Agents and Coordinators,

 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions imposed by our Governor’s Executive Orders and directives from VCE executive leadership, we are uncertain about when Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) will be able to start volunteering again. As a result, the State EMG Office has put the following policies into place for 2020: 

 

• For 2020 only, we are suspending the 20 volunteer hour requirement for Extension Master Gardeners.

• For any active Extension Master Gardener who does not complete their 20 hour requirement in 2020, their status as an EMG will not be affected for 2021.

 

• For 2020 only, we are extending the timeframe for Extension Master Gardener Interns to complete their required 50 volunteer hours.

• For any Intern who does not complete their 50 hour requirement in 2020, they should be given an extra 6 – 12 months in 2021 to complete their remaining hours. 
• The local VCE unit office should determine the length of the extension based on when their EMG training took place in 2019 or 2020. The local office should also factor in other extenuating circumstances on a case by case basis.

 

• The 8 hour requirement for continuing education will remain in place in 2020. 

• There are a number of online sources for continuing education our volunteers can make use of, including this list on the EMG website: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/ce/. 
• Master Gardener College will be held online this year and will be another good education opportunity for our volunteers. Registration will open in early May and College will run from June 25 – 28, 2020. All sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing by registrants.

 

We know these are unusual times and want to ensure that our volunteers are kept safe and healthy during the pandemic. We know that Governor Northam and Drs. Jones and McKinnie are exercising their best judgement in the decisions they are making in order to keep all of our citizens, including Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers, safe and healthy to the extent they can. Likewise, our team wants to ensure the health and safety of our EMG volunteers and the clients you serve to the extent we can. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Stay safe and healthy. And as always, our sincerest gratitude for all you do on behalf of VCE and the Extension Master Gardener Program.

 

Best, 
The EMG State Office

New Announcements:

 

1.    College 2020 goes online – June 25-28, 2020

a.     Master Gardener College this year will be held online rather than in person in Blacksburg. Please continue to hold the same dates, June 25 – 28.

b.    We are working on the logistics of Virtual Master Gardener College now and hope to have more information and registration details out soon. Please expect an email in the coming week.

 

2.    State Office Webinar Series – April 16, 2020

a.     April 16 | 10 am – Interpreting Soil Test Results with Scott Baker

b.    Join us for a practical how-to for reading and interpreting soil test results. Learn how to use those lab results to give recommendations to homeowners – and be able to amend your own lawn or garden too!

c.     Register in advance: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/vJIqdu6urDMvK1zsj7wMfFsKm6bAt0VTbg

 

3.    Submit a digital brag board for College 2020 – Deadline: June 1, 2020

a.     Submit a digital brag board to show off your unit’s activity! Brag boards will be displayed digitally during College 2020. For guidelines and to submit your brag board:

b. Use this link to upload your brag board (requires you be signed into a Google account) OR email your brag board to Devon at dvj@vt.edu

 

4.    Facebook Live “Get Gardening” Series – Thursdays through the spring

a.     Join us Thursdays through this spring and early summer as we invite VCE professionals to join us via Facebook live for short sessions on beginning gardening!

b.    You can watch live or check our page later to view the recorded & saved video!

c.     Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/226756471734154/ UPDATE: Chris Mullins’s “Beginning Gardening” event has been RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAY APRIL 13 AT 2 PM – PLEASE JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!

 

5.    Online CE opportunities

a.     Online Resources for MGs We have put together a list of online CE opportunities volunteers can take advantage of while at home: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/ce

2021 Announcements:

1.    Virginia is hosting International Master Gardener Conference 2021 – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2021

a.     Have you heard? Virginia is hosting IMGC 2021! IMGC is an opportunity to come together with other EMGs from across the nation for a week of tours, workshops, and speakers. Check out our keynote speakers and start planning your trip to Norfolk now: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/

b.    Keep an eye out this fall for IMGC registration!

 

2.    IMGC 2021 Call for proposals – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2021

a.     IMGC 2021 is soliciting speakers for concurrent sessions and workshops. If your unit has had a great guest speaker who might be interested in this opportunity, please forward them this info! If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out our application form here: https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_emTq59MEsXzf3XD

b.    Deadline for proposal submission is Friday, May 1, 2020

c.     Learn more: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/2020/01/28/call-for-proposals/

Other Announcements:

1.    Follow the State Office on social media:

                                              i.     Facebook

                                             ii.     Instagram

                                           iii.     YouTube

2.    NC State Online Learning opportunities

a.     NC State is preparing to launch a 2020 Online Learning Program! Discounts available for Master Gardeners and Agents – please email Devon at DVJ@vt.edu for information on discount eligibility.

 

3.    View our most recent webinar

a.     View a recording of our most recent state office webinar – Pam Bennet on gardening with smartphone apps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYWds9sP4Lw

b.    For a full archive of state office webinars, see: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/webinar-archive/

 

4.    Home Gardening Mini- Course Lecture Series – Newport News, VA

a.     The Newport News Master Gardener Association announces our new Lecture Series, Home Gardening Mini-Course, a series of eight, free, monthly lectures covering a wide variety of horticultural topics.

b.    The Mini-Course is FREE and will be held at the Virginia Living Museum.

c.     Located at:

Virginia Living Museum,

524 Clyde Morris Blvd,

Newport News, VA 23601

d.    Pre-registration is required:

by calling the NN VCE office at: 757-591-4838.

e.     Lecture Schedule (Tentative):

                                              i.     5/28/20 Flowers We Love – MG Favorites

                                             ii.     6/18/20 Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Bay

                                           iii.     7/23/20 Tree and Shrub Pruning, A Hands-on Workshop in Riverview Farm Park

                                           iv.     8/27/20 Native Selections – Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

 

5.     Resources for fertilization of lawns and for those involved with Healthy Virginia Lawns programming  

6.    Do you have questions coming in to your Extension Master Gardener program and need to find some answers? Extension Search Resources for EMG Questions

7.    Registration now open for online Plant Identification Classes by Longwood Gardens and NC State – Click Here

8.    Visit the VCE Lawn and Garden Calendar!

9.    Every Kid in a Park Program

10. Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest insect– found in Winchester, VA- January 2018

a.     For information regarding the quarantine please see attached link

11. Biennial 2018 EMG Summary – from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee

a.     Data collected indicates there are 86,076 EMG volunteers throughout the United States and Washington, D.C, contributing 5.6 million hours educating the public, providing youth programming, and facilitating produce donated to local food banks.

b.    While this is only the beginning of the value EMGs provide in their communities each year, 2018 efforts are estimated to have contributed 140 million dollars in value to the general public. Our volunteers reported over 8.6 million contacts and continue to be the front line of Extension’s consumer horticulture efforts. Forty-six states participated in this report.

 

12. Basil Downy Mildew: Occurrence Monitoring and Info Website for Gardeners

a.     A new website, created by Margaret McGrath and the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, on monitoring occurrence of downy mildew on basil in the US and Canada:

                                              i.     It maps occurrences and replaces them into a GoogleDocs spreadsheet since 2009. There is information about BDM at the website that is geared for gardeners. Gardeners have been the primary and most important reporters in helping with monitoring this disease.

b.    A handout for gardeners about reporting occurrences of BDM and 2 other important diseases: late blight and cucurbit downy mildew.

13. New VCE Master Gardener Photo Submission!

a.     Here at the Extension Master Gardener State Office, we want to showcase YOU

Virginia Tech's Giving Day, originally scheduled for March 18-19 has been postponed until this September!

New Announcements:

 

1.    Giving Day 2020 – March 18^th-19^th 2020

a.     Giving Day is coming! March 18 at noon to March 19 at noon is our chance to solicit small donations to the EMG program via our online Giving Day portal. Get more info on Giving Day here.

b.    As soon as we have the link to our specific Giving Day page, we will send it out over the VMS with instructions on how to give. Please share this info widely!

 

2.    State Office Webinar Series – March 19^th 2020

a.     What's APP with that?: Gardening with smartphone apps

                                              i.      Do you get nervous each time you are just about ready to hit the INSTALL button in your digital app store? Are you concerned about downloading apps? Are you searching for the perfect horticulture app? If you answered yes to any of these questions, tune in.

                                             ii.     Pam Bennett, State Master Gardener Program Director for The Ohio State University Extension, will go through a quick overview for downloading apps and discuss some of those that are really worthwhile.

b.    Preregister for the webinar: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/vJYpcuGspzwiPC9VuFP_5d3-CfsGE7nMGw

 

3.    View our most recent webinar

a.     View a recording of our most recent state office webinar – Andrea Davis on school garden projects: https://youtu.be/k3OvczrSABc

b.    For a full archive of state office webinars, see: https://mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/webinar-archive/

 

4.    Sustainable Turf University – Williamsburg, VA – March 28^th 2020

a.     Join regional experts to learn about how to grow and maintain a healthy, environmentally friendly lawn! Learn about different species of turf, proper management techniques, weed control, soil testing, compost, and more.

b.    Saturday, March 28^th from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the James City County Recreation Center, 5301 Longhill Road

c.     For more information, or to register for the event, please call Robyn Goad at (757) 645-4895

 

5.    Fluvanna Master Gardeners Spring Community Education

a.     March 19 – Gardening at Monticello with Pat Brodowski, Head Gardener

                                              i.     11 to noon at the Palmyra Firehouse

b.    March 31 – Building Great Soil Now with Irene Burke, Fluvanna Master Gardener

                                              i.     2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Fluvanna County Library

c.     Free and open to the public

 

6.    16th Annual Spring Garden Fest – Goochland, VA – April 25^th 2020

a.     The Goochland – Powhatan Master Gardeners Association will hold its 16th annual Spring Garden Festival on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Reynolds Community College, 1851 Dickinson Road, Goochland.

b.    This annual event is a free, family friendly event that is a celebration of all things related to gardening. Spring Garden Fest 2020 will include the much loved GPMGA Plant Sale and lots of fun gardening related vendor booths.

c.     For a small registration fee you can also increase your education hours through classes, workshops, and tours offered throughout the day. Examples of class topics include growing low maintenance flowers, fruit trees in Central Virginia, water gardens, the best vegetables for Central Virginia, the wide world of basil, Virginia natives, and VA’s most prominent insects.

d.    If you like to learn by doing then you can take advantage of hands on workshops on planting a hypertufa succulent pot, building a bird house, or creating your own mosaic art.

e.     Finally, if you prefer observing while learning you can join tours of the college's gardens by Master Gardeners focused on topics such underutilized plants for shade, integrating native plants into existing landscapes, and well-chosen shrubs and small trees for 4 season color.

f.     Classes, tours, and workshops fill up quickly, so register now for the best selection. Complete descriptions and online registration are available at https://www.gpmga.org or by contacting the Goochland Extension Office at 804-556-5841.

 

7.    Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale – Charlottesville, VA – May 2^nd 2020

a.     Mark your calendar. The Piedmont Master Gardeners and the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards will host their spring plant and tree sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, on the lawn at the Shops at Stonefield, 2100 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville.

b.    To be held rain or shine, the sale will offer more than 5,000 plants, including annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, houseplants, shrubs and trees. Among them will be a large selection of native plants and other plants that support pollinators. In addition, a variety of “green elephants” will be available, including pots, garden décor, tools and more.

c.     During the sale, Master Gardeners will staff a Horticulture Help Desk to answer gardening questions and to offer advice to shoppers on their purchases. Master Gardeners will also provide ten-minute tutorials on “Planting and Caring for Tomatoes" (10:30 a.m.), “Why Plant Natives?” (11:30 a.m.) and “Deer-Resistant Plants” (noon). A tool and knife sharpener will be on hand as well.

d.    For further information about the plant sale, email jdesigner07@comcast.net, or call 434-872-4581. To learn more about Piedmont Master Gardeners, visit www.piedmontmastergardeners.org.

 

8.    Herb Symposium – Onancock, VA – May 12^th 2020

a.     Plan to attend the free Herb Symposium to learn how to successfully cultivate, harvest and preserve herbs in Virginia. Weather permitting, the program will conclude with a tour of the Ker Place garden which features a Jeffersonian style herb/kitchen garden using historically accurate plants from the 18th century.

b.    10 a.m. at Historic Onancock School, 6 College Ave., Onancock, VA

 

March Announcements:

1.    Free Programs from the Halifax VCEMG office – South Boston, VA

a.     March 6 – Best of the Best Vegetables for the Southern Piedmont of Virginia

                                              i.     This is an updated 2020 version of the program that Bill McCaleb has done several times during the past 20 years for home gardeners and producers.  New resistant varieties continue to come out each year. And we’ll explore some of these along with disease resistant varieties vs. non-resistant varieties.  Bill will cover A to Z in the vegetable category (Asparagus – Zucchini) 

b.    March 20 – Gale Washburn, retired from the Virginia Department of Forestry, will present “Native Edible Plants”

                                              i.     Gale has worked with native plants in Virginia for many years and loves to promote ‘what we have.’  Come join us and learn more.

c.     Due to space, we do need folks to call and register for these free programs put on by the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. The programs will be presented at the South Boston-Halifax County Museum located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.  Both programs will begin at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Register by calling the Halifax VCE office on 434-476-2147 ext. 0 or you can email lorip@vt.edu” style=”color:blue”>lorip@vt.edu or wmccaleb@vt.edu” style=”color:blue”>wmccaleb@vt.edu

 

2.    Piedmont Master Gardeners’ 2020 Spring Lecture Series – Charlottesville, VA

a.     March 12 – Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, presents “Nature’s Best Hope: Creating a Vibrant Ecosystem in the Home Landscape.” Tallamy is author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens and the newly published Nature’s Best Hope.

                                              i.     Location: Lane Auditorium in the Albemarle County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

b.    March 19 – Keith Nevison, manager of farm and nursery operations for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, presents “Year-Round Vegetable Gardening.” He will explain the latest approaches to ensuring successive harvests through all four seasons in Central Virginia, such as building healthy soil, utilizing season-extension tools and techniques, and effective crop planning.

                                              i.     Location: Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended, just off I-64.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

c.     March 26 – Robyn Puffenbarger, chair of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at Bridgewater College, presents “Robins to Raptors: Observing Birds in Our Backyards.” She will help participants build their skills for identifying bird species in Virginia and will provide insights on bird habitats, migration patterns and diets, as well as strategies to attract more birds to our backyards.

                                              i.     Location: Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended, just off I-64.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

 

3.    NSVMGA Gardening in the Valley Symposium – Winchester, VA – March 7^th 2020

a.     From 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at:

Shenandoah University Hester Auditorium,

Henkel 1460 University Dr,

Winchester, VA  22601

b.    The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association sponsors a day of VCE educational offerings each spring. 

                                              i.     All proceeds benefit the NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The cost is $65 through PayPal at the link below or $70 at the door, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

                                             ii.     Visit http://nsvmga.org/events/symposium/ for more info

 

4.    27th Annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar – White Stone, VA – March 21^st 2020

a.     Join the Northern Neck Master Gardeners for their 27th annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar on March 21 in White Stone VA. This year's theme is "Spring Fever! Adventures in Gardening" and features guest speakers C. Colston Burrell, Nancy Lawson and Vincent A. Simeone.

b.    The registration form is attached, and more information about the Seminar and its guest speakers is available at www.nnmg.org.

 

5.    Louisa County Free Backyard Gardening Seminars – Louisa, VA – March 7^th-28^th 2020

a.     Please join us at the Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, VA, from 9 a.m. to noon for a series of lectures featuring:

                                              i.     March 7 – “Annuals and perennials, what makes your garden smile” with Pat Willis

                                             ii.     March 14 – “What You Need to Know Before You Dive into Beekeeping” with John Beers

                                           iii.     March 21 – “Gardening with Essential Oils” with Heather Bilek

                                           iv.     March 28 – “Organic Vegetable Gardening” with Ira Wallace

b.    For more information, call (540) 967-3422

April Announcements:

1.    8^th Annual Living in the Garden Symposium – Falmouth, VA – April 4^th 2020

a.     Join the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area for our annual symposium with featured speakers Bryce Lane, Michael Judd, and Barbara Ellis. Fee includes light breakfast, buffet lunch, and "How to Prune Trees & Shrubs" handbook.  

June Announcements:

1.    Master Gardener College 2020 – Blacksburg, VA – June 25^th-28^th, 2020

a.     Don’t miss Master Gardener College this June! Master Gardener College will return to Blacksburg on Virginia Tech’s campus June 25-28, 2020.

b.    Registration opens in April.

c.     Be on the lookout for the Master Gardener College edition of “In Season” this March.

d.    The advanced training at Master Gardener College this year will be Land Care Steward training.

September Announcements:

1.    Virginia is hosting International Master Gardener Conference 2021 – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2021

a.     Have you heard? Virginia is hosting IMGC 2021! IMGC is an opportunity to come together with other EMGs from across the nation for a week of tours, workshops, and speakers. Check out our keynote speakers and start planning your trip to Norfolk now: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/

 

2.    IMGC 2021 Call for proposals – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2020

a.     IMGC 2021 is soliciting speakers for concurrent sessions and workshops. If your unit has had a great guest speaker who might be interested in this opportunity, please forward them this info! If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out our application form here: https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_emTq59MEsXzf3XD

b.    Learn more: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/2020/01/28/call-for-proposals/

Other Announcements:

1.    Follow the State Office on social media:

                                              i.     Facebook

                                             ii.     Instagram

                                           iii.     YouTube

2.    NC State Online Learning opportunities

a.     NC State is preparing to launch a 2020 Online Learning Program! Discounts available for Master Gardeners and Agents – please email Devon at DVJ@vt.edu for information on discount eligibility.

 

3.    Home Gardening Mini- Course Lecture Series – Newport News, VA

a.     The Newport News Master Gardener Association announces our new Lecture Series, Home Gardening Mini-Course, a series of eight, free, monthly lectures covering a wide variety of horticultural topics.

b.    The Mini-Course is FREE and will be held at the Virginia Living Museum.

c.     Located at:

Virginia Living Museum,

524 Clyde Morris Blvd,

Newport News, VA 23601

d.    Pre-registration is required:

by calling the NN VCE office at: 757-591-4838.

e.     Lecture Schedule:

                                              i.     3/24/20 Environmentally Responsible Lawn Maintenance 

                                             ii.     4/21/20 Growing Edibles – Eat Your Yard!

                                           iii.     5/28/20 Flowers We Love – MG Favorites

                                           iv.     6/18/20 Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Bay

                                             v.     7/23/20 Tree and Shrub Pruning, A Hands-on Workshop in Riverview Farm Park

                                           vi.     8/27/20 Native Selections – Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

 

4.     Resources for fertilization of lawns and for those involved with Healthy Virginia Lawns programming  

5.    Do you have questions coming in to your Extension Master Gardener program and need to find some answers? Extension Search Resources for EMG Questions

6.    Registration now open for online Plant Identification Classes by Longwood Gardens and NC State – Click Here

7.    Visit the VCE Lawn and Garden Calendar!

8.    Every Kid in a Park Program

9.    Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest insect– found in Winchester, VA- January 2018

a.     For information regarding the quarantine please see attached link

10. Biennial 2018 EMG Summary – from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee

a.     Data collected indicates there are 86,076 EMG volunteers throughout the United States and Washington, D.C, contributing 5.6 million hours educating the public, providing youth programming, and facilitating produce donated to local food banks.

b.    While this is only the beginning of the value EMGs provide in their communities each year, 2018 efforts are estimated to have contributed 140 million dollars in value to the general public. Our volunteers reported over 8.6 million contacts and continue to be the front line of Extension’s consumer horticulture efforts. Forty-six states participated in this report.

 

11. Basil Downy Mildew: Occurrence Monitoring and Info Website for Gardeners

a.     A new website, created by Margaret McGrath and the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, on monitoring occurrence of downy mildew on basil in the US and Canada:

                                              i.     It maps occurrences and replaces them into a GoogleDocs spreadsheet since 2009. There is information about BDM at the website that is geared for gardeners. Gardeners have been the primary and most important reporters in helping with monitoring this disease.

b.    A handout for gardeners about reporting occurrences of BDM and 2 other important diseases: late blight and cucurbit downy mildew.

12. New VCE Master Gardener Photo Submission!

a.     Here at the Extension Master Gardener State Office, we want to showcase YOU

New Announcements:

 

1.    Master Gardener College 2020 – Blacksburg, VA – June 25^th-28^th, 2020

a.     Don’t miss Master Gardener College this June! Master Gardener College 2020 will return to Blacksburg on Virginia Tech’s campus June 25-28, 2020.

b.    Registration opens in April.

c.     Be on the lookout for the Master Gardener College edition of “In Season” this March.

d.    The advanced training at Master Gardener College this year will be Land Care Steward training.

 

2.    Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program – Petersburg, VA – March 7^th 2020 – May 30^th 2020

a.     Registration is now open for the 12-weeks Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program. The program starts on March 7^th and runs through May 30^th, 2020. Instruction consists of morning lectures and afternoon hands-on outdoor and lab activities. The registration fee is $250 payable by the February 28^th deadline.

b.    To learn more about the program, please click the link below:

https://www.ext.vsu.edu/urban-agriculture-certificate-program

 

3.    Giving Day 2020 – March 18^th-19^th 2020

a.     Giving Day is coming! March 18 at noon to March 19 at noon is our chance to solicit small donations to the EMG program via our online Giving Day portal. Get more info on Giving Day here.

b.    As soon as we have the link to our specific Giving Day page, we will send it out over the VMS with instructions on how to give. Please share this info widely!

 

4.    Free Programs from the Halifax VCEMG office – South Boston, VA

a.     March 6 – Best of the Best Vegetables for the Southern Piedmont of Virginia

                                              i.     This is an updated 2020 version of the program that Bill McCaleb has done several times during the past 20 years for home gardeners and producers.  New resistant varieties continue to come out each year. And we’ll explore some of these along with disease resistant varieties vs. non-resistant varieties.  Bill will cover A to Z in the vegetable category (Asparagus – Zucchini) 

b.    March 20 – Gale Washburn, retired from the Virginia Department of Forestry, will present “Native Edible Plants”

                                              i.     Gale has worked with native plants in Virginia for many years and loves to promote ‘what we have.’  Come join us and learn more.

c.     Due to space, we do need folks to call and register for these free programs put on by the Halifax Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. The programs will be presented at the South Boston-Halifax County Museum located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.  Both programs will begin at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Register by calling the Halifax VCE office on 434-476-2147 ext. 0 or you can email lorip@vt.edu” style=”color:blue”>lorip@vt.edu or wmccaleb@vt.edu” style=”color:blue”>wmccaleb@vt.edu

 

5.    NC State Online Learning opportunities

a.     NC State is preparing to launch a 2020 Online Learning Program! Discounts available for Master Gardeners and Agents – please email Devon at DVJ@vt.edu for information on discount eligibility.

 

6.    Piedmont Master Gardeners’ 2020 Spring Lecture Series – Charlottesville, VA

a.     March 5 – Tim McCoy, extension associate with the Virginia Tech Entomology Department, presents “Pesticides and Pollinators: What Gardeners Should Know.” McCoy will discuss how pesticide misuse threatens solitary bees and will offer practical ways to help these pollinators thrive in our landscapes.

                                              i.     Location: Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended, just off I-64.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

b.    March 12 – Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, presents “Nature’s Best Hope: Creating a Vibrant Ecosystem in the Home Landscape.” Tallamy is author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens and the newly published Nature’s Best Hope.

                                              i.     Location: Lane Auditorium in the Albemarle County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

c.     March 19 – Keith Nevison, manager of farm and nursery operations for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, presents “Year-Round Vegetable Gardening.” He will explain the latest approaches to ensuring successive harvests through all four seasons in Central Virginia, such as building healthy soil, utilizing season-extension tools and techniques, and effective crop planning.

                                              i.     Location: Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended, just off I-64.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

d.    March 26 – Robyn Puffenbarger, chair of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at Bridgewater College, presents “Robins to Raptors: Observing Birds in Our Backyards.” She will help participants build their skills for identifying bird species in Virginia and will provide insights on bird habitats, migration patterns and diets, as well as strategies to attract more birds to our backyards.

                                              i.     Location: Room A of the Albemarle County Office Building on 5th Street Extended, just off I-64.

                                             ii.     Time: 7 p.m.

                                           iii.     Admission: $8 at the door or in advance at www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/events.

 

7.    Louisa County Free Backyard Gardening Seminars – Louisa, VA – March 7^th-28^th 2020

a.     Please join us at the Louisa County Office Building, 1 Woolfolk Ave., Louisa, VA, from 9 a.m. to noon for a series of lectures featuring:

                                              i.     March 7 – “Annuals and perennials, what makes your garden smile” with Pat Willis

                                             ii.     March 14 – “What You Need to Know Before You Dive into Beekeeping” with John Beers

                                           iii.     March 21 – “Gardening with Essential Oils” with Heather Bilek

                                           iv.     March 28 – “Organic Vegetable Gardening” with Ira Wallace

b.    For more information, call (540) 967-3422

February Announcements:

1.    EMG Webinar: Andrea Davis, School Gardens – February 20^th 2020

a.     Join the EMG state office for an exciting webinar with agent Andrea Davis discussing best practices and practical tips for running school garden programs. Use this link to pre-register for the webinar 2/20 at 10 a.m.: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpMocempqTouSiHjlX6YYjhXSiP2Khtr3Q

March Announcements:

1.    NSVMGA Gardening in the Valley Symposium – Winchester, VA – March 7^th 2020

a.     From 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at:

Shenandoah University Hester Auditorium,

Henkel 1460 University Dr,

Winchester, VA  22601

b.    The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association sponsors a day of VCE educational offerings each spring. 

                                              i.     All proceeds benefit the NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The cost is $65 through PayPal at the link below or $70 at the door, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

                                             ii.     Visit http://nsvmga.org/events/symposium/ for more info

 

2.    27th Annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar – White Stone, VA – March 21^st 2020

a.     Join the Northern Neck Master Gardeners for its 27th annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar on March 21 in White Stone VA. This year’s theme is “Spring Fever! Adventures in Gardening” and features guest speakers C. Colston Burrell, Nancy Lawson and Vincent A. Simeone.

b.    The registration form is attached, and more information about the Seminar and its guest speakers is available at www.nnmg.org.

April Announcements:

1.    8^th Annual Living in the Garden Symposium – Falmouth, VA – April 4^th 2020

a.     Join the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area for our annual symposium with featured speakers Bryce Lane, Michael Judd, and Barbara Ellis. Fee includes light breakfast, buffet lunch, and “How to Prune Trees & Shrubs” handbook.  

September Announcements:

1.    Virginia is hosting International Master Gardener Conference 2021 – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2021

a.     Have you heard? Virginia is hosting IMGC 2021! IMGC is an opportunity to come together with other EMGs from across the nation for a week of tours, workshops, and speakers. Check out our keynote speakers and start planning your trip to Norfolk now: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/

 

2.    IMGC 2021 Call for proposals – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2020

a.     IMGC 2021 is soliciting speakers for concurrent sessions and workshops. If your unit has had a great guest speaker who might be interested in this opportunity, please forward them this info! If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out our application form here: https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_emTq59MEsXzf3XD

b.    Learn more: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/2020/01/28/call-for-proposals/

Other Announcements:

1.    Follow the State Office on social media:

                                              i.     Facebook

                                             ii.     Instagram

                                           iii.     YouTube

2.    Home Gardening Mini- Course Lecture Series – Newport News, VA

a.     The Newport News Master Gardener Association announces our new Lecture Series, Home Gardening Mini-Course, a series of eight, free, monthly lectures covering a wide variety of horticultural topics.

b.    The Mini-Course is FREE and will be held at the Virginia Living Museum.

c.     Located at:

Virginia Living Museum,

524 Clyde Morris Blvd,

Newport News, VA 23601

d.    Pre-registration is required:

by calling the NN VCE office at: 757-591-4838.

e.     Lecture Schedule:

                                              i.     2/25/20 Residential Landscape Design

                                             ii.     3/24/20 Environmentally Responsible Lawn Maintenance 

                                           iii.     4/21/20 Growing Edibles – Eat Your Yard!

                                           iv.     5/28/20 Flowers We Love – MG Favorites

                                             v.     6/18/20 Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Bay

                                           vi.     7/23/20 Tree and Shrub Pruning, A Hands-on Workshop in Riverview Farm Park

                                         vii.     8/27/20 Native Selections – Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

 

3.     Resources for fertilization of lawns and for those involved with Healthy Virginia Lawns programming  

4.    Do you have questions coming in to your Extension Master Gardener program and need to find some answers? Extension Search Resources for EMG Questions

5.    Registration now open for online Plant Identification Classes by Longwood Gardens and NC State – Click Here

6.    An update from National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: 2018 accomplishments letter

7.    Visit the VCE Lawn and Garden Calendar!

8.    Every Kid in a Park Program

9.    Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest insect– found in Winchester, VA- January 2018

a.     For information regarding the quarantine please see attached link

10. eXtension Good and Bad bugs webinar series – Feb 1 – Dec 6, 2019

11. Biennial 2018 EMG Summary – from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee

a.     Data collected indicates there are 86,076 EMG volunteers throughout the United States and Washington, D.C, contributing 5.6 million hours educating the public, providing youth programming, and facilitating produce donated to local food banks.

b.    While this is only the beginning of the value EMGs provide in their communities each year, 2018 efforts are estimated to have contributed 140 million dollars in value to the general public. Our volunteers reported over 8.6 million contacts and continue to be the front line of Extension’s consumer horticulture efforts. Forty-six states participated in this report.

 

12. Basil Downy Mildew: Occurrence Monitoring and Info Website for Gardeners

a.     A new website, created by Margaret McGrath and the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, on monitoring occurrence of downy mildew on basil in the US and Canada:

                                              i.     It maps occurrences and replaces them into a GoogleDocs spreadsheet since 2009. There is information about BDM at the website that is geared for gardeners. Gardeners have been the primary and most important reporters in helping with monitoring this disease.

b.    A handout for gardeners about reporting occurrences of BDM and 2 other important diseases: late blight and cucurbit downy mildew.

13. New VCE Master Gardener Photo Submission!

a.     Here at the Extension Master Gardener State Office, we want to showcase YOU

 New Announcements:

 

1.    EMG Webinar: Andrea Davis, School Gardens – February 20^th 2020

a.     Join the EMG state office for an exciting webinar with agent Andrea Davis discussing best practices and practical tips for running school garden programs. Use this link to pre-register for the webinar 2/20 at 10 a.m.: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpMocempqTouSiHjlX6YYjhXSiP2Khtr3Q

 

2.    Virginia is hosting International Master Gardener Conference 2021 – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2021

a.     Have you heard? Virginia is hosting IMGC 2021! IMGC is an opportunity to come together with other EMGs from across the nation for a week of tours, workshops, and speakers. Check out our keynote speakers and start planning your trip to Norfolk now: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/

3.    Master Gardener College 2020 – Save the date: June 24-28 in Blacksburg, VA 

4.    IMGC 2021 Call for proposals – Norfolk, VA – September 12-17, 2020

a.     IMGC 2021 is soliciting speakers for concurrent sessions and workshops. If your unit has had a great guest speaker who might be interested in this opportunity, please forward them this info! If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out our application form here: https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_emTq59MEsXzf3XD

b.    Learn more: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/2020/01/28/call-for-proposals/

 

5.    Home Gardening Mini- Course Lecture Series– Newport News, VA

a.     The Newport News Master Gardener Association announces our new Lecture Series, Home Gardening Mini-Course, a series of eight, free, monthly lectures covering a wide variety of horticultural topics.

b.    The Mini-Course is FREE and will be held at the Virginia Living Museum.

                                              i.     Located at:

Virginia Living Museum,

524 J Clyde Morris Blvd,

Newport News, VA 23601

c.     Pre-registration is required:

                                                   i.     by calling the NN VCE office at: 757-591-4838.

¨    Lecture Schedule:

§  1/21/20 Winter Interest in the Garden

§  2/25/20 Residential Landscape Design

§  3/24/20 Environmentally Responsible Lawn Maintenance 

§  4/21/20 Growing Edibles – Eat Your Yard!

§  5/28/20 Flowers We Love – MG Favorites

§  6/18/20 Backyard Actions for a Cleaner Bay

§  7/23/20 Tree and Shrub Pruning, A Hands-on Workshop in Riverview Farm Park

§  8/27/20 Native Selections – Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials

 

6.    NSVMGA Gardening in the Valley Symposium – Winchester, VA – March 7^th 2020

a.     From 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at:

Shenandoah University Hester Auditorium,

Henkel 1460 University Dr,

Winchester, VA  22601

b.    The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association sponsors a day of VCE educational offerings each spring. 

                                              i.     All proceeds benefit the NSVMGA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The cost is $65 through PayPal at the link below or $70 at the door, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

                                             ii.     Visit http://nsvmga.org/events/symposium/ for more info

 

7.    27th Annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar – White Stone, VA – March 21^st 2020

a.     Join the Northern Neck Master Gardeners for its 27th annual Gardening in the Northern Neck Seminar on March 21 in White Stone VA. This year’s theme is “Spring Fever! Adventures in Gardening” and features guest speakers C. Colston Burrell, Nancy Lawson and Vincent A. Simeone.

b.    The registration form is attached, and more information about the Seminar and its guest speakers is available at www.nnmg.org.

 

8.    8^th Annual Living in the Garden Symposium – Falmouth, VA – April 4^th 2020

a.     Join the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area for our annual symposium with featured speakers Bryce Lane, Michael Judd, and Barbara Ellis. Fee includes light breakfast, buffet lunch, and “How to Prune Trees & Shrubs” handbook.  

 

9.    New VCE Master Gardener Photo Submission!

a.     Here at the Extension Master Gardener State Office, we want to showcase YOU— our hardworking Master Gardeners!

b.    We know our Master Gardeners and volunteers are working hard to empower the communities around them, and we want to display and share that hard work on our social media!

c.     Submit your photos using the above link of volunteer events, training, community garden projects, meetings, and more— Anytime!

                                              i.     Photos that are submitted may be used in potential official VCE Master Gardener social media posts, blog material, or In Season stories— depending on the photos and stories submitted.

10.    Biweekly Update Submission form – Please use this form for submitting future biweekly update items.

Other Announcements:

1.    Follow the State Office on social media:

                                              i.     Facebook

                                             ii.     Instagram

                                           iii.     YouTube

2.     Resources for fertilization of lawns and for those involved with Healthy Virginia Lawns programming  

3.    Do you have questions coming in to your Extension Master Gardener program and need to find some answers? Extension Search Resources for EMG Questions

4.    Registration now open for online Plant Identification Classes by Longwood Gardens and NC State – Click Here

5.    An update from National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: 2018 accomplishments letter

6.    Visit the VCE Lawn and Garden Calendar!

7.    Every Kid in a Park Program

8.    Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest insect– found in Winchester, VA- January 2018

a.     For information regarding the quarantine please see attached link

9.    eXtension Good and Bad bugs webinar series – Feb 1 – Dec 6, 2019

10. Biennial 2018 EMG Summary – from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee

a.     Data collected indicates there are 86,076 EMG volunteers throughout the United States and Washington, D.C, contributing 5.6 million hours educating the public, providing youth programming, and facilitating produce donated to local food banks.

b.    While this is only the beginning of the value EMGs provide in their communities each year, 2018 efforts are estimated to have contributed 140 million dollars in value to the general public. Our volunteers reported over 8.6 million contacts and continue to be the front line of Extension’s consumer horticulture efforts. Forty-six states participated in this report.

 

11. Basil Downy Mildew: Occurrence Monitoring and Info Website for Gardeners

a.     A new website, created by Margaret McGrath and the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, on monitoring occurrence of downy mildew on basil in the US and Canada:

                                              i.     It maps occurrences and replaces them into a GoogleDocs spreadsheet since 2009. There is information about BDM at the website that is geared for gardeners. Gardeners have been the primary and most important reporters in helping with monitoring this disease.

b.    A handout for gardeners about reporting occurrences of BDM and 2 other important diseases: late blight and cucurbit downy mildew.

 

Biweekly Update – August 9, 2019

New Announcements:

1.    Master Gardener College Updates: September 19-22, 2019, Norfolk, Virginia

a.     Registration is open and more than 275 Extension Master Gardeners have already registered! View our registration information page.  Registration closes on August 30^th! For more information on booking your accommodations (scroll down to “Accommodation Costs”).

b.    Book your room at The Main before August 15th! (some nights have limited availability, so please check availability with The Main). Please note that we are sold out of rooms at the conference rate for Saturday night only. You can still get the conference rate for all other nights but will pay a higher rate for Saturday night only. Please call the hotel directly to book your room. Booking online will result in inaccurate rates being assessed for your reservation. The direct number for The Main is 757-763-6200.

2.    Submit a Digital Brag Board for EMG College!

a.     Visit https://www.mastergardener.ext.vt.edu/brag-board-submission/ for guidelines and online submission form. Any unit may submit a digital brag board for display!

 

3.    PMG 30th Anniversary Event : “The Future of Landscapes in a Changing Environment”– Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, VA- September 8, 2019

a.     A celebration of the association’s 30 years of helping the people of Charlottesville and Albemarle County solve horticultural questions and adopt sustainable, science-based practices, the pre-event begins at 3:00 pm with opportunities to visit a children’s poster display and vendor booths and to enjoy concessions.

b.    The formal program begins at 4:00 pm and runs until 6:30 pm. and includes a panel discussion led Frank Reilly of the J. Reilly of The Reilly Group; a presentation by Dennis Dimick, former picture and environmental editor for the National Geographic; and, a presentation by Jeremy S. Hoffman, climate and earth scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia.

c.     The Piedmont Master Gardeners Association and Virginia Cooperative Extension are sponsoring a poster contest as part of The Future of Our Landscapes in a Changing Environment event

                                              i.     Open to any Charlottesville and Albemarle County public, private or home school students in grades 5-12. For further information about poster and submission guidelines, please visit www.piedmontmastergardeners.org/art-poster-contest-on-climate-awareness.

                                             ii.     Entry forms due August 30th

4.    Waynesboro Tree Workshop “Reveling in the Magnificence of Trees”- Waynesboro, VA – September 13, 2019

a.     Registration now open!

b.    For questions or inquiries contact:

                                              i.     Becky Woodson at (434)-220-9024 or treesvirginia@ntelos.net

5.    2019 Master Composter Course– ONLINE – September 13^th – November 1^st

 

a.     Registration Deadline– September 11^th

b.    100% Live Online-Topics Include: Soil and Decomposition Ecology, Biology of Composting, , Recipe Design, Disease Control, Site and Container Selection, VT Act 148, Managing the Compost Process, Troubleshooting, Educational Outreach, Worm Composting

c.     This course is also available to out-of-state residents

 

6.    Central Shenandoah Valley Garden Symposium– Weyers Cave, Virginia- October 19

a.     “Going Native: Let me tell you about the bees and the flowers and the trees” from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Blue Ridge Community College, Plecker Center

b.    Registration required before October 1^st

c.     For more information visit: csvmga.org

7.    Biweekly Update Submission form – Please use this form for submitting future biweekly update items. Due to staffing limitations through the summer of 2019, submissions sent through email could be missed.

August Announcements:

 

8.    Children’s Activities at the Grin & Grow Learning Garden at Riverview Farm Park– Newport News, VA- 1st and 3rd Mondays, 10 AM, through August 19^th

 

a.     Newport News Master Gardener Association will host various children’s activities in the Grin & Grow Learning Garden at Riverview Farm Park, through the summer. Activities will be on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 10 am. The Garden is always open when the Park is open.

 

September Announcements:

 

9.    Piedmont Master Gardeners Through the Garden Gate – Charlottesville-Albemarle County – May 11-September 1

10. Hampton Roads 11th Annual Go Green Expo – Brittingham Midtown Community Center, Newport News – September 7^th, 2019

a.     Family activities, lectures, green tech, plant sales and vendors as well as vermiculture, rain barrel and biochar workshops!

b.    10am to 3pm. Free admission. Food available for purchase.

 

October Announcements:

11. 2019 ESVMG MG Training Registration Open – October 2- November 13, January 15- February 26 – VA Tech Research Center, Painter, VA

 

a.     The Eastern Shore Master Gardener (ESVMG) Program is accepting applications for the 2019 Master Gardener training class.

b.    The classes will be held in Painter beginning October 2nd and continue every Wednesday from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. until November 13th, break for the holidays and then resume January 15-February 26.

c.     For more information and the application contact the Eastern Shore of Virginia Gardeners hotline at (757)-678-7946 ext.29, the web site www.esvmg.com, or e-mail esmgva@gmail.com. 

d.    Fee is $100 for materials and lectures by local experts.

12. Save the Date: Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes – Cincinnati, Ohio – October 7-9, 2019

13. ESVMG Garden Symposium– October 19^th, 2019- Cheriton, VA

a.     The Eastern Shore of Virginia Master Gardeners (ESVMG) announces their second Garden Symposium which will offer lectures on a wide range of gardening topics by accomplished garden speakers. 

b.    The symposium will be held on Saturday, October 19, at the Cheriton Fire Station, 21334 Bayside Road. The daylong event begins at 8:00 am and includes five lectures, lunch and a lively raffle of local artisan items. 

c.     Topics include “The Landscape Revolution: Foodscaping with Natives,”  “The Landscape Revolution: Perennial Combinations,” “Make Your Garden Your Own” and more. 

d.    To read more about the upcoming event and download a registration form, go to www.esvmg.com.  You can also contact ESVMG through email at esvmg@gmail.com for a registration form or call (757) 678-7946, ext. 29

14. Online Plant ID Classes– from Longwood Gardens and NC State- July 8th- October 31st

a.     Reduced fee for Extension Professionals so you can brush up on your plant ID skills and preview the classes to determine if they will be useful as advanced training opportunities for your volunteers.

                                              i.     Discount Code for Extension Master Gardener Volunteers & Master Naturalists – MASTER ($98 fee) = $97 discount

                                             ii.     Discount Code for Extension Professionals – AGENT ($50 fee) = $145 discount

b.    Course instructor, Preston Montague, is a landscape designer, educator and artist.  He has a bachelor's degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in landscape architecture, both from NC State.  He has experience teaching at NC State, NC A & T, and many botanical gardens in the region.

Other Announcements:

15. Follow the State Office on social media:

                                              i.     Facebook

                                             ii.     Instagram

                                           iii.     YouTube

16.  Resources for fertilization of lawns and for those involved with Healthy Virginia Lawns programming  

17. Do you have questions coming in to your Extension Master Gardener program and need to find some answers? Extension Search Resources for EMG Questions

18. Registration now open for online Plant Identification Classes by Longwood Gardens and NC State – Click Here

19. An update from National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: 2018 accomplishments letter

20. Gardeners’ Survey – AmpleHarvest.org

21. Visit the VCE Lawn and Garden Calendar!

22. Every Kid in a Park Program

23. Information from Chad Proudfoot, 4H: “The program is very simple: every 4th grade student (or home school equivalent) in the United States is entitled to get one Every Kid in a Park pass which lasts through August 31

24. Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest insect– found in Winchester, VA- January 2018

a.     For information regarding the quarantine please see attached flyer

25. eXtension Good and Bad bugs webinar series – Feb 1 – Dec 6, 2019

26. Biennial 2018 EMG Summary– from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee

a.     Data collected indicates there are 86,076 EMG volunteers throughout the United States and Washington, D.C, contributing 5.6 million hours educating the public, providing youth programming, and facilitating produce donated to local food banks.

b.    While this is only the beginning of the value EMGs provide in their communities each year, 2018 efforts are estimated to have contributed 140 million dollars in value to the general public. Our volunteers reported over 8.6 million contacts and continue to be the front line of Extension’s consumer horticulture efforts. Forty-six states participated in this report.

 

27. Basil Downy Mildew: Occurrence Monitoring and Info Website for Gardeners

a.     A new website, created by Margaret McGrath and the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, on monitoring occurrence of downy mildew on basil in the US and Canada:

                                              i.     It maps occurrences and replaces them into a GoogleDocs spreadsheet since 2009. There is information about BDM at the website that is geared for gardeners. Gardeners have been the primary and most important reporters in helping with monitoring this disease.

b.    A handout for gardeners about reporting occurrences of BDM and 2 other important diseases: late blight and cucurbit downy mildew.