Demonstration Gardens: Learn What Works In Your Area

Posted on August 10, 2017 | Leave a comment

As the summer peaks, I like to visit the local demonstration gardens to see how well the plants and vegetables performed in this area. Demonstration gardens are a great way to learn what works in the Washington DC metro area and how to manage our local issues, such as deer and rabbits. The gardens are open to the public, every day, from dawn to dusk, free. Each county that has a Master Gardener program usually has at least one demonstration garden, managed by the volunteer Master Gardeners. To find such a garden, call your local county Master Gardener program representative (your local extension agent). Some have several to showcase various environmental conditions and some use the garden as a place to teach or host workshops.

The Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (Arlington and Alexandria) have five demonstration gardens:

  • Glencarlyn Library Community Gardens, corner of S. Third and S. Kensington Streets, off Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
  • Simpson Park Gardens (E. Monroe Avenue at the end of Leslie Avenue, next to the YMCA in Alexandria
  • Organic Vegetable Garden, Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Marcy Road, Arlington
  • Rock Quarry Shade Garden, Bon Air Park on Wilson Boulevard and N. Lexington Street, Arlington
  • Sunny Garden, Bon Air Park, Arlington

The Prince William County Master Gardeners manage a very large “Teaching Garden” at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. Within this large garden are mini gardens to illustrate certain conditions or issues, such as a deer resistant garden, shade garden, vegetable garden, and pollinator garden.

The Loudoun County Master Gardeners uses Ida Lee Park on Ida Lee Park Drive, Leesburg as a teaching garden.

The Montgomery County Master Gardeners have a demonstration garden at the Agriculture History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD.

The Prince Georges County Master Gardeners are fortunate to use the Kitchen Garden at the Riversdale Gardens and House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park, MD.

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In a Vase on Monday

Posted on August 8, 2017 | 3 comments

Here is a small container of summer blooming flowers from my Virginia garden for #inavaseonMonday. Can you guess the herb that is tucked inside?

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Master Gardener Program: Learn to Garden While Getting Involved with Local Community

Posted on August 4, 2017 | Leave a comment

The Master Gardener program is a great way to learn more about gardening, meet new friends, and get involved in civic projects.  Conducted throughout the United States, the program usually is managed on a county level through state/county extension agents. Interested gardeners receive a manual and horticultural training from horticulturists and experts in the field. In return, they volunteer to assist the community with a variety of activities such as staffing plant clinic booths, answering phones, teaching, gardening in community areas, helping youth or elderly with gardening, etc. The program was initiated as a means of extending horticultural and pest management expertise of the state extension office to the general public. Usually the fee is the cost of the manual and a promise to volunteer and continue with education for a fixed number of hours annually. Becoming a Master Gardener is like joining a gardening club with many extended learning opportunities. Below is information for the Washington DC metropolitan area. More detail is given for Virginia to illustrate the difference in commitment and schedules across counties. Maryland and Washington DC are similar. All have fees and a registration process.

Virginia

The Virginia Tech University manages the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) program which has extension agents at every county. The extension agent manages the county Master Gardener program. The following is a snapshot of five Master Gardener programs in Northern Virginia to give an idea of the application deadlines, times/days programs are offered, cost, and the commitment in terms of hours. For example, if one works full time in an office and can only attend evening classes one may find a program that offers evening classes and does not limit registration to county residents. Or some programs have one class a week instead of two thus extending the education over a longer time but making it more manageable.

In Fairfax county, there are two Master Gardener programs due to the high level of interest. Green Spring, part of the Fairfax county park system, manages a 13-week Master Gardener program that starts in September and ends in November. The classroom training is held at Green Spring on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 to 4:00 pm and labs on Saturdays. When the trainees complete the classroom part, they graduate to become Master Gardener interns. They have to complete 50 volunteer hours within one year including 15 hours working at the Master Gardener Help Desk.  They retain their certification by completing 20 hours of volunteer service hours and 8 hours of continuing education in horticulture per year. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/gsg-mastergardeners.htm

The other Fairfax county Master Gardener program has classes at Merrifield Nursery at Fair Oaks. The classes are January through March, one day a week for 3 hours, during the day or evening. To become a certified Master Gardener, one has to complete 30 hours of classroom education per year for 3 years, and 24 hours of community service per year for 3 years. Once a person becomes a certified Master Gardener, one has to complete 8 hours of continuing education and 24 hours of volunteer work per year. http://www.fairfaxgardening.org/join-us/

In Arlington county, classes start in the beginning of September, Tuesdays, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and last 12 weeks. Classes are held at the Fairlington Community Center in Arlington and other local garden venues. There is no application deadline and acceptances into the program are determined by mid-August. Residents of Alexandria City and Arlington receive preference and all training and internship hours must be completed in the Arlington/Alexandria. After 66 hours of classroom training, the trainees must complete a 60-hour internship to hone their skills in core Master Gardener educational projects within one year of training. Once the classroom program, internship, and student project are completed participants become certified Master Gardeners. To maintain certification, they must volunteer a minimum of 20 hours and attend 8 hours of continuing education programs per year. http://mgnv.org/about/become-a-master-gardener/

In Loudoun county, classes are twice a week for 10 weeks, from January through March, at 750 Miller Drive, Leesburg. The Master Gardener program requires 60 hours of classroom education and 75 hours of the internship. Certified Master Gardeners must complete 25 volunteer hours and 8 hours of continuing education per year. http://loudouncountymastergardeners.org/become-a-master-gardener/training-requirements

In Prince William county, the program runs from September through December and requires 75 hours of classroom education and 50 hours of internship. To maintain certification, Master Gardeners must volunteer 20 hours and complete 8 hours of continuing education per year. http://www.mgpw.org

Maryland

The Maryland Master Gardener Program is administered by the University of Maryland Extension and each county has a coordinator and its own schedule of classes. For a table of county coordinators’ contact information, see http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg/find-local-mg-program.

Washington, DC

The Master Gardener program is managed through the University of the District of Columbia at 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW. The program is held once a year, from the first Tuesday in February through the last Thursday in March, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, 6:30 to 9:00 pm, for 8 weeks. After completing the program, interns must complete 50 hours of volunteer service. http://dev.udc.edu/college_of_urban_agriculture_and_environmental_studies/master_gardening

 

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Invasive Balloon Flower Takes Over the Garden

Posted on August 1, 2017 | Leave a comment

Today I tweeted that it would be good to pull weeds since it had rained buckets for the past few days, thus decreasing the heat and humidity and loosening the soil. For me, the time was ripe to pull an invasive plant from my garden, balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus). “Balloon flowers?” you say, “but it has such pretty blue flowers and the kids love to pop those inflated buds.” Yes, my kids did like to pop the buds on my original plants as they walked to the front door and yes, they do produce pretty blue flowers on tall stems all summer long. But after 10 years, the kids don’t see them anymore (because their heads are always bent down viewing their iPhones) and the original four have multiplied into hundreds, crowding out my other perennials in my Virginia garden.

original four plants have multiplied on left side of walkway and have tan seed pods (directly across walkway is one balloon flower from front garden bed)

Part of problem is that balloon flowers self-seed very fast. The plants could be deadheaded to prevent self-seeding but this is a nerve racking, time consuming task. Each single seed pod has to be clipped off in order to leave the remaining buds or open blossoms. It is not possible to whack the entire plants down a foot. And part of the problem is that they are deer-resistant, drought-resistant, and generally pest free but the worst part is that balloon flowers have long, large tap roots. Breaking off the stem just encourages more stems to grow from the root. Although it is easier to pull and dig after it rains, I still spent hours pulling and digging to get the whole roots out as much as I could. I suspect I did not dig deep enough though, there probably are pieces in the soil that will rise again like the phoenix.

seeds landed on front strip across walkway (blooming with blue flowers)

Interestingly, I have found little reference to its invasive attribute on the internet. I did learn that the Kitazawa Seed Company catalog sells them and according to their description, the root, called doraji, is used in Korean cuisine. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory to treat colds and is considered a cheap ginseng substitute. The root can be dried and packaged for sale in Asian markets.

Unless you want to grow your own doraji for medicinal or culinary reasons, don’t plant this invasive perennial in your garden no matter how much fun you have popping the balloons.

pulling to reveal tap root

 

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Peg’s Picks: August 2017 Gardening Events in the Washington DC Metro Area

Posted on July 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

August has more than 40 gardening events in the Washington DC metro area; however, I would be remiss if I did not mention the BIG event this month.  We will be able to view a solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. It will not be a total blackout here but it will be exciting to watch! #Eclipse2017

2, Wednesday, Garden Color Theory, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Fee and must register. Wine and painting go hand in hand, see firsthand how great colors can be blended in diverse garden settings on a guided tour and enjoy wine tasting and light refreshments. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

2, Wednesday, Potowmack Chapter of the Virginian Native Plant Society sells native plants from their propagation bed at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA, on the first Wednesday of the month, April through October, 10:00 am to noon. http://www.vnps.org and http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

2, Wednesday, Food Preservation, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

3, Thursday, Presentation on Gardens of Belle Grove Plantation by Lynn Hoffman, Master Gardener and plantation volunteer, includes video, 7:00 to 8:00 pm, free. Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd., NW, Leesburg,VA, sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners. http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

3, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Tropical Containers. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

4, Friday, City Blossoms Annual Basil Bonanza, a fiesta to celebrate the summer harvest. Free, bring dish, 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Marion Street Intergenerational Garden, 1521 Marion Street NW near the Shaw Howard Metro Station. For more information e-mail info@cityblossoms.org or call (202) 431-8991. http://www.cityblossoms.org

5, Saturday, Tree Fest, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. American Horticultural Society (AHS) and the TREE Fund presents Tree Fest, a family event at River Farm, headquarters of AHS, 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA http://www.ahsgardening.org

5, Saturday, English Garden Floral Design Workshop, 9:30 to 11:00 am, fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

5, Saturday and 6, Sunday. Orchid diagnostic and repotting clinic (free but your orchid can be repotted for a fee). 9:30 to 4:30 pm on both days. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

5, Saturday, Beginners Hands-on Bonsai Class, 2 to 4 pm, fee and must register, Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

5, Saturday in the Garden series: Cool Fall vegetables You Can Grow, 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Free. Ida Lee Park, 94 Ida Lee Drive, NW, Leesburg, VA. Presented by Loudoun County Master Gardeners, http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org

6, Sunday, Belle Grove Plantation Barn Series: Air Plants (Tillandsia) 2-4 pm. Fee and must register. Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA. Presented by Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association http://www.nsvmga.org and http://www.bellegrove.org

9, Wednesday, Vegetables for Fall Planting, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required. http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

10, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Tool Cleaning and Care. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

10, Thursday, Food in the Garden Series: Flavoring America, 6:30 to 9:00 pm, National Museum of American History with Smithsonian Gardens, at the Victory Garden, must register and purchase ticket online, which includes food and drink. Outdoor evening event, enjoy food, drinks, and dynamic conversation focusing on herbs and spices and tour the new exhibit “Common Ground: Our American Garden.” http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/topics/food/pages/food-garden

12, Saturday, Lecture: Extending the Vegetable Garden Through the Fall, 2:00 pm, free. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

12, Saturday, Garden Tour, Ice Cream Social, and Photo Exhibit of Historic House. 10:00 to 11:30 am. Fee and must register. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

12, Saturday, Success in the Garden Series: Save Seeds, Save Money and (Maybe) Save the Planet, 2:00-3:00 pm. Free. Bowman Library, Tasker Road, Stephens City, VA. Hosted by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners. http://www.nsvmga.org

12, Saturday, Rain Barrel Workshop with Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, 10:00 am to noon, fee and must register (will get rain barrel). Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.org

15, Tuesday, In the Garden Series: Invasive Plant ID and Control, 10:00 to noon, fee and must register. Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD. http://www.ladewgardens.org

16, Wednesday, Useful and Edible Native Plants and Trees, 9:00 to 11:00 am. Fee and must register via ParkTakes. Walking outdoors rain or shine. Also offered on August 22, Tuesday. Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA. http://www.parktakes.fairfaxcounty.gov

16, Wednesday, Managing Your Herb Garden, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required.  http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

16, Wednesday, Lecture: Soil Mixes for Houseplants and Container Gardens, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, free and open to public. Sponsored by Takoma Horticultural Club. Historic Takoma, 7328 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD. http://www.takomahort.org

17, Thursday, Food in the Garden Series: Fermentation Nation, 6:30 to 9:00 pm, National Museum of American History with Smithsonian Gardens, at the Victory Garden, must register and purchase ticket online, which includes food and drink. Outdoor evening event, enjoy food, drinks, and dynamic conversation focusing on fermentation (beer, wine, pickles) and tour the new exhibit “Common Ground: Our American Garden.” http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/topics/food/pages/food-garden

17, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Native Plant Substitutes. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

19, Saturday, Rain Garden Design Workshop, 10:00 to 2:00 pm, free and must register. Sponsored by the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy. Will be held at the MD State Game and Fish Protective Association, 8735 Honeygo Blvd., Perry Hall, MD.  http://gunpowdervalleyconservancy.org/event/garden-design-workshop/

19, Saturday, Lecture: Cattail Moonshine and Milkweed Medicine by Tammi Hartung, herbalist, and author of book by same name. 10:30 to noon. Free but must register. Conservatory Classroom. U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

19, Saturday, Lecture: The Botany and Chemistry of Baking – Wheat, by Todd Brethauer, free but must register, 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Conservatory Classroom, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

19, Saturday, August Pollinator Meetup: Drought Tolerant Pollinator Gardens, 10:00 to 11:00 am., free. Homestead Gardens, 743 West Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. http://www.homesteadgardens.com

19, Saturday in the Garden: Some Like It Hot! Top Summer Plant Performers and Vegetable of the Month, 9:00 to noon, free but must register at master_gardener@pwcgov.org. Hosted by Prince William County Master Gardeners and held at the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535, Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA. http://www.pwcgov.org/grow

19, Saturday, Twelve Steps for a Greener Lawn, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Free but must register at master_gardener@pwcgov.org. Potomac Community Library, 2201 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge, VA. Hosted by Prince William County Extension Agents and Master Gardeners. http://www.pwcgov.org/grow

19, Saturday, Lecture: Fruit Trees, 10:30 to noon. Free but must register. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, http://www.mgnv.org

19, Saturday and 20, Sunday. Orchid diagnostic and repotting clinic (free but your orchid can be repotted for a fee). 9:30 to 4:30 pm on both days. Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

20, Sunday, Lecture: The Botany and Chemistry of Brewing – Barley, by Todd Brethauer, free but must register, 1:00 to 2:30. Conservatory Classroom, U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

23, Wednesday, Tour: Horticultural Backstage Pass – the USBG Production Facility, 10:30 am to noon. Free but must register and meet at the Production Facility (4700 Shepherd Parkway SW Washington DC) U.S. Botanic Garden, 245 First Street, SW, Washington DC. http://www.usbg.gov

23, Wednesday, Garden Therapy, Wednesdays in the Garden Series, 7:00-8:00 pm. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA. Taught by Arlington Food Assistance Center volunteers and VCE Master Gardeners, free, no registration required.  http://www.library.arlingtonva.us. http://www.mgnv.org

24, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Transition to a Fall Vegetable Garden. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

25, Friday, Guided Tour of Tudor Place Gardens, 10:30 to 11:30 am. Free for members, fee for non-members and walkins are welcome but can register in advance. Tudor Place, 1644 31st Street, NW, Washington DC.  http://www.tudorplace.org

26, Saturday, Garden Terrarium Workshop, 1:00 to 2:30, fee and must register. Begonia enthusiast Johanna Zinn will provide information on begonias and teach techniques for creating a tabletop terrarium. Fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

26, Saturday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday, August 27, noon to 3:30 pm. Free. Annual Begonia Show and Sale, sponsored by the Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring

26, Saturday, Lecture: Lawn Care: Keeping It Green and Healthy, 2:00 pm, free, Behnke Nurseries Garden Center, 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD. http://www.behnkes.com

26, Saturday and 27, Sunday, Centro Ashe – Chesapeake Herb Gathering. Must register. Fox Haven Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson, MD. http://www.chesapeakeherbgathering.com

28, Monday, Fall Vegetable Garden, 7-8:30 pm, free but must register. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Also offered on 8/29, Tuesday (same topic) at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. http://www.mgnv.org

29, Tuesday, Fall Vegetable Garden, 7-8:30 pm, free but must register. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington. Also offered on 8/28, Monday, at the Beatley library, same topic. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. http://www.mgnv.org

29 through October 1, Tri-State Native Plant Conference at Shepherdstown, WV. http://www.vnps.org/tri-state-native-plant-conference-2017

31, Thursday, Let’s Talk Gardens, 12:15-12:45 pm, Free. Meet at the East Walk of the Smithsonian Enid A. Haupt Garden and join Smithsonian Garden horticulturist for series of free lunch time talks on Thursdays. Today’s topic: Build a Terrarium. http://www.gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/lets-talk-gardens.html

Just a reminder,

The DC Parks and Recreation has a Summer Garden Workshop Series. Free workshops until September. Focused on practical urban gardening and taught by the leaders of DC urban garden movement. Check out the website for more details:

https://dpr.dc.gov/node/1124742

The Smithsonian Gardens staff provide garden tours on a regular basis in the summer (http://www.gardens.si.edu)

  • The Mary Livingston Ripley garden has tours on Tuesday at 2:00 pm
  • The Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle has tours on Wednesday at 10:00 am
  • Common ground: Our American Garden at the National Museum of American History has tours on Thursdays at 9:30 am.
  • Native Landscapes at the National Museum of the American Indian has tours at Thursdays at 1:00 pm

The Franciscan Monastery gives guided garden tours on Saturdays, 11:00 am and noon, free. http://www.fmgg.org

Historic London Town and Gardens gives guided garden tours on weekends from 1:30 to 2:00 pm, free http://www.historiclondontown.org

In August, Hillwood Museum and Estate is offering a special: groups of ten or more that visit will enjoy a special discounted admission rate, advance tour reservations, complimentary passes for group planners, and an opportunity to book private and curator led tours. http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org

Before school starts, visit the Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit. The exhibit is open until September 17 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily but if there is excessive heat, it may shut down to protect the butterflies. Entrance fee to the Wings of Fancy. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD. http://www.brooksidegardens.org

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Got Gardening Problems? Contact Your Local Plant Clinic

Posted on July 26, 2017 | 1 comment

One of the great, free resources available to Northern Virginia gardeners are the plant clinics sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). If you have a gardening problem or question, you can visit the plant clinics at select farmers markets, public libraries, and special events to get answers to your questions and solutions to your dilemmas.  All are staffed by volunteer Master Gardeners who have received training from the VCE to answer general gardening questions; questions about pests, diseases, or weeds; and identify plants.

In addition to the plant clinics, there are two places to go for gardening challenges if you live in Fairfax or Arlington County or the City of Alexandria. There is an Arlington VCE office at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, and a Fairfax VCE office at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1050 of the Pennino Building. Call the Fairlington help desk at (703) 228-6414, between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, year round, or visit in person, or e-mail mgarlalex@gmail.com. Or call the Fairfax help desk at (703) 324-8556, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, April through October, or visit in person, or e-mail at mgfairfax@vt.edu (Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm November through March). Other Virginia counties have similar resources, this link provides the contact information for each county’s VCE office http://www.ext.vt.edu/offices/index.html. There is a Plant Problems page at pegplant.com that lists additional information, including books.

2017 Schedule of VCE Plant Clinics

  Location Address Day/Time Date
Annandale Farmers Market Mason District Park
6621 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003		 Thursday
9:00 am – 12 noon		 May – September
Arlington Farmers Market N. 14th St. and N. Courthouse Rd Saturday

8:00 am – 11:00 am

 April – September

 

 
Arlington Central Library 1015 N. Quincy Street

Arlington, VA

 Wednesday

6:45 to 8:45 pm

 March – October
Burke Farmers Market 5671 Roberts Parkway
Burke, VA		 Saturday
8:00 am – 11:00 am		 May – September
Chantilly Library 4000 Stringfellow Rd
Chantilly, VA 20151		 Saturday
10:30 am – 1:30 pm		 May – September
Del Ray Farmers Market E. Oxford & Mt. Vernon Ave. Saturday

8:30 am to 11:00 am

 May – September
Fairfax City Regional Library 10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030		 Saturday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm		 May – September
Falls Church Farmers Market City Hall Parking Lot
300 Park Ave
Falls Church, VA 22046		 Saturday
9:00 am – 12 noon		 May – September
Pohick Library 6450 Sydenstricker Rd.,

Burke, VA 22015

 Sunday

1:00 to 4:00 pm

 May – September

 

 
Herndon Farmers Market 777 Lynn Street
Herndon, VA 20170		 Thursday
9:00 am – 12 noon		 May – September
Kings Park Farmers Market 9000 Burke Lake Rd.
Burke, VA 22015		 Saturday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm		 May – September
Kingstowne Farmers Market Kingstowne Town Center
Alexandria, VA 22314		 Friday
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm		 May – September
Lorton Farmers Market 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard
Lorton, VA 22079		 Sunday
9:00 am – 12:00 noon		 May – September
McLean Farmers Market 1659 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101		 Friday
9:00 am – 12:00 noon		 May – September
Mt. Vernon Farmers Market Sherwood Library
2501 Sherwood Hall Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306		 Wednesday
9:00 am – 12 noon		 May – September
Oakton Library 10304 Lynnhaven Place
Oakton, VA 22124		 Saturday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm		 May – September
Old Town Alexandria

Farmers market

 301 King Street, Alexandria Saturday

7:30 to 9:45 am

 May – September
Reston Farmers Market Lake Anne Village Center
1609 Washington Plaza N
Reston, VA 20190		 Saturday
9:00 am – 12:00 noon		 May – September
Richard Byrd Library 7250 Commerce Street
Springfield, VA 22150		 Tuesday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm		 May – September
Wakefield Farmers Market 8100 Braddock Road
Annandale, VA 22003		 Wednesday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm		 May – September

 

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Letting Your Herbs Flower to Attract Beneficial Insects

Posted on July 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

My first guest post for the Herb Society of America’s blog appeared yesterday. I was inspired by the numerous beneficial insects hovering around my herbs in my Virginia garden. Often my herbs flower before I ever get to harvest the leaves but that’s okay because their tiny flowers attract the “good” bugs. If you are interested in growing and learning more about herbs, contact the Herb Society of America (I belong to the local Potomac Unit).

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