We look forward to seeing you at the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia 2nd annual Fall Festival this Saturday!
The Fall Fest will have something for everyone.
We will have an “Ask the Master Gardener” table, kids’ activities, houseplants & native plants for sale, free saplings, hand-crafted pottery, a food truck and baked goods, tool sharpening, and more.
New this year is a focus on houseplants. Extension Master Gardeners are often associated with soil health, native plants/trees, and growing vegetables, but we want to share our knowledge of houseplants, too.
Don’t miss this fun-filled family event! Pick up some holiday gifts for your favorite gardeners or just come to learn more about gardening!
Plants Galore
- Houseplant Sale! Check out our selection of houseplants, propagated by Extension Master Gardeners.
- Native Plant Sale! Nature By Design, a commercial seller of native outdoor plants, will have a wide selection of plants available.
- Check out their website to see what plants they have available:
https://www.nature-by-design.com/plantlist2025.html - You may place pre-orders with Nature By Design by Thursday, Oct. 9.
- Send your pre-orders to plantfolks@nature-by-design.com
- Please put “Order for Master Gardener Fall Fest” in the subject line and include your phone number (they promise not to use it for marketing purposes or unsolicited phone calls).
- Check out their website to see what plants they have available:
- FREE Saplings! Free trees will be available too! Our extremely successful Small Trees Make Big Canopies program will give away saplings and expert advice on growing them
Join Us for the Following Presentations
- 10:15 – 10:45 am: Meet the Keystones: Our Superstar Native Plants
Looking to nurture our local ecosystem and bring more birds, bees, and butterflies to your home garden? Try planting more keystone native plants! In this introductory talk, you’ll learn what keystone plants are, why they are so important for pollinators and healthy food webs, and which plants are the best choice for your own garden and the wider community. We’ll also provide a scavenger hunt handout for families to take back to their own neighborhoods — how many keystone trees, shrubs, and flowers can you find? - 11:00 – 11:45 am: Houseplant Propagation 101: Multiply Your Plants for Free!
Join us for a session all about propagating houseplants. Learn how to make new plants from stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, divisions, and more — and take home cuttings to grow on your own! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned plant parent, you’ll leave with practical skills, fresh greenery, and the confidence to turn one plant into many! - 12 – 12:45: (Hands-on Youth Event) “Bee” a Friend to Bees by Designing a Pollinator Garden!
Join us to learn about our region’s native bees, their favorite host plants, and designing a pollinator garden to support native bees. Each participant will design a unique pollinator garden with native plant cut-out illustrations. Best for kids ages 7 and up; caregivers are invited to enjoy, too!
Fun for Kids
Families with kids of all ages will enjoy learning how easy it is to grow microgreens with members of our award-winning Youth Education Program. A kids’ craft station will feature leaf rubbings, solar paper leaf art, and nature-themed creations, offering fun ways to learn and there will be a pollinator scavenger hunt and a special indoor presentation.
Food
Bring your appetites. You can pick up a meal at the Flavor of Mexico food truck, or purchase goodies from the Master Gardener Bake Sale, which will feature baked goods made from our own harvests, including rosemary shortbread, pies, and zucchini bread.
And more!
The Roaming Stone Tool Sharpener will be on hand to safely sharpen your garden and kitchen tools while you enjoy Fall Fest offerings. Try your luck with a raffle featuring fabulous home and garden items, or purchase some handcrafted pottery.
Our popular “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed and ready to offer advice.
Please bring a canned food to support Alexandria’s Alive! food pantry and help them reach their goal of donating 50,000 meals to our Alexandria neighbors in need.
As stated by MGNV’s president, “The Fall Fest will be a perfect way to help us celebrate our 40th anniversary of growing gardens and gardeners. Please join us!”
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 11, 2025, at the James M. Duncan Branch of Alexandria Public Library, 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. Proceeds fund the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.