Native Flowers, Fruits and Foliage for Fall
October 8, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
VCE-MGNV Virtual Classroom public education events for October 2021 are online and open to all. RSVP online at https://mgnv.org/events/ to receive the link to participate. Click on the event titles to RSVP for each event. If you can’t join us for a live online presentation, video recordings of the sessions will be posted to https://mgnv.org/reading-room/master-gardener-virtual-classroom/.
Wednesday, October 6, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, ONLINE
Information Night for Spring 2022 Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program
Love gardening and the environment, and want to share your knowledge with our community? Then consider becoming an Extension Master Gardener! Come to Information Night and learn what EMGs do and the requirements of the volunteer training program. You will meet our Extension Agent Kirsten Conrad and Program Coordinator Leslie Fillmore, as well as many of our dedicated volunteers. You will learn how to apply to the program and be able to ask recent graduates of our volunteer training program about their experience. Join us! Free. Register here to receive a link to participate.
Friday, October 8, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE
Native Flowers, Fruits and Foliage for Fall
October marks a slowing down of the growing season, but there are still many native plants you might consider adding to your garden to introduce long-lasting blooms and colorful foliage to the fall landscape. Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills will discuss over 40 plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region, including perennials, ground covers, vines, shrubs, and trees that will offer important support for local wildlife as well as beauty. She will describe characteristics, attributes, and maintenance tips specific to these native plants and offer ideas for landscape uses. Elaine is the creative force behind the resource Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic and is the co-coordinator for the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden, a Virginia Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden in Arlington, Virginia. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/events/ to receive link to participate.
Friday, October 15, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE
Native Trees: How to Select, Plant and Transplant
A significant proportion of our area’s urban tree canopy depends upon the efforts of thousands of residents to care for mature trees and plant new ones on privately held properties from single family homes, to townhouses, to apartment complex shared greenspaces. Extension Master Gardeners Amy Crumpton and Alicia Martini will discuss best practices for caring for trees. Amy will describe how to assess your site’s conditions for new tree plantings and how to select from the many native tree species that thrive in our area. Alicia, Coordinator for the Small Trees Make Big Canopies program, will describe the program and share her expertise on how to transplant found tree seedlings. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/events/ to receive a link to participate.
Friday, October 22, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE
How to Care for Houseplants
Interested in bringing your gardening hobby indoors or looking to add a little green to your space? Join Extension Master Gardener Interns Evin Morrison and Rebecca Secula to learn about getting plants to thrive in your home. Evin and Rebecca will cover a variety of topics including ideal lighting conditions, potting soil recipes, and how to deal with pests. This presentation is geared toward the beginner houseplant owner but will be a great refresher for anyone looking to make their houseplant ventures more successful. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/events/ to receive a link to participate.
Friday, October 29, 10:00 – 11:30 am, ONLINE
Leave the Leaves!: And Other Beneficial Composting Practices
Fall is the perfect time to practice good composting and mulching practices for your trees and plant beds and to start a compost system to create black gold for your spring garden. Instead of raking leaves to the curb, allow fallen leaves to feed your trees, enrich the soil and provide overwinter protection for roots and habitat for insects. Extension Master Gardener Nina DeRosa will discuss where to compost, what to compost and what not to compost, and how to manage your compost system. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/events/ to receive a link to participate.