Bedford Area Master Gardeners Association
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Speaker: Irene Barber, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Have you ever heard of Horticultural Therapy or Therapeutic Horticulture? Registered Horticultural Therapist and Adult Education Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Irene Brady Barber, will explain about the value and practice of Horticultural Therapy through the lens of the HT program offered in the Lerner Garden […]
You can have it all! Attractive plants, a cohesive design AND a harvestable crop from your landscaped areas. Kirsten Conrad, Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Agent for Arlington and the City of Alexandria shows participants how to use design principles and best management practices to create attractive landscapes of fruit trees, perennial vegetables, herbs, and even annual edibles to […]
The World Health Organization reports that green spaces in urban areas are essential resources necessary for healthy and sustainable living environments. They allow urban dwellers to connect with nature, which provides measurable physical and psychological benefits. For wildlife, the rate at which natural habitats are being conserved is declining, and there is great potential to […]
Trees are one of our most important and resilient natural resources. Kirsten Conrad, Extension Agent for Arlington and the City of Alexandria, discusses the impact of poor care on tree health. She also looks at a selection of common diseases and pest problems of shade and ornamental trees in Northern Virginia with a focus on identification […]
Native Trees & Shrubs - Laurie Fox, Virginia Tech, Hampton Roads AREC Native trees like oaks, maples, and cherries support hundreds of species of insects, but large trees aren’t right for every garden. This talk focuses on smaller native tree and shrub species appropriate for planting in smaller urban and suburban gardens and the benefits […]
Edible Ornamentals for Fall - Lynn Francois, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener It’s fall garden time – the easiest gardening of the year! Let’s have some fun starting a beautiful and edible garden using the vast array of vegetables, lettuces, kales and ornamentals available to us in our 757 area for fall! We’ll take the […]
Free It may be autumn, but it’s not time to abandon the garden! This class offers easy tips for onsite composting, providing winter habitat and food for wildlife, and end-of-season care of tools and equipment. Did you know that fall is the ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials? We help you identify opportunities […]
Free Soil building is the #1 way to help you have the garden of your dreams. Protecting and nurturing soil health should be an annual priority of all gardeners. No matter if you want to grow blue-ribbon vegetables or prize-winning perennials, finding ways to add organic matter to your soil and understanding how to respond […]
Bats - Leslie Sturges, President, Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia Often the stuff of myths, legends, and spooky stories, bats are actually a crucial part of our natural ecosystems. This talk discusses bat habitat, how our gardens can support them, and the pest control benefits bats provide.
Free Unique, colorful, and often very easy to care for, succulents and cacti can be incredibly rewarding plants to grow both indoors and outdoors in our region. Yet many experienced gardeners and houseplant enthusiasts have never tried to grow them! Join Extension Master Gardener Benton Murphy as he shares tips and tricks on growing amazing and exotic […]
Free What’s in a name? Join Extension Master Gardeners Rebecca Secula and Evin Morrison as they discuss just that. A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but knowing and understanding the scientific nomenclature of your favorite plants is not only interesting, but a necessary tool in your garden toolkit. Follow along as they discuss the difference between […]
In this introductory overview of native plants, Extension Master Gardener Elaine Mills introduces species for the Mid-Atlantic region (from trees to ground covers) that attract and support our local pollinators, butterflies, moths, and birds. She explains how to choose beautiful native plants appropriate for the conditions of your yard, describing their use in layered forest settings; in […]
