Speaker's Bureau
The following is a current list of topics available through the Virginia Beach Master Gardener Speakers' Bureau.
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AREC Garden Tours (Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Extension Center at 1444 Diamond Springs Road). Speakers will be a Master Gardener Water Steward.
rain gardens – how and why they are built, what to plant, how to maintain. April-October Time: 30 minutes
Backyard Composting Let’s talk trash! Get answers to your questions about composting – even the ones you’re afraid to ask. This talk covers the basics of establishing a backyard compost, various methods of composting, and how to maintain it. Vermiculture (worm composting) is an optional topic that can be requested with this presentation. Handouts Available:Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Eileen Walsh or Alice Brown Request This Program Basics of Ornamental, Understory and Fruit Trees This presentation covers general information on small flowering and/or fruiting trees. Learn about selection and basic care, with an emphasis on pruning for form and fruiting. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker:Michelli Booker Request This Program Champion Trees of Virginia Beach Champion Trees are the largest known specimen of a species in a particular area. This presentation provides a visual tour of the Champion Trees in our city. Handouts Available:No Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Michelli Booker Request This Program Color in Your Autumn Landscape Explore plants that offer great fall color in your garden. Annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees are discussed for their flower and foliage colors. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Betty Villers Request This Program Concrete Leaf Casting Learn how to make a concrete leaf casting for use as a bird bath, feeder, or decorative garden art. This presentation can be either a demonstration or a hands-on workshop. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: No Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Eileen Walsh Request This Program Container Gardening Learn the important elements of putting together your own container garden: how to plant, choosing the right container, picking and arranging the plants, and taking care of the container throughout the season and beyond. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Mary Hubbard Request This Program Crape Myrtles This presentation provides an in-depth look at one of Virginia Beach’s favorite plants. Learn about the different varieties and sizes of crape myrtles and how to choose the right one for your landscape, as well as general care guidelines and correct pruning practices. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Betty Villers Request This Program Destination Trees: Trees to visit on your next road trip A look at trees to incorporate into your various travels throughout continental United States. Trees may be champions, weird in some way, or display a unique characteristic. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Skerry Kern Request This Program Herbs Then and Now Learn about herbs used in Colonial times to Victorian times, to counter-act the odors in the street and during a time when people bathed infrequently. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: No Time: 30 minutes Speaker: Paula McCann Request This Program |
Jumpstart Your Garden with Seeds
Find out how to extend your garden season by starting seeds indoors. This talk covers indoor seed sowing, seedling care, and transplanting. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Deb Henry Request This Program Native Perennials This presentation discusses the basics of design and how native plants can work as key elements. Plants are discussed in terms of their size, bloom time and color, soil and light requirements, and other garden uses. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Michelli Booker Request This Program Native Trees and Shrubs of Tidewater Learn about more than 40 trees and shrubs native to Tidewater, their uses in the garden and landscape, growing requirements, size and other noteworthy characteristics such as blooms, fall color, and winter interest. Handouts Available: No Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Michelli Booker Request This Program Our Natives Are Under Attack Learn about both old and new diseases and insect pests that threaten our valuable native trees and shrubs. This talk discusses these pests and how to protect the trees and what to expect in the future. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Sherry Kern Request This Program Pruning Your Shrubs and Trees Learn the basics of pruning the shrubs and trees in your landscape. This talk includes information on tools, when to prune, how to make correct pruning cuts, and the many reasons for pruning. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes + some show-&-tell examples Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Sherry Kern Request This Program Right Tree, Right Place Selecting the right tree or shrub for your landscape can minimize future maintenance problems. This talk will discuss factors to consider when choosing woody perennials for your yard or garden, including mature size, pruning, and soil and light requirements. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 4 or 60 minutes Speaker: Skerry Kern Request This Program The Things We Do to Our Trees (And Still Expect Them to Live!) Learn which common practices can actually be harmful to your trees. This talk discusses the wrong (and right) way to care for trees in the landscape. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Sherry Kern Request This Program Virginia Beach Master Gardener Volunteers This talk provides an overview of the Virginia Beach Master Gardener volunteer program and the goals of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. It includes information about Master Gardener projects throughout the city of Virginia Beach, as well as how to become a Master Gardener. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 30 or 45 minutes Speaker: Betty Villers Request This Program Water Quality: You and Your Garden Can Make a Difference This presentation guides the homeowner through simple steps that can be taken in the yard to positively affect water quality. Hampton Roads has many waterways….and even more paths to those waterways. Everyone benefits from clean water….the oysters and you. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 25 minutes Speaker: MaryAnn Kincaid Request This Program What's in a Name? This talk aims at demystifying the plant label and explains what information can be found in the botanical names of plants, including the plant’s native region, foliage and flower characteristics, and growth habit. A basic understanding of the clues that botanical names provide about a plant can help in future plant and seed selection. Handouts Available: Yes Power Point: Yes Time: 45 minutes Speaker: Michelli Booker Request This Program |
