You may have heard the buzz about using native plants in your home landscape. You may also have heard that some can be downright unruly. In this presentation, we will discuss common invasive plants to break up with and native plants that we love for color, texture, and size in a suburban setting.
Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2024
Time 6:30—7:30 p.m.
Place Portsmouth Public Library
Churchland Branch
4934 High Street West
Download Flier HERE
Despite the frigid weather, 33 residents and Portsmouth Master Gardener Association members showed up to hear how to Get Your Garden Going. Some technical difficulties delayed the start, but once resolved, PMGA member Beatrice Waddell spoke on various gardening methods such as container gardening, trellising, raised beds, lasagne method, and more. Her enthusiasm for gardening was evident as she shared personal vegetable gardening stories, lessons learned from failed attempts, as well as many tried and true methods. Several excellent publications were handed out as people entered, which explained in more detail some methods that Beatrice touched on during the presentation. (See our January Library Talk Resources post.)
The audience was engaged and asked several questions. At the end of the presentation, they were invited to attend the upcoming February library talk on Loving Natives. To wrap up the night, raffle items of books and gardening items were given out to enthusiastic winners. The first library talk of 2025 was a success!
Our January Library Talk on Getting Your Garden Going included many resources. We could only offer a few of them at the welcome table. Here is a complete list of PDFs and Books to check out to begin planning your garden.
Vertical Gardening Using Trellises, Stakes, and Cages SPES-450
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/HORT/HORT-189/SPES-450.pdf
Intensive Gardening Methods PUB 426-335
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-335/426-335.pdf
Sheet mulching — aka lasagna composting — builds soil, saves time
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/sheet-mulching-aka-lasagna-composting-builds-soil-saves-time
Vegetable Garden Planting Guide SPES-170
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-331/SPES-170.pdf
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant
Comparison of Raised Bed Methods, Materials, and Costs SPES-425
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/spes-425/spes-425.pdf
Container and Raised-Bed Gardening Vegetable Gardening in Containers PUB 426-020
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-020/426-020.pdf
Virginia Cooperative Extension Gardener Handbook
https://pressbooks.lib.vt.edu/emgtraining/
The American Horticulture Society Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening – CONTAINER GARDENING
LASAGNA GARDENING – Home & Gardening Information Center (Aug. 29, 2019)
STRAW BALE GARDENS Complete. Cool Springs Press Joe Karsten
The Vegetable Container Gardener’s Container BIBLE by Edward C. Smith
Join us for our Mason Bee Workshop on February 8th at 11 AM at the Portsmouth Extension Office.
Pre-registration & Payment are REQUIRED before February 5th to reserve your seat.
Fee: $15 for each participant. Maximum 16 participants. An adult must accompany children under 18. You may purchase an additional kit for $15, with a limit of 2 kits per participant.
REGISTRATION FORM can be printed, or you may pick up a copy at the office. Registration
will close on February 5th unless all seats are sold beforehand.
DO NOT Purchase “tickets” from ANYONE. We do not sell tickets. We accept Cash, Check, or Money Orders at the Portsmouth Extension Office during open hours, or you can mail your formal payment to 105 Utah Street, Portsmouth, VA 23701. We can not accept credit or app payments for workshops.
Our Mason Bee House workshop is an educational event that teaches participants how to support mason bees and build a bee house to attract them to their property.
Mason bees are native solitary bees, essential for pollinating flowers and fruit trees.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Shake off the chill of winter and come join us as we discuss how to get your 2025 garden off the ground with raised beds, save space with containers, or use low-till methods. In this presentation, we will explore various types of gardens as well as how to select the right location and plan your layout.
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2024
Time 6:30—7:30 p.m.
Place Portsmouth Public Library
Churchland Branch
4934 High Street West
Download Flier HERE