Using native plants, turn your yard into a songbird paradise. Planting a mixture of trees, shrubs and perennials can provide birds with year-round food, winter shelter and nesting areas. Water features, especially moving water, act as magnets for birds. Learn how a few simple tips, like saving leaves, can make your yard a healthier environment… Read More »Garden Basics: Attracting Birds to Your Garden
Growing an herb garden provides easy access to herbs that can be eaten fresh or stored for later use. We will explore the current culinary use of herbs, as well as their historic use in medicine and cooking in Virginia. Participants will gain skills for planning and planting an herb garden in ground or in… Read More »Garden Basics: Herb Gardening—Discover the History and Magic of Culinary and Medicinal Herbs
This session will look at suitable trees for home landscapes, emphasizing native species of trees and their appropriate placement. We will also promote a greater understanding of the nature of trees and highlight their benefits. Space is limited. Please register below to reserve a place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. July 17… Read More »Garden Basics: More Trees, PLEASE!
Cool weather crops are essential for gardeners aiming to extend their growing season and make the most of early spring and fall. We will delve into the specifics of selecting the right crops, preparing the garden bed, and managing the unique challenges that come with cool weather gardening. We’ll cover key techniques and timing for… Read More »Garden Basics: Planting Out Cool Weather Crops—Extending Your Garden Harvest
Join us for this overview of common methods of propagating plants, including seed starting, cuttings, division, and layering. We will explain the extra steps some seeds need to sprout, and we will tell you how to sow in winter, how to use the Forsythe pot for propagation of stem cuttings, and how to propagate a… Read More »Garden Basics: Growing Tomorrow—Plant Propagation
We’ll dive into the latest integrated pest management (IPM) process to learn practical approaches to controlling pests while promoting ecological balance and sustainability. We will give attendees the opportunity to practice pest management steps they can use in their own gardens. Space is limited. Please register below to reserve a place in the class. Registration… Read More »Garden Basics: Is that a good bug or a bad bug on my vegetable plants?