Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program - Sharing knowledge and empowering Virginia Communities! Part of @VACoopExt
Blacksburg, VA
Joined December 2013
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We're crepuscular! Active when its dim--dusk and dawn. Check out the white-lined sphink here: hort.extension.wisc.edu/arti…
Beech leaf disease is an emerging threat in Virginia, spreading rapidly this year. Read more on the disease: usfs-public.app.box.com/v/Cu…
ALT Leaf with conspicuous yellow ridges and damage.
What type of egg masses are these? Hint: this insect was renamed.
Spongy moth! Lymantria dispar, formerly called gypsy moth, is an invasive pest of hardwood trees in forests and yards. The caterpillars prefer the foliage of oak and other shade trees, but also attack conifers.
ALT Light brown splotches on tree trunk
In Virginia, we have excellent tools for selecting native plants for the home landscape.
Plant Virginia Natives offers guides for each region which provide a perfect starting point: plantvirginianatives.org/
ALT Text reading looking for native landscape plants? with an arrow pointing to logo for the Virginia Native Plant finder
Looking forward to spring blooms already? Here's an early spring bloomer: Flowering quince. Flowering quince is a deciduous shrub of the Rosacea family. It is native to China, but this attractive, large, and fast-growing shrub whose main merit has showy flowers in early spring.
ALT orange blooms on a woody branch with vivid green leaves
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners retweeted
PRESS RELEASE: STATEWIDE WETLANDS TECHNICAL TEAM HOLDS FIRST MEETING
For full release, please visit:
dwr.virginia.gov/media/press…
📸 Lynda Richardson
📍Guinea Marsh WMA
There are many different species of mistletoe native to Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. Some species have red fruit, while others have white. Phoradendron leucarpum, or eastern mistletoe, is native to VA. It produces small white berries and has thick, leathery leaves
Fall & winter offer plenty of opportunities for birding! Virginia is in the East Coast flyway, which means we can observe many species as they travel, heading south for the winter. Lucky birders might even see a snowy owl or a golden eagle who has migrated down from Canada.
ALT Infographic with photos of a dozen different bird species
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners retweeted
This incredible group of volunteers from the @VCEMG has harvested over 37,900 pounds of fresh produce to support local farms and food pantries 🍉🌱
How did they do it? Gleaning - the practice of collecting excess produce to provide to those in need ⤵️
news.vt.edu/articles/2024/11…
Natures thermometers: In freezing temperatures, some species of Rhododendron exhibit thermonasty, which is a response to temperature in which the leaves curl and bend down.
Scientists aren't exactly sure why thermonasty occurs or how it works. It may be an adaptation to help plants avoid sun damage in cold temperatures, and it seems that the bending is due to unequal contraction of cell wall tissues as water is lost to ice formation.
Read a recent paper: vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/items/…
Image: By Nicholas A. Tonelli - Flickr: Nature's Thermometers, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/inde…
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners retweeted
Springtails thrive in humid environments and can be found in over-watered plants. As you bring your plants indoors for the winter, monitoring your soil moisture will prolong the lives of your plants & help mitigate springtail populations!
Learn more ➡️ brnw.ch/vcespringtails
ALT A closeup of a springtail in soil
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners retweeted
We've teamed up w/Insect ID Lab & @ISWGvt to bring you the exhibit, "Invasive Species: Understanding the Threat." Visit the 2nd floor of Newman to:
🔍Learn how to prevent & slow the spread
🌎Explore impacts on urban & rural areas
🦋Test your skills: Spot invasives vs. natives
"Help my evergreens are loosing needles and turning brown!" It could be normal seasonal browning and needle loss--just because they're called evergreens doesn't mean they don't experience some seasonal browning! buff.ly/3TCytX5
ALT Three green bushes with patches of brown needles
Question, do you treat your tulips as annuals or perennials??? Virginia can be a difficult state to grow tulips!
Powdery mildew, one of the main diseases of pumpkins and other cucurbits in VA, is believed to be airborne from other infected crops- starting in the southern states where cucurbits are grown earlier in the season. ➡️ Learn more: buff.ly/4gwbzdO
Put down the pruners. Now's not the time to prune shrubs!
ALT Coneflowers on top with text reading Fall is the time to cut back perennials if you want to. Lilac on the bottom with text reading But not a good time to prune shrubs.
You, yes YOU can be a Master Gardener! Whether you've been gardening forever or you're just getting started, we will train you to become an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. Just contact your local office to find out when training classes start: buff.ly/3zDbF2u