Virginia Cooperative Extension Environment and Natural Resources’ “Saturdays in the Garden” is Successful Series

 

 

Twenty-five people came to the “Teaching Garden” located at 9535 Linton Hall Road, in Bristow at the Benedictine Monastery on Saturday, July 12^th for the fourth free lecture program held by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Environment and Natural Resources.  The lecture focused on drought tolerant plants, herbs, as well as plants which attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.  Speakers focused on their particular subject and then attendees could see examples in the “Teaching Garden.”

The Master Gardeners stressed that gardens should be planned on paper first as well as having soil tested.  Participants received “Soil Sample Information Sheets for Home Lawns, Gardens, Fruits and Ornamentals,” which gave information on how to take soil samples and send it to the Virginia Tech Soil Testing Laboratory.  Gardeners were told to avoid using pesticides, think about year round interest within their garden, in addition to plant conditions particular to individual specimens. Some of interesting tips were to have ground covers in order to hold moisture instead of using mulch and that the “Teaching Garden” uses soil obtained from the Prince William County Composting facility located on Balls Ford Road.

The “Teaching Garden” is a project of the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers. Their mission is “To provide an aesthetically pleasing, well-designed, education garden space through which VCE Master Gardener volunteers and staff can demonstrate and provide classes on a wide array of VCE recommended horticultural and water quality practices for the benefit and education of our Prince William community.”[1]  Area residents may come see the low maintenance garden which features locally grown plant material but visitors must stop and check in at the Monastery office before going to the garden.

The next lecture will be held on August 9^th and is about “Fall Lawn Care,” featuring Virginia Tech speakers, Dr. Mike Goatley, who is a specialist on turf grass and Dr. Shawn Askew who is a weed specialist.  Master Gardener volunteers will also be available to answer questions from participants.  Registration is required.  Call 703-792-7747 for more information or visit the VCE web site at www.pwcgov.org/vce/enr

Date Published: 2008-07-23 05:26:27

Section: Local News,