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. ************************************************ MGACRA Monthly Meeting & Education Program:
15 Mar 2023, 1:00 p.m. at Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg
MGACRA Volunteer Opportunities: Historic Garden Week Tour: For the first time, Historic Garden Week in Virginia (specifically the 2023 Fredericksburg-King George tour) is a Master Gardener approved project! The Fredericksburg-King George tour is Tuesday, April 18. The value of involving MGs in the tour will be education of home gardeners on plants, planting practices, value to ecosystem, and more. MGs will respond to questions about plant materials in Fredericksburg/King George region. Project volunteers will staff the native plant demonstration garden at Cedell Brooks Jr. Park. MG VOLUNTEER SIGNUP LINKS FOR HISTORIC GARDEN TOUR:
To sign-up to volunteer in the garden of a tour home, use the following link and select and "outdoor" slot: https://signup.com/go/uKVcMhs
Don't forget that Alvin Calhoun and Mary Ellen Green will host garden spring clean-up work days on March 30th and April 6 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in preparation for Historic Garden Week. Please come out and lend a hand if your schedule allows!
Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd at the Old Mill Park, 2201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. In case of rain, the alternate date is Saturday, April 29. But it never rains on Earth Day, does it! Volunteer Shifts:
You can stay and help all day, 10:00-4:00, or you can select one or two time slots:
Cedell Brooks Native Demonstration Garden: We are ready to restart anew in 2023 on Thursday, March 16th and thereafter every Thursday. We begin work at 9:30 am and end at approximately 11:30 am. (Note: As the weather gets hotter in May and June, we will start earlier to beat the heat).Where: Cedell Brooks Park, 11215 Henry Griffin Rd., King George, Virginia 22485 When: Thursday mornings - Usually 9:30 - 11:30 am (Whenever you can) and weather permitting. Tools: Bring labelled gardening tools to cut and clear winter debris, shovel and pitch fork for spreading compost and mulch, rake, weeding tools, wheel barrel, etc. Also bring water, gloves and hat to shade yourself from the sun. Alvin can be reached at aac.a4@gmail.com. Native Garden at Widewater State Park: Coordinator Beth Daily 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: Master Gardeners volunteer every Wednesday morning starting at about 8 am until about 1 pm in the beautiful gardens at Chatham Manor (Chatham Heights Rd. Stafford County), part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, National Park Service. We work year-round, weather permitting, in the gardens and greenhouses performing all the tasks normally involved in gardening. No set schedule is required- come when you can and work as long as is convenient for you. The congenial and friendly volunteer group will always be happy to see you and grateful for your help. For additional information, contact Coordinator Carol Hyland at cahyland@cox.net.
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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
Looking Ahead: 1 April 2023 at 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. – Gardening Symposium “Flower Power from Roots to Blooms”
Gari Melcher Home & Studio, 224 Washington St, Fredericksburg
Speakers! Lunch! Tour the Gari Melcher garden
All proceeds go to MGACRA community projects and gardens
Registration now open! Click on the MGACRA Home Page for on-line registration and more information. Registration closes 24 Mar 2023
18 April 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Historic Garden Week Tour – Fredericksburg/King George
Proceeds from the tour are used for restoration and preservation of historic public gardens in Virginia, and to provide student fellowships in landscape architecture
22 April 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Earth Day. Come join us! It's at Old Mill Park, 2201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. 7 Jun - Kicking Off Pollinator Week Celebration 19-23 Jun - Pollinator Week 22-23 Aug - Annual Flower Show