Except where noted, all events and meetings are open to the public. Some lectures and events will be offered via YouTube or ZOOM technology. Zoom meetings/presentations will require registration prior to start date.
The Free Lance Star and MGACRA Facebook page will also be used to post/advertise all activities.
All gardening, insect, plant disease, and horticultural related questions can be called into our VCE office: 540-658-8000. The office serves the four-county area and Fredericksburg. Additional resources are available at: ext.vt.edu where subjects of interest can be searched. *****************************************************************************************************************
Annual and Special Events: 17 Jun - Kicking Off Pollinator Week Celebration Location: Theater Room of Fredericksburg Library, 1201 Caroline St. 22401. This event is to showcase the groups in the area (Planning District 16) and the Regional Library's readership that work to create habitats to attract pollinators. You can get ideas, find out about a group you might be interested in and come learn about how you can help in your very own yard. Non-profit groups (plant and pollinator related) that would like to set up a display can contact Laurie Clarkston.This can be a local garden club, a school group, a neighborhood, local Boy/Girl scouts, church groups. If your group would like to participate, contact Laurie: garadh56@gmail.com. Tables and Chairs provided; you bring the info. Also: Master Gardeners will be giving out small pots of native plants (native VA or Native to the US). One per family. Limited numbers available. Annual seedlings in small pots for kids who are interested in participating in the Pollinator Flower Show this coming August 22 and 23. One plant per child. Limited numbers available.
19-25 Jun - Pollinator Week 22-23 Aug - Annual Flower Show (see August Calendar page) Flower Show in Theater Room Fredericksburg Library 1201 Caoline St. 22401. Come be part of the fun, beautify your yard, then bring a flower in a jar to the library and perhaps receive a ribbon for your work. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE!
MGACRA Monthly Meeting & Education Program: 21 Jun 2023, 7:00 p.m. at Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg
MGACRA Volunteer Opportunities: Please visit the gardens/projects. They are open and free to the public! Contact the Garden/Project coordinators listed below for information about the 2023 gardening season
Cossey Park Plant Clinic (New location): June 3 and June 17 from 9 to 11 (set-up at 8:30 a.m.) 1601 Kenmore Ave. Fredericksburg, VA 22401. This clinic will meet on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays (no 5th Saturday) from May through September. Coordinator Tina Will. Use Sign-up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4daca62fa4ff2-mgacra1#
Cedell Brooks Native Demonstration Garden: Coordinator Alvin Calhoun welcomes volunteers to join him at the Cedell Brooks Park Native Garden in King George VA. Please contact Alvin if you have any questions about the native garden and the 2023 schedule. Alvin can be reached at aac.a4@gmail.com.
Native Garden at Widewater State Park: Coordinator Beth Daly welcomes all volunteers to join her at Widewater State Park in Stafford VA. Reach out to Beth with any questions about the garden and the 2023 schedule. Beth can be reached at elizabethdaly@juno.com.
Belmont Nature Trail: MG Jody Wilken is the Grounds Coordinator at Belmont, and she is looking for some volunteers to work on the Nature Trail giving educational walking tours to visitors. The trail is located in King George VA. Though you would be volunteering as an MG, Belmont has its own internal volunteer process which includes a background screening (paid for by Belmont). Please contact Jody (jwilken@umw.edu) to get started in 2023!
Chatham Historical Gardens: The gardens are open year-round to the public and volunteers. Please contact Carol if you have any questions at cahyland@cox.net. Master Gardeners, did you know that you can earn volunteer hours every Wednesday, year-round, from 8am-1pm by joining project Coordinator Carol Hyland in the beautiful Chatham Historical Gardens? Interested? You can sign up in Better Impact (click on the Opportunities tab, go to the Opportunities Calendar, and click on whatever Wednesday works for you!), or you can just turn up with your pruners. Chatham Manor is located in Stafford County. Contact Carol if you have any questions at cahyland@cox.net
Master Gardeners Continuing Education Opportunities: Soil Sample Video: The Extension Office has prepared a short video on how to take a good soil sample! The video is now up on YouTube and will be posted on our website. You can also click on the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J93LtWMTs0 Watching the video WILL COUNT towards your Continuing Education hours.
Need to more CE hours? The links to all available 2021-2022 presentations and lectures are located on the MGACRA website Home Page. Contact Lisa Ellis at lisae22@vt.edu for more information