2009 MGACRA

Calendar of Events

JANUARY
1/14	7PM	Board Meeting
1/26		MGACRA Gala and Awards Ceremony, Rowser Building in Stafford. All local Master Gardeners and their families are invited to join MGACRA for a wonderful potluck meal and a celebration of all our achievements
1/27-2/10	6PM-8PM	Practical Gardening: Graphics for Home Landscape Design -- Tuesday evening classes at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Learn to graphically represent landscape in plan view and elevation.  Depiction of plant material receives emphasis.  Bring basic graphics tools (list provided in advance). Instructor:  Neal Beasley, Timmons, Inc. Cost: $90 ($80 fpr Ginter members). See here for more information.
1/31		The 6^th Annual Landowners' Woods & Wildlife Conference in Manassas is an all-day conference for large and small acreage landowners. Meet natural resource professionals, learn about caring for woodlands, and meet other like-minded landowners. To learn more or for registration information, click here. Registration deadline is January 16^th.
FEBRUARY
2/7	9-11AM	Candy Lindenzweig of The Great Big Greenhouse discusses how to plan and design a cutting garden that is attractive, colorful, fragrant—and useful. Class takes place at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Cost: $30 ($20 for Ginter members). See here for more information
2/7	9AM-12PM	Instructor Joel Koci of Arborcare, Inc., describes the basics of pruning, discusses appropriate pruning times for various trees, and demonstrates techniques discussed in his lecture. Bring questions about personal pruning problems. Class takes place at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Cost: $35 ($25 for Ginter members). See here for more information
2/10	4-6PM	Amy Hicks (of Amy's Garden) discusses many annual flowers that yield abundant spring and summer blooms, including amaranth, ageratum, gomphrena, asclepias, celosia (cockscomb), zinnias, tuberose, and more.  She covers planning, planting, and sustainable culture for these spring and summer bloomers.  Class takes place at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Cost: $30 ($20 for Ginter members). See here for more information
2/11	7PM	Board Meeting
2/12-2/19	Thursdays 6:30-8PM; Saturdays, 9:30AM-12PM	How to Draw Stuff (in the Garden) -- Learn to draw with a basic course. The evening classes cover the tools and Saturdays allow you sketch. All materials, including a copy of Drawing and Sketching by Jackie Simmonds, are included. Class takes place at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Cost: $125 ($95 for Ginter members). See here for more information
2/18	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting For more information, contact Tina Will at 374-5233
2/19-2/22		Maymont Flower & Garden Show, Richmond click here for more info
MARCH
3/1-3/8		Philadelphia Flower Show click here for more info. This year’s theme is “Bella Italia.”
3/8		Daylight savings time begins
3/11	7PM	Board Meeting
3/18	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting Come listen to Mike Lockatell, an Iris grower from Richmond area, as he speaks about irises! The talk will take place at the Rowser Building in Stafford. Click here for directions. For more information, contact Tina Will at 374-5233
3/20		Vernal Equinox – Happy Spring!!
3/21	9AM-2:45PM	Making the Most of Your Garden -- Noted author Gordon Hayward is leading a seminar illuminating the garden design process, including a practical and sequential design approach to create a unified living space that fits your lifestyle. Hayward coaches you in re-imagining your personal space. Class fee includes morning coffee and lunch. $85 ($75 for Ginter members). Visit www.lewisginter.org to register or call 804-262-9887 ext. 322.
3/21		Backyard Woods Workshop in Albemarle County -- see http://info.ag.vt.edu/vce/offices/webinfo/files/WIYBY%20workshops%20flier%202009.pdf for more information
3/26	7PM	Composting class -- Come learn all about composting at the Rowser Building. Please let Gwen know if you are interested at 540-658-8000 or gpote@vt.edu.
3/28-4/12		National Cherry Blossom Festival click here for more info
APRIL
4/2-4/3		Basic Soils Short Course -- This intensive, two-day short course in Charlottesville focuses on understanding soil physical, chemical and morphological properties in natural and managed landscapes. Sponsored by the Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists (VAPSS), Virginia Tech Dept of Crop &Soil Environmental Sciences. Cost: $235 For Further Information: Sue Brown – 540-231-5741 – suebrown@vt.edu or W. Lee Daniels – 540-231-7175 – wdaniels@vt.edu
4/8	7PM	Board Meeting
4/12		This is the last day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
4/15	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting – Come to the Rowser Building (Senior Citizen Center, Room B) in Stafford for a talk on on Hazardous Trees: Don't let your house become a target. Dr. John Skelly is a retired Professor from Penn State University with expertise in hazardous tree evaluations, forest pathology, and air pollution effects to forests. Come learn how to identify the vulnerable trees before they land on you, your property, or somone else's property! Learn what to look for when inspecting trees and what corrective actions to take. Point of Contact: Tina Will 374-5233
4/16	7PM	Native Plant Society Meeting – Come to the Salem Church Library. Donna Finnegan, Master Naturalist and President of the local native plant chapter, gives a fun presentation on amphibians and reptiles found in our own backyards. She has a slideshow and live specimens. Learn identification, lifecycle, and conservation information on turtles, lizards, salamanders, newts, snakes, frogs, and toads!
4/21		The Chesterfield County Master Gardeners are hosting an advanced training symposium at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden titled “Conserving the Commonwealth: Keeping Virginia Green.” Click here for the brochure.
MAY
5/2	9AM-3PM	Mayfest -- The Annual RAAI Plant Sale culminates at Mayfest. The program participants have outdone themselves and worked very hard to produce some of the finest plants anywhere. The plant listings are located at www.celebratemayfest.com, along with other information regarding Mayfest. All proceeds from the Plant Sale and Mayfest make it possible for program participants to attend the Day Support Program at RAAI.
5/13	7 PM	Board Meeting
5/20	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership
JUNE
6/10	7PM	Board Meeting
	6 PM	MGACRA Annual Picnic at Stan Zack’s house. Exact date to be announced.
6/21		Summer Solstice -- Happy Summer!
6/16-6/21		2008 Master Gardener College in Blacksburg. Check here for information in the upcoming months!
JULY
7/8		Board Meeting
7/15	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting -- Come to the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on Caroline Street to listen to Gwen Pote speak on Virginia’s Forest Health.
AUGUST
8/12	7PM	Board Meeting
8/19	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting
SEPTEMBER
9/9	7PM	Board Meeting
		Master Gardener training classes begin. Check back later for dates.
9/16	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting
9/19	5PM-9PM	Rappahannock Riverfest! Overlooking the river. Come join F.O.R. for a fine fall evening along the river with Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs, BBQ, live music, open bar, and live and silent auctions. The location is at Farley Vale Farm in King George (only 12 minutes from downtown Fredericksburg) and overlooking the river. Riverfest is the main fundraiser for the Friends of the Rappahannock.
9/22		Autumnal Equinox -- Happy Fall!
OCTOBER
10/14	7PM	Board Meeting
10/21	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting
NOVEMBER
11/1		Daylight savings time ends
11/11	7PM	Board Meeting
11/18	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting
DECEMBER
12/9	7PM	Board Meeting
12/16	7PM	Master Gardener General Membership Meeting
12/21		Winter Solstice -- Happy Winter!
Happy Holidays!
JANUARY 2010 (Preview)
1/1		Happy 2010!!
		2010 Gala Check back later for details