In Season - Spring 2018

in SeaSon

SPRING 2018

A publication of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture Volume 32, Number 3, May 2018

Dave Close State Master Gardener Coordinator John Freeborn Assistant Master Gardener Coordinator Devon Johnson Communications Project Coordinator Sue Edwards Master Gardener Program Development Gabrielle Sanderson Program Support and Implementation Intern

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.

tabLe oF ContentS Letter from the State Coordinator

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Advanced Master Gardener Tree Steward Training Offered at 2018 College

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Master Gardener College 2018 Schedule Updates

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Webinar Recap: Boxwood Blight Fre- 8 quently Asked Questions VMGA Auction Cancelled, but BIG NEWS

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Strasburg Community Garden

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VMGA Endowment Quick Facts

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Letter From The State Coordinator Spring is a time for renewal on many levels, both in the landscape and in our lives. It is always a fun and exciting time as things begin to flush out of their winter dormancy. This proves true even within the Extension Master Gardener program.

One specific area where are seeing growth within the EMG program is the VMGA Coordinator Endowment fund. A friend to the EMG program approached our office with a challenge.

This supporter has offered to match any gifts to the endowment Dave Close, State Master Gardener dollar for dollar up to $25,000! Wow! How exciting is that? The Coordinator donor’s wish is to inspire others to contribute to the VMGA Coordinator Endowment fund and to continue supporting the fund into the future.

We will release specific details about this exciting funding-match challenge very soon, but this will be a short-term challenge with a definitive timeline. In an effort to get new donors involved, we propose the idea to have individuals pledge $50 a month for five months. There will be no limit on the size of individual gifts matched until we reach the $25,000 challenge goal, and gifts will be matched whether they are made as one-time gifts or over a five-month period. Again, the desire of the donor is to generate interest from new donors and past or current donors, matching all gifts until a total maximum of $25,000 is raised within the next few months.

So far, the VMGA Coordinator’s Endowment has funded the development of expanded EMG training and marketing resources, including our video series on common diseases/pests in the landscape and garden, our online training modules (which we continue to improve and grow), and an infographic highlighting local EMG impacts customized for each unit around the state.

I am continually encouraged by the way all of our EMGs give to the program through their time and talent and personal resources, but I am further encouraged and amazed when some of our volunteers decide they want to invest in the EMG program long-term by contributing to this endowed fund that the state association (the Virginia Master Gardener Association, Inc., or VMGA) established with the Virginia Tech Foundation in 2005.

We still have work to do, but this donor is bringing renewed attention to the efforts of dozens of others over the past 13 years.

We will have an update at our 31st annual Master Gardener College about progress toward the $25,000 matching gift, and we will soon make an official announcement about the challenge that has been put in front of us all.

Hope to see many of you in June!

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Dave Close

Dave Close

Master Gardener Coordinator

Image of a Tree Steward training at Master Gardener College 2015

Advanced Master Gardener Tree Steward Training Offered at 2018 College By: Devon Johnson This year’s Master Gardener College opportunity for advanced training will start Master Gardeners on their journey to becoming Tree Stewards!

While Extension Master Gardener (EMG) College offers EMGs from around the commonwealth the chance to network with one another and expand their education, it also offers a unique opportunity for advanced Master Gardener raining.

This year’s Master Gardener College features the chance to become certified as a Tree Steward.

“Tree Steward training is a way for EMGs to increase their level of participation within their community and help assess what their

communities’ needs are when it comes to trees,” says Frank Reilly, an EMG in the Central Rappahannock unit, Tree Steward since 2000, and coordinator of this year’s EMG College Tree Steward training.

“Tree Steward training is the opportunity for 30+ hours that will help you understand the needs of trees and forests, as well as how you and our community need trees” says Reilly.

EMGs participating in Tree Steward training at EMG College will arrive to college one day 5

early and will spend Wednesday June 20 and the morning of June 21 in the classroom learning about tree biology, tree health, tree selection, tree identification and trees in your community, among other topics.

Tree Stewards in training will then spend Thursday June 21 on a special tree inventory project as part of an afternoon field trip.

“We’ll be doing a tree inventory at Virginia Tech,” says Reilly. “Tree Stewards will be all set to go home and do their own tree inventory projects in their communities,” he adds, “and it’s a great opportunity for service learning because we’ll be leaving a gift for Virginia Tech.”

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Tree Stewards in training will attend EMG College keynote and concurrent sessions along with their peers; however, Tree Stewards in training must choose

available in the latest edition of In Season here. Tree Steward classes are denoted by a tree icon.

When Tree Stewards in training return to their units, they will complete the final stage of training under the supervision of their local Agent or Unit Coordinator as they work to organize a local treerelated project.

Thanks to the dedicated work of other Tree Steward volunteers, this year’s training program will also feature a newly revised Tree Steward manual.

“There was a real need for information specifically for Virginia EMGs,” says Carol King who helped lead efforts to produce the new Tree Steward manual. “This new manual has information on each region of Virginia and is tailored for EMGs. It includes examples of past unit projects with trees, as well as space for local units to add their own content.” For more information on the new Tree Steward manual, please see “Tree Steward Manual Updated for 2018.”

“Tree Steward training is a portal that gives you a grounding to focus on an important part of our plant world,” says King who became a Tree Steward in 2009. “As an advanced program, it opens the door to expert knowledge and involvement that can make a big difference in a community,” she adds.

“While some units put on their own local advanced training classes, not all units are able to do that,” says Dave Close, the Virginia Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator. “The advanced training at EMG College offers those EMGs the chance for advanced certification.”

Master Gardener Tree Steward poster at 2015 College

all of their concurrent sessions from a list of Tree Steward-approved classes.

“We know that not every EMG has the same interest in trees, so we have a variety of classes available for Tree Stewards to choose from,” says Reilly. A complete list of concurrent sessions is 6

For more information on Tree Steward training or on EMG College, please see the latest edition of In Season, available here. Tree Steward training at this year’s EMG College costs $100 in addition to the cost of College registration. Registration for EMG College and the Tree Steward training will be open in the beginning of May. Please ask your local Agent or Unit Coordinator for more information. ■

maSter Gardener CoLLeGe 2018 SCheduLe updateS Please see the EMG College 2018 edition of In Season for a full schedule of events. The following changes and additions have been made to this schedule: Time Changes

The times for Junior Master Gardener Training and Hahn Garden Design (Thursday, June 21) have changed. New times are: Junior Master Gardener training: 1:30-4:30 pm Hahn Garden Design: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm New Tour Information

Master Gardener College begins with an optional day of tours and workshops on Thursday, June 21.

For a full description of the tours and workshops offered for 2018, please see our preliminary schedule in the EMG College edition of In Season available here. We have updated descriptions to share about two new tours we’ll be offering this year: Thursday June 21, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Black Garlic Processing Facility Tour Tantalize your taste buds! Stop by for a tasting of Obis One organic black garlic. No, it’s not a new variety of garlic, but aged raw garlic that transforms in color, texture and flavor during the aging process.

Great for cooking! Makes a great unique gift!

Obis One is the largest organic black garlic artisanal producer in North America. No garlic breath! The store has everything from black garlic bulbs/cloves to chili powder, black garlic sea salt,

grinder garlic and home chef combinations. Recipes are available. More info: https://www.obisone.com/ Thursday June 21, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Canoe the New River with Venture Out: Come and enjoy an exciting day on the New River with Venture Out! We will paddle down beautiful landscapes and scenic developments along several miles of Virginia shoreline. The trip is all inclusive, so we will have your canoe, paddle, PFD (lifejacket) ready to go!

The adventure begins with some easy moving water, with a quick lunch (also included) along the river banks. As your paddling skills develop, so will the adventure, as the last stretch of the river spices up your experience with some lower level whitewater class rapids. We look forward to being a part of your adventure with the Master Gardener College and a fun day as you Venture Out with us.

Be prepared, you might get wet!

Maximum enrollment is 12 people and the cost is $55.00 rental fee, which includes lunch and transportation.

Accessibility Update

Thursday June 21 1:15 PM – 3:45 PM | Dixie Caverns - Please note that the Dixie Caverns tour requires walking and climbing a tall staircase to enter the cave. ■

Registration is now open!

Please see full registration details at: https://bit.ly/2rqpBXy 7

Boxwoods affected by boxwood blight. Image. Credit: VCE Boxwood Blight Task Force

Webinar Recap: Boxwood Blight Frequently Asked Questions By: Devon Johnson

Mary Ann Hansen, manager of the VT Plant Disease Clinic, visited the Extension Master Gardener State Office to answer common questions on Boxwood Blight

Boxwoods are a useful and popular element of many Virginia gardens, but boxwood blight, a serious fungal disease first discovered in the United States in 2011, poses a threat to Virginia’s boxwoods.

see circular or irregular leaf spots with a dark border and a light colored or brown center,” says Hansen.

“You’ll also see black stripes on stems, which are very diagnostic.”

Mary Ann Hansen, manager of the VT Plant Disease Clinic, recently visited the Extension Master Gardener State Office to share information on boxwood blight and offer suggestions for controlling the spread of this serious disease in Virginia.

However, the first symptom many people notice is severe defoliation of their boxwoods, with leaves dropping off the bottom parts of the plant in particular. “It’s usually pretty sudden and severe, and that’s when people know they’ve got a problem,” says Hansen.

“Boxwood blight has been present in Europe for many years, but it was first discovered in the United States (and Virginia) in 2011. Many Virginia counties have had positive identifications of boxwood blight since then,” says Hansen.

Boxwood blight is caused by the fungus Calonectria pseudonaviculata, which affects all members of the boxwood plant family, including Boxwood, Japanese spurge, Allegheny spurge, and sweetbox. The fungus produces structures called microsclerotia, which can survive on dead leaves for a long time, making boxwood blight easy to

“The earliest symptom of boxwood blight you might notice on your plants is leaf spotting. You’ll 8

spread through diseased leaves.

Unlike many other fungal diseases, boxwood blight is not spread through the wind. The most common way boxwood blight has spread so far is through introduction of diseased plants, but it can also be spread by blowing leaves or animals or humans brushing up against diseased plants.

confuse with boxwood blight, including volutella blight. If you believe that you may have identified boxwood blight, you can submit a sample to the plant disease clinic through your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. Tips on collecting samples for the VT Plant Disease Clinic are below.

If left untreated, boxwood blight will eventually kill an infected plant.

According to Hansen, controlling the disease requires a multi pronged approach which includes: • Avoid introducing the disease on infected plants or plant matter • Buy plants from a reputable source (e.g. you can ask if the grower is in the Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program) • Consider planting resistant varieties (for information on resistant varieties, visit: http://plantpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/ppornamentals/; Note that while resistant boxwood cultivars are available, these plants can still spread the disease to the nonresistant boxwoods you may have planted) • Sanitize tools, hoses, vehicles, equipment between blocks of plants or between properties (this is particularly important for landscapers who may travel between properties) • Sanitize by dipping into 70% ethanol or Lysol Disinfectant Spray Brand III (wiping off tools is not effective) • Make sure landscapers you hire have a plan for preventing introduction of boxwood blight to your property Fungicides can be used to protect plants from infection if applied preventatively, however they will not eradicate the disease from plants or soil, and this option can be expensive and time consuming.

Boxwood branches affected by boxwood blight. Image.

Credit: VCE Boxwood Blight Task Force

Tips on submitting potential boxwood blight samples to the VT Plant Disease Clinic: • Collect symptomatic branch samples with some leaves still attached (early in symptom development) • Submit soil and root samples so that we can check for other common boxwood diseases • Double bag in sealed plastic bags and submit through your local VCE office to the VT Plant Disease Clinic This article is based on Mary Ann Hansen’s March 8, 2018 Extension Master Gardener Webinar, a recording of which is available for current Virginia Master Gardeners here: https://blogs.lt.vt. edu/mastergardener/current-master-gardeners/ sample-page/webinars/ ■

Hansen also notes that other diseases are easy to 9

VMGA Auction Cancelled, but BIG NEWS By: Pat Reilly Whaaaat? No silent auction at EMG College this year?

We’re afraid it is true. A university event has the priority for the use of the large room VMGA usually uses for the auction. Many creative options were discussed, but the decision was made to not have an auction this year. We thank all of you who have already been working on items for the auction.

The auction will return at the 2019 MG College, so please feel free to bring any items to College this year. We’ll store them for you until next year.

We have a humble suggestion. If you were going to contribute and/or bid on auction item(s), perhaps you could make a contribution to the endowment instead. It would go a long way, as your contribution would be DOUBLED by the challenge match! Especially good would be a pledge of $50 for 5 months, as our anonymous donor would like!

Merchandise Sales

This also effects the EMG-branded merchandise that VMGA sells at College. Items for sale (including the new license plate surround) will be on display with sales opening Saturday morning, during breaks and through the VMGA reception.

Questions? Contact us at auction@vmga.net and sales@vmga.net. ■

BIG NEWS

Many of you know that the auction was a fundraising activity for VMGA’s Endowed Fund which supports the State MG Coordinator’s work for our Virginia EMG program. While the cancellation of the auction is a disappointing loss of revenue for the endowment, we have an anonymous angel who has pledged to make a significant donation. It is a challenge that our angel will match every dollar contributed to the endowment, up to $25,000!!!

We’d especially like those of you who have thought about contributing but have not gotten around to it, to do so for this challenge match.

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A Master Gardener examines an auction item at the 2015 VMGA silent auction.

Strasburg Community Garden By: Gabrielle Sanderson Northern Shenandoah Master Gardeners contribute to new community garden

Do you know what a food desert is? A food desert is an urban area where is it difficult to buy affordable, or good-quality fresh food. You may be shocked to know that there are many of these, right here in Virginia! The town of Strasburg has a food desert that encompasses 90% of its community.

Two conservation specialists, from the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District, decided to address this food desert dilemma by building a grant-funded Strasburg Community Garden, which opened in the Spring of 2018.

Alison Sloop and Nick Livesay, the conservation specialists, applied for a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts in the summer of 2017. “One of the main parts of the grant is having a bunch of educational workshops to show people how to prune and harvest correctly, how to water gardens efficiently, and to empower people who are intimidated by starting a garden in

their own community,� said Sloop. The Extension Master Gardeners are important for that aspect of the grant.

The 5,200-square-foot community garden has a no-till policy, features the best management practices for sustainability, and will be handicap friendly. With this garden being environmentally and sustainably conscious, there are a lot of partners and supporters, from Virginia Cooperative Extension, local schools, the Boy Scouts, churches and even the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners. Volunteers, including the Extension Master Gardeners, carried out a method of sheet mulching to help preserve the soil structure and created a rain barrel at a source that can produce up to 500 gallons of water. Two Boy Scouts also helped to construct six wheel-chair accessible beds for their Eagle Scout Awards.

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Mark Sutphin, the Unit Coordinator of Frederick County, states that several Extension Master Gardeners are presenting at the educational lectures and workshops, which will serve as a guide for those people who are interested in gardening, but do not know how to begin.

or pesticides. “I know there are some beneficial insects that eat the seeds of invasive pests,” Sloop jokes. “We encourage people when they’re having a plant or pest issue to contact the Extension Master Gardeners or the District to help formulate a plan to help their plants in more organic way.”

Rebecca Davis, Family and Consumer Science agent for Frederick County, is helping with the production of the educational sessions, food preservation workshops, and food demos using harvest from the gardens.

Even though this garden just got started, it will only continue to grow. Sutphin states that, “one of the demo gardens will be a children’s garden with sensory interactive plants for kids to touch, see, and smell.” Sutphin mentions that Rozalynn McIntosh, who is the Extension Master Gardener leader for the Master Gardener demo plot, will be making this a class project for the 2018 Extension Master Gardener Training Class.

Kimberly Cost, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant, for the summer and fall in conjunction with this community garden. Sutphin states that, “Kim will try to incorporate recipes into her programs that utilize items seasonally available in the community garden, aiding the participants in knowing how to use the produce grown.”

“The garden coupled with educational lectures, as well as hands-on workshops in and out of the garden will help aid plot holders and other community members to gain the knowledge to be confident and successful at growing some of their own produce,” says Sloop.

While Sloop makes it clear that the Strasburg Community Garden is not mandating a certified organic status, the best management practices of sustainability are still encouraged. Sloop mentions that she encourages people to add things to their gardens that reduce the use of herbicides

The community garden is involving numerous different age groups from the community, such as: the kids with the community garden, the handicapped plots for the disabled, and others that just want to learn. The excitement and the involvement within the community continues to expand. This shows that just a simple act of helping the community to be ware that they can grow their own food can make such a difference.

“We know there are a lot of people interested in gardening. We just want to be a resource for those people,” says Sloop.

For more information on the Strasburg Community Garden, please see their Facebook page. ■

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New State Office Blog!

The State Office launched a new blog where we will post updates, interviews, and new research relevant to Virginia gardeners.

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Visit our new blog at: http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/mastergardener/vce-mastergardener-blog/

Quick facts on the...

vmGa endowed Fund

Approximately...

$390,000+

total dollars

Individual donors:

859

Donor levels:

White Oak - $10,000+ Southern Magnolia - $5,000 - $9,999 Bald Cypress - $1,000 - $4,999 Silverbell - $500 - $999 Flowering Dogwood - $250 - $499 Eastern Redbud - up to $249

Suppor�ing..

Development of online training modules Educational video resources 13