2025 Spring Symposium
| 2025_symposium_registration_mail-in__form.pdf |
2025 Symposium Agenda
2024 Spring Symposium Wrap-up
Sustainable Gardening: Growing a Greener Future
The 12th Annual Master Gardeners Association of the Central Rappahannock Area Living in the Garden Symposium was held at Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Falmouth, VA, on April 13, 2024. The theme was Sustainable Gardening: Growing a Greener Future which covered everything from growing your own vegetables and flowers to best practices for sustainable agriculture and growing plants in a changing climate. Bryce Lane opened the day with basic information on vegetable gardening including preparing the best soil. Jenny Rose Carey provided a beautiful presentation on best practices for flower gardening. Dr. Leonard Githinji showed sustainable practices that would enhance your soil health, increase garden output and minimize pests. To wrap up the day, Bryce Lane spoke about our changing climate (i.e. we are now Zone 7b as opposed to 7a) and how what grows in our area is changing in these challenging times.
Over 100 people registered for the symposium (67 MGACRA members and 41 general public). Attendees enjoyed the talks, visiting the beautiful gardens at Belmont, the Museum store, and the breakfast and salad buffet lunch. The registrations and contributions from sponsors resulted in $295.53 being raised for the 2024 MGACRA Community Project Fund which supports such projects as Cedell Brooks Jr. Park Native Plant Garden in King George and Cossey Park Botanic Garden in Fredericksburg. The decreased profit resulted from increased costs of the venue and speakers.
Over 100 people registered for the symposium (67 MGACRA members and 41 general public). Attendees enjoyed the talks, visiting the beautiful gardens at Belmont, the Museum store, and the breakfast and salad buffet lunch. The registrations and contributions from sponsors resulted in $295.53 being raised for the 2024 MGACRA Community Project Fund which supports such projects as Cedell Brooks Jr. Park Native Plant Garden in King George and Cossey Park Botanic Garden in Fredericksburg. The decreased profit resulted from increased costs of the venue and speakers.
2023 Spring Symposium Wrap Up
The 11th Annual Master Gardeners Association of the Central Rappahannock Area Living in the Garden Symposium was held at Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Falmouth, VA, on April 1, 2023. The theme was Flower Power – From Roots to Blooms which covered everything from creating better soils for plant growth to growing flowers and native plants. Bryce Lane opened the day with a very informative and understandable talk on Understanding Garden Soils. Stacey Chapman described how she created a flower farm on two acres in nearby Orange, Virginia. Nancy Berlin shared how to create container gardens using northern Virginia native plants. To wrap up the day, Bryce Lane spoke about adding color to your garden by adding plants with stunning foliage or incredible flowers including how to use color combinations that will attract attention.
In attendance were 46 MGACRA members and 53 community members who enjoyed the talks, visiting the gardens at Belmont, the Museum store, and the breakfast and salad buffet lunch. The outstanding attendance and contributions from sponsors resulted in $2,258.60 being raised for the 2023 MGACRA Community Project Fund which supports such projects as Cedell Brooks Jr. Park Native Plant Garden in King George and Cossey Park Botanic Garden in Fredericksburg.
SAVE THE DATE! Planning has begun for the 12th Annual Living in the Garden Symposium which will be held April 13, 2024. The tentative theme is Sustainable Gardening. Bryce Lane has agreed to be there with two more presentations and Dori will cater the event again. Other speakers are to be determined.
In attendance were 46 MGACRA members and 53 community members who enjoyed the talks, visiting the gardens at Belmont, the Museum store, and the breakfast and salad buffet lunch. The outstanding attendance and contributions from sponsors resulted in $2,258.60 being raised for the 2023 MGACRA Community Project Fund which supports such projects as Cedell Brooks Jr. Park Native Plant Garden in King George and Cossey Park Botanic Garden in Fredericksburg.
SAVE THE DATE! Planning has begun for the 12th Annual Living in the Garden Symposium which will be held April 13, 2024. The tentative theme is Sustainable Gardening. Bryce Lane has agreed to be there with two more presentations and Dori will cater the event again. Other speakers are to be determined.
| understanding_garden_soils_by_bryce_lane.pdf |
| accent_your_landscape_with_color_by_bryce_lane.pdf |
Pictures from the 2023
Spring Symposium
Spring Symposium
Container Gardening with Native Plants
4/1/23
Central Rappahannock Area Living in the Garden Symposium
Nancy Berlin
[email protected]
Gentle Landscaping LLC
703-398-7306
Nativars
https://ento.psu.edu/news/bees-bugs-blooms-2013-a-pollinator-trial
https://mtcubacenter.org/nativars-combine-beauty-and-ecological-benefits-for-the-home-gardener/
Perched water table container gardening
https://gardenprofessors.com/container-planting-intuition-vs-reality/
Soil characteristics
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/production/peat-alternatives-help-reduce-costs-and-ease-supply-chain-headaches/
Container selection
https://www.gardenmyths.com/potting-up-correct-pot-size/
Audubon at Home
https://www.audubonva.org/audubon-at-home
Homegrown National Park - Doug Tallamhy - container gardening
https://homegrownnationalpark.org/keystone-container-gardening
Peat-free
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/coir-sustainable-alternative-peat-moss-garden
Native plants - Rappahanock
https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-central-rappahannock-natives
4/1/23
Central Rappahannock Area Living in the Garden Symposium
Nancy Berlin
[email protected]
Gentle Landscaping LLC
703-398-7306
Nativars
https://ento.psu.edu/news/bees-bugs-blooms-2013-a-pollinator-trial
https://mtcubacenter.org/nativars-combine-beauty-and-ecological-benefits-for-the-home-gardener/
Perched water table container gardening
https://gardenprofessors.com/container-planting-intuition-vs-reality/
Soil characteristics
https://www.greenhousegrower.com/production/peat-alternatives-help-reduce-costs-and-ease-supply-chain-headaches/
Container selection
https://www.gardenmyths.com/potting-up-correct-pot-size/
Audubon at Home
https://www.audubonva.org/audubon-at-home
Homegrown National Park - Doug Tallamhy - container gardening
https://homegrownnationalpark.org/keystone-container-gardening
Peat-free
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/coir-sustainable-alternative-peat-moss-garden
Native plants - Rappahanock
https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-central-rappahannock-natives