Gardening Talks and Workshops
Gardening Talks
The Gardening Talks and Workshops committee of the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners plans and hosts a series of lectures for the public each year. The one-hour lectures are currently being offered via Zoom. The lectures are not sequential, so you can attend all, or just your favorite topics. All talks are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
The Gardening Talks and Workshops committee of the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners plans and hosts a series of lectures for the public each year. The one-hour lectures are currently being offered via Zoom. The lectures are not sequential, so you can attend all, or just your favorite topics. All talks are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
2023 Gardening Talks Schedule
|
Feb. 6
Shade Gardening Stacie McGraw, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener Explore the differences between full and part shade gardens, as well as dry and moist shade. Plant selection for each will be discussed, along with how to sneak in spring color and year-round interest. We’ll also look at the adaptations that allow shade plants to thrive in low light conditions. March 6 Spring Pruning Jason Heizer, Bartlett Tree We often think of winter as the proper time to prune, but spring flowering shrubs and trees require a different schedule to preserve their flower buds. Jason will talk techniques and timing for pruning a variety of flowering trees & shrubs. April 3 Plants for Pollinators Ruth Burch, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener Want to attract more butterflies and beneficial insects to your garden? Join Ruth as she discusses both native and non-native plants that will bloom through three seasons, providing a food source for pollinating insects during their active periods, and filling your garden with flowers. May 15 Culinary Herbs Cyndi Wyskiewicz, VCE Agent, Portsmouth Sweet or spicy, pungent or mild, herbs add distinctive flavor and aroma to our food. They can also be an easy addition to the garden, providing you with abundant harvests. Cyndi will talk about how to grow, harvest, and use these versatile plants. |
July 31
Native Trees & Shrubs Laurie Fox, Virginia Tech, Hampton Roads AREC Native trees like oaks, maples, and cherries support hundreds of species of insects, but large trees aren’t right for every garden. This talk focuses on smaller native tree and shrub species appropriate for planting in smaller urban and suburban gardens and the benefits they provide. August 28 Edible Ornamentals for Fall Lynn Francois, VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener It’s fall garden time – the easiest gardening of the year! Let’s have some fun starting a beautiful and edible garden using the vast array of vegetables, lettuces, kales and ornamentals available to us in our 757 area for fall! We’ll take the simple route, focusing on the quick starts and bug avoiding crops that will fade out with a big freeze to close out your gardening year. October 16 Bats Leslie Sturges, President, Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia Often the stuff of myths, legends, and spooky stories, bats are actually a crucial part of our natural ecosystems. This talk discusses bat habitat, how our gardens can support them, and the pest control benefits bats provide. |
