge Area Relief Association, 350 Spotswood Dr., Lexington 24450
    1. RAMGA members have grown, collected, cleaned, and packaged a wide variety of seeds to share with our community.

Old January Announcements

  1. Louisa EMG Seed Swap – January 28, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093
    1. Chase Away Those Winter Blues by Collecting Seeds and Starting Plans for Your Spring Garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
      Please join us to beat those Winter Blues!       Read more here.
  2. Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA.
    1. Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

Old 2023 Announcements

  1. MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405.
    1. The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html

Old Announcements

  1. Leadership development training recordings and materials are available! If you missed leadership development training, check out the recordings here.
  2. Congratulations to Hanover Extension Master Gardeners on the groundbreaking at their new horticultural learning center! Read more: https://www.hanovercounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=657

Biweekly Update – November 1, 2022

Posted on by

New Announcements

1.    Leadership development training recordings and materials are available! If you missed leadership development training, check out the recordings here.

2.    Congratulations to Hanover Extension Master Gardeners on the groundbreaking at their new horticultural learning center! Read more: https://www.hanovercounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=657

3.     Virginia Master Naturalist Webinar – What's In a Name? Thoughtful Nomenclature Makes a Difference – November 10, 2022 12:00-1:00 pm

a.     What’s in a name? A lot. In 2022, the Entomological Society of America (ESA), publicized ‘spongy moth’ as the new common name for the moth Lymantria dispar, an invasive moth species that damages many tree species, particularly oaks. Presenter: Angela Gupta is a University of Minnesota Extension Professor of Forestry who specializes in terrestrial invasive species. She’s done invasive species early detection education and outreach for about 15 years. Read more here. Pre-registration is required, register here.

4.    Louisa EMG Seed Swap – January 28, 2023 – Louisa Baptist Church, 305 East Main Street Louisa, VA 23093

a.    Chase Away Those Winter Blues by Collecting Seeds and Starting Plans for Your Spring Garden! Please join the Louisa Extension Master Gardeners for their First Seed Swap to be held at the Louisa Baptist Church, 305 E. Main Street Louisa, VA 23093. The  free Seed Swap will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Educational gardening demonstrations, literature and information will be available.  Basket raffles and door prizes will be awarded at the event. 
Please join us to beat those Winter Blues! Read more here.

5.    Central Rappahannock Area Extension Master Gardeners’ 7th Annual Seed Swap – January 28, 2023, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm – Rowser Building, 1739 Richmond Hwy., Stafford VA.

a.    Save your seeds and the date for our 7th Annual Seed Swap! Bring your packaged and labeled seeds and any garden related items you want to trade (such as books, magazines, pots, tools, plants and cuttings). Don’t have seeds to swap? Come anyway! There will be speakers, children’s activities, a trade table for garden items, free seeds and more. Garden Talks: “Quick Fixes for Disturbed Soils.”  Pat Reilly will offer dos and don’ts to help you achieve optimal soil health while minimizing weeds and seeing your landscapes thrive! And “Winter Sowing: Make Growing Seedling Fun and Easy.” Lisa Waddell will demonstrate a method of starting seeds outdoors in the winter thus eliminating the use of grow lights and trays. Visit https://www.mgacra.org/ for additional information.

6.    MGACRA Spring Symposium “Flower Power: From Roots to Blooms” – April 1, 2023 — Gari Melchers Home & Studio, 224 Washington St., Falmouth, Virginia, 22405.

a.    The Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Spring Symposium “Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms” . Spend the day with us learning how to grow beautiful flowers in your garden. We have three guest speakers: back by popular demand – Bryce Lane presenting two sessions “Understanding Garden Soils” and “Accenting Your Landscape With Color”, Stacy Chapman “Westwind Flowers – From our Field to Your Vase”, and Nancy Berlin “Container Gardening With Northern Virginia Natives.” All attendees will be able to explore the gardens at the Belmont Estate, spend time in their outstanding museum gift store, and visit with fellow Master Gardeners. Tickets are $80.00 which includes a full day of thought-provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/tea & light breakfast, a delicious buffet lunch, and afternoon cookies. Registration is now open. You can register online at https://www.mgacra.org/2023-spring-symposium.html

Old October Announcements

7.    Gardening with HOPE – From the Soil Up, October 29, 2022 10:00 am-noon, Powhatan County Public Library – GPMGA invites you to join us for “Gardening with HOPE – From the Soil Up” on Saturday, October 29, 10:00-noon at the Powhatan County Public Library. Presentations/demonstrations will include no-till and Hügelkultur gardening beds, making your own fertilizer and other techniques for enhancing the soil and contributing to regenerative gardening. See attached flyer.

Old November Announcements

8.    Lift the Winter Blues with Color in Garden, November 3, 2022 – Peggy Singlemann will present a variety of plants to add splashes of vivid color and beautiful texture to the winter landscape. These plants will help lift your spirits and energize your life just when you need it most. More information on the flyer here.

Hanover Master Gardeners Gleaning Project

Posted on by

Gleaning is the practice of harvesting excess produce and distributing it to those in need. In short, gleaning directs valuable nutrition to citizens and diverts it from loss in the field. This practice connects food to people through local food pantries.

2021 Hanover Extension summer intern, Sara Hallam, planned and launched the Hanover Extension Master Gardener Gleaners as her project. Her interests in food insecurity and local gardening were drivers for her initiative. Thirty Extension Master Gardeners took food safety training to qualify as gleaners.

Continue reading→

Biweekly Update – October 12, 2022

Posted on by

New Announcements

1.    Leadership development training – Join us for 2022 virtual Leadership Development Training. Sessions will be held Wednesdays in October 1:00 – 2:30pm. You can choose which sessions to attend (or come to all!). All sessions (except October 26) will be recorded for viewing later. Learn more here.

a.     Register now!

b.    October 19: Evaluation Deep Dive. Tom Archibald will lead this session on the ins and outs of program evaluation best practices, how tos, and more.

c.     October 26: Leadership Dialogue. Join your fellow EMG leaders and prospective leaders, EMG Coordinators, and Extension Agents in discussion around relevant topics to your EMG units. Time will be spent discussing challenges, successes, and opportunities around: recruiting new members, retaining members, and building strong community partnerships. Come prepared to share your thoughts on these topics.

2.    Lift the Winter Blues with Color in Garden, November 3, 2022 – Peggy Singlemann will present a variety of plants to add splashes of vivid color and beautiful texture to the winter landscape. These plants will help lift your spirits and energize your life just when you need it most. More information on the flyer here.

3.    The 8th Annual SeedMoney Challenge starts next month with grant funding available for a wide range of food garden projects including community gardens, community farms, school gardens, food bank gardens, tribal gardens, shelter gardens and many more. Grants range from $100 up to $1000 and there are no geographic restrictions. We expect over 500 projects to participate this year. To learn more and apply, see: https://donate.seedmoney.org/

4.    Gardening with HOPE – From the Soil Up, October 29, 2022 10:00 am-noon, Powhatan County Public Library – GPMGA invites you to join us for “Gardening with HOPE – From the Soil Up” on Saturday, October 29, 10:00-noon at the Powhatan County Public Library. Presentations/demonstrations will include no-till and Hügelkultur gardening beds, making your own fertilizer and other techniques for enhancing the soil and contributing to regenerative gardening. See attached flyer.

Old October Announcements

5.    Native Woody Plants of the Virginia Piedmont, October 14, 2022, South Boston Halifax County Museum 1540 Wilborn Ave. South Boston, VA 24592 – We hear more and more about problems with invasive species and what to do to eliminate them. Jason Fisher will cover many of our native woody plants found in the Piedmont of Virginia including the identification and use of these species. He will touch on the need for the protection and cultivation of our native plants. Jason is a certified Arborist and Central District Extension Agent who serves multiple counties in Central and Southern Virginia. He has over 25 years experience and loves his work almost as much as he loves to hunt and fish. This is a free public educational program that you will need to pre-register for by either calling the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office or you can send an email to ask@ssmga.org or wmccaleb@vt.edu

6.    ESVMG Fall Symposium ” Planting with Purpose” – October 22, 2022 — The Chincoteague Center 6155 Community Drive Chincoteague Virginia

a.    The Eastern Shore Master Gardeners invite you to join us for our Fall Symposium ” Planting with Purpose” . Spend the day with us learning how to bring beauty to your garden and improve your backyard habitat for all natures creatures, great and small. We have four guest speakers, each will present a different topic, they are; Barbara Ellis ” Diversity in the Garden”, Douglas Tallamy ” Natures best hope”, Ginny Rosenkranz ” Designing a Garden with Native and other Beautiful Plants”, and Mikela Boley ” Native Seed Saving and Sowing”. All attendees will be eligible to participate in our gift basket raffel, gift baskets will include local products and artwork. Tickets are $75.00 which includes a full day of thought provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/Tea & pastry, a boxed lunch, afternoon snack, educational booths, and book sales. You can register online at www.esvmg.com

Old Announcements

7.    Spotted lanternfly quarantine area expanded – VDACS has expanded the SLF quarantine area. It now includes the following cities and counties: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Wythe. This is in addition to the quarantine already in place for Frederick, Warren, and Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester.

a.     Read the pub “What Virginians Need to Know about the 2022 SLF Quarantine Expansion”

Biweekly update – September 29, 2022

Posted on by

New Announcements

1.    Leadership development training – Join us for 2022 virtual Leadership Development Training. Sessions will be held Wednesdays in October 1:00 – 2:30pm. You can choose which sessions to attend (or come to all!). All sessions (except October 26) will be recorded for viewing later. Learn more here.

a.     Register now!

b.    October 5: Increasing volunteer engagement and building volunteer leaders. Join VCE Volunteer Engagement Specialist Dave Close as he shares thoughts on increasing volunteer engagement and building volunteer leaders.

c.     October 12: Happy EMGs and Thriving EMG Units – Focal Points for Good Leadership. Come learn the results of a recent research project focused on volunteer happiness and what factors can help EMG units thrive. Learn what steps can be taken to make your unit even stronger!

d.    October 19: Evaluation Deep Dive. Tom Archibald will lead this session on the ins and outs of program evaluation best practices, how tos, and more.

e.    October 26: Leadership Dialogue. Join your fellow EMG leaders and prospective leaders, EMG Coordinators, and Extension Agents in discussion around relevant topics to your EMG units. Time will be spent discussing challenges, successes, and opportunities around: recruiting new members, retaining members, and building strong community partnerships. Come prepared to share your thoughts on these topics.

Old October Announcements

2.    My Experience With Blue Orchard Bees, October 7, 2022 South Boston Halifax County Museum 1540 Wilborn Ave. South Boston, VA 24592 – My Experience with Blue Orchard Bees is presented by Halifax Extension Master Gardener Linda Logan, Linda has been organically gardening and building up her pollinators since moving to Halifax County in 2019. Wanting to improve gardening yields and the habitat for pollinators she has taken certain steps along the way, starting with the introduction of Blue Orchard bee eggs, providing the nest and the experiences that have occurred since. Linda has been a Master Gardener since 2004 starting in Mecklenburg and has given back many hours in educational programming. Pre-registration for this educational program is required. You can call the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office at 434-476-2147 ext. 0, or you can send an email to ask@ssmga.org or wmccale@vt.edu before the close of business on October 5, 2022.

3.    Native Woody Plants of the Virginia Piedmont, October 14, 2022, South Boston Halifax County Museum 1540 Wilborn Ave. South Boston, VA 24592 – We hear more and more about problems with invasive species and what to do to eliminate them. Jason Fisher will cover many of our native woody plants found in the Piedmont of Virginia including the identification and use of these species. He will touch on the need for the protection and cultivation of our native plants. Jason is a certified Arborist and Central District Extension Agent who serves multiple counties in Central and Southern Virginia. He has over 25 years experience and loves his work almost as much as he loves to hunt and fish. This is a free public educational program that you will need to pre-register for by either calling the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office or you can send an email to ask@ssmga.org or wmccaleb@vt.edu

4.    ESVMG Fall Symposium ” Planting with Purpose” – October 22, 2022 — The Chincoteague Center 6155 Community Drive Chincoteague Virginia

a.    The Eastern Shore Master Gardeners invite you to join us for our Fall Symposium ” Planting with Purpose” . Spend the day with us learning how to bring beauty to your garden and improve your backyard habitat for all natures creatures, great and small. We have four guest speakers, each will present a different topic, they are; Barbara Ellis ” Diversity in the Garden”, Douglas Tallamy ” Natures best hope”, Ginny Rosenkranz ” Designing a Garden with Native and other Beautiful Plants”, and Mikela Boley ” Native Seed Saving and Sowing”. All attendees will be eligible to participate in our gift basket raffel, gift baskets will include local products and artwork. Tickets are $75.00 which includes a full day of thought provoking lectures focusing on purposeful gardening and includes morning coffee/Tea & pastry, a boxed lunch, afternoon snack, educational booths, and book sales. You can register online at www.esvmg.com

Old Announcements

5.    Spotted lanternfly quarantine area expanded – VDACS has expanded the SLF quarantine area. It now includes the following cities and counties: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Wythe. This is in addition to the quarantine already in place for Frederick, Warren, and Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester.

a.     Read the pub “What Virginians Need to Know about the 2022 SLF Quarantine Expansion”