The Fredericksburg City Council has approved the development of the Cossey Botanical Park! Guy, along with many MGs, has worked tirelessly on the proposal for over 2 years! It will be an educational site for the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners.

The park is located on Kenmore Ave. and Littlepage St., at the site of an old water plant (near the tennis courts).

The first phase will focus on laying out the park and putting in the pathways, in collaboration with the Fredericksburg Park and Recreation Department.

If you are interested in helping, please let Gwen know! You can reach her at gpote@vt.edu or 540-658-8000.

MGACRA General Meeting

“Landscaping for Year Round Interest”

featuring Vic Meadows

Vic is a well-known landscaper with Meadows Farms. He has many years of experience and will discuss essential elements of effective landscaping. He encourages people to come and bring their questions!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

7 PM

at the C. Ray Grizzle Building, Room 5

(60 Butler Rd. in Falmouth)

For more information, please contact Tina Will at 374-5233.

Livable Neighborhoods

Water Stewardship Program

In partnership with Friends of the Rappahannock, the VCE-Stafford Office is holding an educational short course designed to help you better protect and conserve water resources and create a healthier neighborhood.

Each student will learn to identify daily lifestyle choices that impact our environment with the goal of lowering our impact on precious water resources. Plus, it counts towards your educational hours!

Wednesdays, from March 26^th-April 23^rd

1-3 pm at the Rowser Building in Stafford

Free of Charge!

Contact Laura Collinsworth at (540) 659.6098 or l.collinsworth@verizon.net.

The Plant Clinics are Coming!

It is getting to be time for the annual Master Gardener plant clinics. They are a fabulous way to earn hours, learn a ton about plants and their problems, and help out the Extension Service. They are particularly effective in reaching clients that work during the normal office hours.

We need volunteers to staff the tables. The ideal is for each plant clinic will have 3 people assigned to it, 2 Master Gardeners and 1 intern, so you won’t be alone. Remember, you do not have to know all of the answers, but facilitate in getting the Extension's information to the clients. If the questions are too complex to answer on the spot, you can take down the information for the Extension office to contact the clients.

Porter Library Plant Clinic

Tuesday Evenings, 6:30 - 8:30PM

May 20^th - August 26^th

Route 3 Farmer's Market

Saturday Mornings, 9AM - Noon

April 26^th - September

Bowling Green Plant Clinic

Saturday Mornings

April 19^th – September

To volunteer, contact Karen Ehrhard, the Plant Clinic Coordinator, at tkaze@aol.com. Tell her which plant clinic you wish to volunteer for, preferred dates, what Master Gardener status you have, and if you have volunteered for a plant clinic previously.

Volunteers Needed for the Seedling Sale

The Tri-County Soil and Water Conservation District is in the process of organizing their annual seedling sale. In the past, Master Gardeners have supported this program by helping to “bundle” up seedlings for sale, to distribute the trees, and to give advice on soil testing, planting, mulching, right plant right place or any other questions purchasers might have.

Seedlings Bundling: March 26^th (or 24^th or 25^th) Let them know the best date

Seedling Sale: April 5^th 8:30AM to noon at one of four sale sites: Chancellor Landfill on Harrison Road, FLS Parking Lot on William Street, Grassy area at Foodlion in King George; and behind Stafford Court House in parking lot. Let them know which site you prefer

Potting of leftover seedlings: April 14^th, 15^th, or 16^th Vote on the best date for you, and they will choose one date and notify everyone.

Natural Garden Demo Tour: May 17^th, 9AM until 1PM. Anne is looking for folks that can answer questions about native plants and composting. Her home is near FLS William Street Parking Lot.

Please contact Ellen Schwartz for more information and to sign up at (540) 899-9492, ext 3 or conservation.district@verizon.net

If you would like to order trees, their web site is: http://tccswcd.vaswcd.org/seedling.htm

2008 Home Landscape Course for the Gardening Novice

Let all of your friends, family, and neighbors know that Guy Mussey is once again offering the Home Landscape Course for the Gardening Novice! These classes are not aimed at Master Gardeners, but at local residents that are interested in basic gardening information.

Topics to be covered are: Soils and Fertilizers, Annuals and Perennials, Woody Ornamental Identification, Turf Maintenance, Composting, Plant Insect Pests, Plant Diseases, Proper Pruning and Mulching, and Landscape Design.

Thursdays, April 3 through May 29

6:30-8:30 PM

Rowser Building

Additionally, let Gwen know if you are interested in facilitating any or all of the classes. Contact Gwen for more information, to register, or to volunteer at 540-658-8000 or gpote@vt.edu.

Helping Hands: Reaching Out to Our Watershed Community

Spotsylvania County School a grant for Helping Hands: Reaching Out to Our Watershed Community, from the Department of Education. Middle school students, teachers and counselors in Spotsylvania County Schools and partnering groups will integrate meaningful community service with science instruction and reflection to enrich environmental learning experiences, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen our community.

A major focus of the program will be the planning and establishment of outdoor classrooms at each middle school where students will conduct studies investigating environmental issues through the collection and analysis of field data.

If you think you might be interested in working with 6^th grade students or developing “Out Door Classrooms,” contact:

Gwen for more information at gpote@vt.edu or 540-658-8000.

Jean Young, Supervisor of Science for Spotsylvania Schools, to volunteer at jyoung@spotsylvania.k12.va.us.

RAAI Needs Volunteers

RAAI is looking for volunteers with knowledge of plants to answer questions at the Mayfest plant sale on May 3^rd. All that is required is plant knowledge, a willingness to serve, a big heart, and great enthusiasm! Training and a review of plants will be available before the sale date, and all plants will be listed on the website to give you a head start at www.celebratemayfest.com. To volunteer please contact Martha Weston at 540-854-7263.

Membership in MGACRA

Your membership dues help keep the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area (MGACRA) going! We use the money to support many Master Gardener projects as well as paying for the expenses at the annual picnics and Gala ceremonies. The funds are also used to publish “The Latest Dirt” newsletter and for continuing education programs like getting speakers for our monthly general meetings.

Please consider joining to help MGACRA continue to contribute to the community and support the MG programs. Dues are $20 a person.

Anne Kline (540-659-7098) will gladly accept your dues at the General Meetings, or you can mail him a check made out to MGACRA to:

Anne Kline
8 Country Court

Stafford, VA 22554

Looking for Volunteers!

Stafford VCE Office

Volunteers needed to help out at the office answering horticultural questions and performing other related jobs. Wednesday mornings are open, as well as any afternoon. To volunteer, contact Gwen at gpote@vt.edu.

Spotsylvania VCE Office

Just because it is chilly outside doesn’t mean you can’t still earn your volunteer hours. Come help at the Spotsy Extension office with the horticultural help-line! To volunteer, contact Kay Kimmell at Spotsy@vt.edu or 540-507-7570

Speakers Bureau
Guy gets a ton of requests to give talks each year, way more than he could ever schedule in! We are looking for Master Gardeners or MG Interns who are willing to speak to a group. You can pick your preferred topics and times -- Laurie will contact you when an applicable request comes in, but YOU get to decide if you are available. Remember that educating the public is the purpose behind the Master Gardener program. Contact Laurie at 582-2699 or garadh@verizon.net.

Volunteer Spot

Place, time, & contact info

Ferry Farm

Thursdays

9am-12pm

Mike Holmes acerrubrum10807@aol.com

Kenmore

Tuesdays

9am-12pm

Mike Holmes acerrubrum10807@aol.com

Belmont

Wednesdays

9am-12pm

Terry Drew

Gyrene05@aol.com

Mary Washington House

Thursdays

9am-12pm

Jan Toperoff

toperoff@cox.net

Chatham

Fridays

9am-12pm

Sara Broyles

sarajanice@cox.net

Stafford Extension Office

Gwen Pote

gpote@vt.edu

Spotsy Extension Office

Kay Kimmell

Spotsy@vt.edu

Spotsy Plant Clinic

May through October

Saturdays 8:45-12

Joe Metz

metzjs@adelphia.net

Salem Church Library Plant Clinic

January through April

Mondays 6-8:30pm

Karen Ehrhard

Spotsy@vt.edu

Porter Library Plant Clinic

May through August

Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm

Gwen Pote

gpote@vt.edu

Smoot Library Plant Clinic

May through August

Saturdays 9-12

Regina Prunty

rprunty@vt.edu

PD 16 Master Gardener Message Board

Master Gardeners have their own message board to post messages and chat! Here area Master Gardeners can socialize and talk about gardening. Sign up! It is free, and is only open to Planning District 16 MGs (MACRA and Non-MACRA Members).

You can list upcoming projects, exchange information, plants, ideas, etc!

To sign up, go to:

MGACRA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Then, to post a message, go to:

MGACRA@yahoogroups.com

If you need to unsubscribe, go to:

MGACRA-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

List owner:

MGACRA-owner@yahoogroups.com

The moderator is Laurie Clarkston. Contact her at garadh@verizon.net or call 540-582-2699

Looking for MGACRA’s History

Joe Metz has taken on the role of Historian. He is asking for all information that could help him rebuild the association’s history. Old newsletters, board meeting minutes or photos of MG events would be great. Joe Metz can be contacted at metzjs@adelphia.net or 582-9745

Master Gardener Hours

Remember, reporting your hours is vital both for maintaining your Master Gardener status and for justifying Guy’s funding.

Click here for a copy of the MG Volunteer Hours Report form: You can email the completed forms to Gwen at gpote@vt.edu, fax them to her at (540) 658-8006, or send them through the mail to the VCE-Stafford Office, P.O. Box 339, Stafford, VA 22555. She also notes that you can deliver them in person at the Stafford VCE office.

If you have any questions on filling out the form, the requirements for maintaining Master Gardener Status, or what to do if you couldn’t complete your requirements, contact Gwen at 540-658-8000 ex. 24 or gpote@vt.edu.

Click Here For Hours Forms

Click Here For MGACRA Bylaws

MGACRA SHIRT INFO

MGACRA shirts, sweatshirts, and ball caps now available. For more information on ordering click here

* Reminder: The MGACRA slogan and logo belong exclusively to MGACRA. Do not reproduce on our own.

For comments or questions about the website, contact Michelle Meyer at

Cmeyer01.at.verizon.net

(NOTE: to make the email address active, replace the .at. with @)