VPM
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VPM
Discover popular houseplant varieties and learn about their care. Visit a garden featuring unique herbs and discuss their uses beyond the kitchen.
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Tim Wright/VPMExplore state and national champion trees at Richmond’s historic Maymont park. Tour Dragon Run on the Middle Peninsula to learn about bald cypress and the old growth forest network. -
PhotoJuthamat - stock.adobe.com/376424661Is your soil ready for your plants? This is a great question and most of us might just look at the soil to say yes — it looks loamy and has that black, rich color, or no — it looks like red Virginia clay to me! There is so much more to soil than meets the eye, and I want to introduce the best way to know more about what is in your dirt: the soil test.
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I garden with deer, where more than a dozen think my gardens are their personal restaurant to browse through. I have gardened with deer for many years, and through research backed by expensive trial and error on my part, I now only buy plants with specific traits.
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As gardeners, during the winter months we start missing our time in the garden. We spend so much time in our gardens during the warm season, that when we are forced to slow down due to frozen ground or uncomfortable cold, we can start feeling depressed and eager to get back to playing in the soil.
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A common question fellow gardeners ask me is about what my favorite plants are. While I have a few favorites, I really do like almost all plants so trying to choose just a few is difficult.
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I have always enjoyed going into my backyard and harvesting veggies for a meal, but I find it even more exciting during winter. I often continue growing into the winter by protecting my fall garden beds that get the most sunlight during winter.
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When I sit in my sunniest room, flipping through the various catalogs stacked at my feet, I know I need to be very careful with the plant choices I make. My years of experience have taught me that these choices will have an impact on my garden — and on my time — until the end of the season.
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Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger/At my house, bird watching and bird feeding is a year-round activity. To make the birds safe in your space, think about adding ‘cover’ so they can approach.
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January is the coldest month of the year for most of the US and many gardeners manage through the month’s 31 days by hibernating inside with garden catalogs at their fingertips. However, just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do in the garden.
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It’s that time of year that’s full of family and friend gatherings; it can be very stressful and overwhelming. During this time, it’s so important to take time to just breathe.
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September is caterpillar season — and it is important to let them enjoy their meal. This is part of the circle of life! -
As gardeners, we all are looking for more space to grow. And I’m no exception.
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Tour a cut-flower microfarm in Norfolk specializing in native perennials to support pollinators. Visit a home landscape in Stanardsville designed to provide habitat for birds and insects.
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Whew, it’s hard to believe August 6th marks the peak of summer, with the first day of fall just 48 days later. Per the 2023 update, the first frost dates for USDA cold hardiness zones 6 and 7 now range from early October to early November. All this means there is still plenty of time to garden!
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Watering on hot days may seem like it makes sense, but maybe it's time we re-think that method.
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Meet organizations growing greener communities. Explore a farm in Petersburg empowering youth to become stewards of their local food systems. Visit ReLeaf Cville and learn how planting trees to provide shade creates healthier neighborhoods.
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Recently, I visited my sister — and while there I joined in on her daily walks. During one, she told me about a plant she received from a friend and called it Bishop’s weed. I am not the best at common names, particularly when in a different part of the country, so I wondered which plant she was referring to. This experience always leaves me wondering about gardeners who rely solely on common names.
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Mulching is a time-honored technique in the garden. Using plant-based materials like wood chips, bark, leaves, grass clippings and compost are all ways to add “organic” amendments to your soil.
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Visit a private garden using sustainable practices to promote soil health. Learn about biochar, a nutrient-rich additive that improves soil fertility and structure while sequestering carbon underground.
