Master Gardeners in Action

Children join Master Gardeners at Short Pump to learn about host plants

June 2024 — Whew, it was hot on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. But that did not stop 14 veteran Master Gardeners and two interns from hosting “Saturday in the Garden” in the Pollinator Garden at Short Pump Park. More than 40 children and adults attended the event and learned about host plants for caterpillars, specifically parsley, black-eyed susan, milkweed, cassia and passion flower vine. More …

Nearly 1,000 attend Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival

June 2024 — Nearly 1,000 adults and children attended Henrico County Master Gardeners’ sixth annual Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival on June 8 at Deep Run Park in Henrico’s west end. More than 3,000 potted plants representing 250 different species were offered for sale. Proceeds of the sale will be used to fund ongoing Master Gardener programs and horticulture scholarships. More …

27 volunteers training to become Master Gardeners

January 2024 — Twenty-seven individuals are currently receiving training required to become Henrico County Master Gardeners. The 50 hours of classroom (online and in-person) training, developed by Virginia Tech horticulture specialists, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Agents and the VCE Master Gardener Program Coordinator’s office, will be held from mid-January to the end of March. Following successful completion of their training, these volunteers will do a 50-hour internship of volunteer activities in Henrico County in order to graduate and become veteran Master Gardeners.

Bug Bizarre! draws 484 visitors to Deep Run Park

October 2023 — The fourth annual Bug Bizarre!, a free community festival celebrating the joy and excitement of entomology, attracted 484 visitors over a three-hour period on Saturday, Oct. 7, in the Deep Run Park Recreation Center. More …

More than 1,000 attend Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival

June 2023 — A total of 1,006 adults and children attended Henrico County Master Gardeners’ annual Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival on June 3 at Deep Run Park in Henrico’s west end. More than 3,000 potted plants were offered for sale. Proceeds of the sale will be used to fund ongoing Master Gardener programs and horticulture scholarships. The Plant Sale kicked off Thirty Days of Celebrating Pollinators which featured information on social media and activities scheduled during the month of June to celebrate the amazing world of pollinators. More …

Pollinators celebrated in June

June 2023 — Henrico Cooperative Extension and the Henrico Master Gardeners hosted 30 days of information and events to celebrate the amazing world of pollinators. The month of June included a Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival, a Pollinator Lego contest for youths, library displays, Plant Clinics, activities in our demonstration gardens and educational posts on social media. Click here to see the Facebook posts. More …

Plant clinics scheduled for spring, summer and fall

9-25-21-Plant-Clinic-at-StrangesMarch 2023 — Volunteers from Henrico County Master Gardeners will be available to provide answers to questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens at various locations throughout the county beginning this spring and lasting through the summer and into the fall. In the month of April, plant clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southern States, 8718 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23294, on Saturdays, April 8, 15, 22 and 29. In the month of May, plant clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Lakeside Farmers Market, 6106 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228, on Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27. In June, plant clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Strange’s Nursery, 12111 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23233, on Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24. After taking the month of July off, Master Gardeners will host plant clinics from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lowe’s, 8001 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227, on Saturdays, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26. In the month of September, plant clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Dorey Park Farmer’s Market, 2999 Darbytown Rd, Henrico, VA 23231, on five Saturdays, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. In October, plant clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the West End Farmer’s Market, 12450 Gayton Road, Henrico, VA 23238, on Saturdays, Oct. 7, 24, 21 and 28.

More than 535 attend Bug Bizarre on Oct. 8 at Deep Run Park

October 2022 — More than 535 people attended the third annual Henrico Bug Bizarre held Saturday, Oct. 8, at Deep Run Park Recreation Center. This was an increase from last year’s attendance of 412. As in previous years, almost half the attendees – 251 — were children. Another 57 people, including Henrico Master Gardener volunteers, worked the event. A total of 29 exhibits included information on pollinators, garden insects, forest pests, public health and more. More …

63 visitors join 10 Master Gardeners for ‘Saturday in the Garden’

September 2022 — A total of 63 adults and children joined 10 Henrico County Master Gardeners in the Pollinator Garden at Short Pump Park for the second annual ‘Saturday in the Garden’ held Saturday morning, Sept. 10. Participants toured the garden and enjoyed displays of pollinator-themed educational books and handouts, craft activities for the kids, live caterpillars on display and some great snacks, including homemade cookies. More …

Master Gardeners lead activities at annual Back-To-School event

August 2022 — Henrico Master Gardeners helped Henrico County Public School (HCPS) students get a jump start on the new school year by helping lead activities Friday, Aug. 19, at the annual HCPS Back-to-School Kickoff. This year’s event was at Glen Allen High School from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Families enjoyed music, food trucks and games, registered for school, talked with HCPS leaders and more.

Nearly 950 attend Plant Sale at Deep Run Park

20220611_091733June 2022 — Henrico County Master Gardeners held their annual Spring Plant Sale and Pollinator Festival 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Deep Run Park in Henrico’s west end. Because rain was expected, the plant sale and all activities were moved from the Event Field to an indoor site in Deep Run Park’s Recreation Center. The changed location didn’t seem to deter shoppers. A total of 946 people attended the event, breaking the record of 804 participants set last year. More …

Plant Clinics scheduled for April, May, June, July, Sept., Oct.

9-25-21-Plant-Clinic-at-StrangesApril 2022 — Our first set of plant clinics for 2022 will be held at Southern States, 8718 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23294. Henrico Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
In the month of May, plant clinics will be held at Strange’s Nursery, 12111 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23233, on Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21 and 28.
In June, plant clinics will be held at Lowe’s, 8001 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227, on Saturdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25.
In July, plant clinics will be held at Lakeside Farmers Market, 6106 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228, on Saturdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.
After taking the month of August off, Master Gardeners will host plant clinics at Dorey Park Farmer’s Market, 2999 Darbytown Rd, Henrico, VA 23231, on Saturdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 24.
In October, plant clinics will be divided between Southern States and Strange’s. More details will be announced at a later date.

Weekly Advanced Training classes offered in February, March

February 2022 – This year, after almost two years of Zoom meetings due to the Covid pandemic, Henrico Master Gardeners are attending weekly in-person Advanced Training classes held in the Henrico County Supervisors Board Room to allow for social distancing. Because Master Gardeners are required to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain their Master Gardener status, the Henrico Master Gardeners Association offers the two-hour Advanced Training classes every Wednesday during the months of February and March to help association members fulfill their continuing education requirements. Classes being offered in 2022 cover a variety of topics, including therapeutic horticulture, mosses and groundcovers, designing landscapes to manage excess water, nematodes, growing backyard fruit and turfgrass management.

15 volunteers begin training to be Henrico Master Gardeners

January 2022 — Fifteen volunteers are currently attending classes in the first step toward becoming Henrico County Master Gardeners. These volunteers will receive 50 hours of classroom training developed by Virginia Tech horticulture specialists, Virginia County Extension (VCE) Agents and the VCE Master Gardener Program Coordinator’s office. In-person classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from January 18 to the end of March. Classroom training includes basic botany, soil science, woody and herbaceous plant gardening, vegetable gardening, integrated pest management, lawn care and much more. After completing classroom training, the volunteers will do a 50-hour internship of volunteer activities in Henrico County, including work in demonstration gardens, plant clinics and public education. Upon completion of the volunteer hours by the end of the calendar year, the interns will earn the title of Henrico Master Gardener. Additional volunteer work and continuing education are required each year to maintain certification.

Master Gardeners recognize volunteers, new graduates

December 2021 — Henrico Master Gardeners met on Wednesday, Dec. 8, to recognize career achievements of Master Gardeners, celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year and honor new graduates. It was announced that Henrico Master Gardeners volunteered 6,074 hours and made 50,380 contacts in 2021. Projects in 2021 included SMART Lawns, SMARTScapes, Speakers Bureau, Plant Clinics, Bug Bizarre! and Plant Sale. Nine members of the class of 2020 and ten members of the class of 2021 were congratulated for completing the studies and required volunteer hours needed to graduate and become new Master Gardeners. Certificates were awarded to Master Gardeners who had completed 250 volunteer hours, 500 volunteer hours, 1000 volunteer hours and 3000 volunteer hours.

Nearly 500 attend Bug Bizarre on Oct. 9 at Deep Run Park

October 2021 — Nearly 500 people — 202 of whom were children — attended the Bug Bizarre on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Deep Run Park Recreation Center. Sponsored by the Henrico County Virginia Cooperative Extension Office and Henrico County Master Gardeners, the Bug Bizarre provided a great opportunity for kids and adults to learn about insects and their relatives through a variety of outreach and engagement booths. More …

MGs offer therapeutic gardening programs at Circle Center

Circle-Center-9-16-21-1Circle3-Center-9-16-21-4September 2021 — Henrico Master Gardeners provide Therapeutic Gardening at the Circle Center Adult Day Services, 4900 W. Marshall St., near Willow Lawn in Richmond. The Master Gardeners create and lead one-hour programs about gardening for participants in the gardening group Thursday mornings. Gardening programs have included planting and weeding outdoor planters, craft projects such as making collages of plants and decorating clay pots, planting seeds and power point presentations about gardening or birds. On Sept. 16, the program was about “Propagating Succulents.” Each participant was able to take home a succulent they planted.

Nearly 100 visitors join Master Gardeners in Pollinator Garden

20210911_104405September 2021 — Nearly 100 adults and children joined Henrico County Master Gardeners in the Short Pump Park Pollinator Garden to tour the garden and learn about pollinators and gardening Saturday morning, Sept. 11. Visitors were particularly intrigued by butterfly caterpillars (especially Monarchs), butterfly eggs, chrysalises, other insect eggs, a crab spider and fruit on the Passionflower vine. More …

Master Gardeners staff booths at Lewis Ginter Plantfest

2021-Lewis-Ginter-Fall-PlantfestSeptember 2021 — Henrico County Master Gardeners staffed two booths at the Lewis Ginter Plantfest Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18. Master Gardeners were available to answer questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens at a general information booth next to the Ginter’s Greatest tent run by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden volunteers. Henrico Master Gardeners also answered questions and provided gardening advice at a Special Events Booth featuring a display on invasive plants.

Plant Clinics to be at Strange’s, Southern States in Sept., Oct.

Plant-Clinic-at-Southern-States9-25-21-Plant-Clinic-at-StrangesAugust 2021 — After taking the month of August off, plant clinics will be held at Strange’s Nursery, 12111 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23233, on Saturdays, Sept. 11, Sept. 18, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. Henrico Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens. Plant clinics will also be held at Southern States, 8718 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23294, on Saturdays, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30.

More than 800 attend Spring Plant Sale, proceeds top $5880

Plant-SaleJune 2021 — Despite a cloudy, misty start to the day, more than 800 people attended the Henrico County Master Gardeners’ Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, June 12, in the Event Field at Deep Run Park in Henrico’s west end. Master Gardeners offered more than 1,000 potted plants — perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and some houseplants — from their own gardens at bargain prices. Most of them were sold, and proceeds from the sale topped $5881. More …

Plant Clinics to be held at Lakeside Farmers Market in June, July

June 2021 — Our first set of plant clinics for 2021 will be held at Lakeside Farmers Market, 6106 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228. Henrico Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens on Saturdays, June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17, July 24 and July 31. (No clinic will be held on July 4th weekend.) After taking the month of August off, clinics will resume again in September and October. More details about plant clinics scheduled for the Fall will be announced at a later date.

Master Gardeners restart Homeowner Consultation programs

May 2021 — After a year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Henrico Master Gardeners are once again providing homeowner consultations for residents of Henrico County. SMART Lawns visits help homeowners improve the quality of their lawns. The SMARTScapes program includes a visit to your home by trained Master Gardener volunteers who can discuss best management practices for a beautiful, healthy and sustainable landscape. More …

Seed Lending Library now available at Henrico Extension offices


April 2021 — The Henrico unit of Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Henrico Master Gardeners are now offering a seed lending library that is available to the general public during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby on the second floor of the Henrico County Human Services building which is located at 8600 Dixon Powers Drive (off of Parham) in Henrico. In the video above, Ed Olsen, Henrico County Extension Agent, explains how the lending library works.

Henrico Master Gardeners attend Zoom meetings, classes

HMGA-Zoom-meeting-2021February 2021 – This year, despite Covid-19 Restrictions, Henrico County Master Gardeners are continuing to hold Association meetings and participate in Advanced Training classes by holding all sessions via Zoom. The Henrico Master Gardeners Association offers Advanced Training classes weekly during the months of February and March. Association members can fulfill their continuing education requirements by attending these classes.

Master Gardeners put Pollinator Garden to bed for winter

00E7529B-EA06-464D-94DC-7AF40CE333DDA0EAF5B6-BE0D-4D8C-B72F-060DDCF3DEFCDecember 2020 – Despite restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, Cindy Blanchard, Susan Douglas, Mitzi Golod, Carol McGrath and Linda McBride were able to safely mulch the pollinator demonstration garden at Short Pump Park as part of its annual winterization.

Henrico Master Gardeners attend Advanced Training classes

20200219_131804February 2020 – Master Gardeners are required to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain their Master Gardener status. The Henrico Master Gardeners Association offers Advanced Training classes weekly during the months of February and March. Association members can fulfill their continuing education requirements by attending these classes.

Henrico Master Gardeners hold first annual Bug Bizarre

IMG_0102September 2019 – When Henrico Master Gardeners put on the first Henrico County Bug Bizarre on Saturday, Sept. 14, more than 623 people came to the Deep Run Park Recreation Center to learn about bugs and bug-related issues. More …

Butterfly Festival, Plant Sale exceed expectations

20190615_123736June 2019 – The facts that (1) it wasn’t raining and (2) it wasn’t 90 degrees in the shade on Saturday, June 15, were both good omens. So good, in fact, that the Butterfly Festival and Plant Sale exceeded expectations in almost every way! More …