2012 FEATURED EVENT:

*****EARLY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN*****

◊-Sustainability Symposium-◊

Working With Nature for Sustainable, Beautiful Gardens

June 9-10, 2012

A Two-Day Symposium Featuring:
* Douglas W. Tallamy, Author of Bringing Nature Home
* Holly Shimizu, Executive Director, U.S. Botanic Garden

For complete details and to register for our upcoming sustainability symposium please click on the banner above, or, the early registration link just below it.  You may also simply click here.  NOTE: Space is limited to 125 registrants, so be sure to register today  to reserve your space and guarantee your attendance! 

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New Virginia Law to Restrict Sale & Usage of Fertilizer Containing Phosphorus

Virginia is about to sign into a law, a set of measures that will restrict the sale and usage of fertilizer containing phosphorus.  It will go into effect in December 2013 and is expected to have an immediate impact on water quality.  Of the annual 230,000 lbs phosphorus that currently is reaching Virginia rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, this law will yield a 22% reduction of the pollutant by 2017. To read the full article click here. 

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While Mild Weather May Bring Some Early Blooms, Others Are Perfectly At Home Showing Their Colors in Mid Winter.

As with the previous article, we’re sure you have noticed that more things seem to be blooming this time of year than there usually are. While this is in part due to our mild winter this year, there are also many plants that normally bloom in the otherwise dead of winter. In this article which is a wonderful virtual tour of Alexandria’s Simpson Garden demonstration garden, you will be treated to some sights and smells that may have been coaxed out because of the milder than normal conditions, and others that are blooming just as they should during mid winter.  Please check out the full article here: Is That Plant Supposed to be Blooming Now?

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Mild Winter Brings Early Surprises

We’re sure that by now you have noticed it has been a very mild winter, and you have also probably noticed some strange things happening even in your own yard and gardens. This mild winter of 2011/2012 (thus far) is affecting our plants and gardens all across our region, including our very own demonstration gardens. Read about how things are beginning to happen quite a bit earlier than usual, and also discover some unexpected surprises for early February by visiting our garden blog section. To read this particular article in full just click the following link: Happenings in the Demonstration Gardens

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

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February 15th & 22nd – Starting Your Vegetable Garden From Seeds Indoors: The busy spring is right around the corner and in preparation we are offering this workshop on two different dates and at two different locations which are listed below. For full event details, and a complete list of all events for the month of February, please visit our February events calendar page.

ALEXANDRIA:

• WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m
• WHERE: Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA

ARLINGTON:

• WHEN: Wednesday, February 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m
• WHERE: Walter Reed Community Center
  2909 16^th Street South, Arlington, VA

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February 28th – Community Gardening 101:  A Workshop for Community Organizations and Non-profits Interested in Developing Community Gardens

Representatives of non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and communityand volunteer groups are invited to attend this seminar on community garden development.   Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, the workshop will cover checklists for successful garden startups, local resources for community garden leaders, an overview of local, regional, and internet resources for community garden leaders, and materials from the American Community Garden Association. For full details on this and all events for February please visit the February events calendar page.

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March, 2012 upcoming events:

Spring Lawn Care for Northern Virginia – Join MGNV and Virginia Tech Extension Specialist Dr. Mike Goatley, for this informative workshop about the never ending quest to keeping a happy, healthy, and beautiful lawn. For full event details for this, and all events for the month of March, please visit our March event calender page.

• WHEN: Tuesday March 6, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.
• WHERE: Fairlington Community Center – 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22206