Danville Master Gardeners

06/22/2026

🎉🎈🎂🎁🥳🎊
Her students call her 'Professor Tomlin'... her kids call her 'Mom'...but the Danville Master Gardeners call her 'Madame President!'
🎊🥳🎁🎂🎈🎉
Please join us in wishing our President, Elizabeth Tomlin, a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A perfect day for Elizabeth would be a couple of hours of Pickle Ball ...a little 'digging in the dirt'...then some one on one time with her chickens, ducks, Guinea, and various other pets and animals.
🎉🎈🎂🎁🥳🎊
Have a great day Elizabeth! Happy Birthday!
🎊🥳🎁🎂🎈🎉

06/21/2026

06/20/2026

🌼🌿 DMG/INTERN/TRAINEE VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED 🌿🌼

🪴Work Hour' @ Library Community Pollinator Garden
🪴 Friday, June 26th "
🪴 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

🌼🌿 It's time to do a 'Summer Spruce Up at the pollinator garden and we sure would appreciate your help! While the plants in this garden have been blooming profusely all Spring and Summer, some are looking a little ragged now, and a few w**ds have also crept in. Time to do some w**d pulling and deadheading to get it back in shape for the remainder of Summer! We don't anticipate this task taking more than an hour. Please help if you can and Thank You. 🌿🌼

🪴Sign up on the Volunteer Space in 'My Impact.'
🪴 Bring gloves, trowel (if you have one), and yourself! We'll have extra trowels.
🪴 You will enter your time on your 'My Impact' under "Horticulture Service to the Community-Community Pollinator Garden Project."

06/10/2026

🌼🌿 3rd Annual Ladybug Release 🌿🌼
Full details below. Please register in advance to receive a goody bag filled with Ladybug fun. Hope to see you on Friday! 🌿🌼

🐞 LADYBUG RELEASE DAY IS ALMOST HERE! 🐞

Join Bee City USA Danville, Danville Outdoors, Danville Public Works, and Danville Parks and Recreation for an evening of learning and environmental stewardship as we release thousands of beneficial Convergent Ladybugs throughout the River District!

Did you know? Convergent Ladybugs are native to North America and are valuable predators that help control aphids and other garden pests naturally, reducing the need for pesticides. They are often confused with Asian Ladybugs, which can gather on homes during cooler months and are identified by the black "M" marking behind their heads.

Want to learn more?
📖 Asian Ladybug - Virginia Tech: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/444/444-275/444-275.html
📖 Native Convergent Ladybug - UC IPM: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/convergent-lady-beetle/ .tab=0

Family Program & Release

Ruby B. Archie Public Library
511 Patton Street, Danville, VA
The Life of a Ladybug Educational Session
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Check in Begins: 5:30 PM
Family Release: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Adult Release
301 Tavern
301 Craghead Street, Danville, VA
Check in Begins: 7:00 PM
Adult Release: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

After the adult release, stop back by 301 Tavern for an evening of fellowship and fun.

Two ways to register this year:

Option 1: Register through Danville Parks & Recreation
(Located at the bottom of the catalog under the Outdoor Recreation tab as “Ladybug Release Day”)
https://secure.rec1.com/VA/city-of-danville-va/catalog

Option 2: Register through Danville Public Works quick form
(Helps us ensure we have enough ladybug bags for everyone!)
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Nyw089AzPF

Come learn about the life of a ladybug and help us build a more pollinator-friendly Danville!

06/02/2026

🌼🌿 3rd Annual Ladybug Release 🌿🌼

2026 Ladybug Release Day is Coming to River District!

Join the City of Danville, Public Works, Danville Outdoors, and Bee City USA Danville for an evening of learning, community, and environmental stewardship during our annual Ladybug Release Day!

This year’s event will focus on “The Life of a Ladybug” and the important role these beneficial insects play in reducing pesticide use — not only across City landscapes, but in your own home gardens as well.

Participants will learn about the value of ladybugs in natural pest control and help release them into potted plants, hanging baskets, and Community Pollinator Gardens throughout the River District.

Family Program & Release

Ruby B. Archie Public Library
511 Patton Street, Danville, VA
The Life of a Ladybug Educational Session
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Check in Begins: 5:30 PM
Family Release: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Adult Release

301 Tavern
301 Craghead Street, Danville, VA
Check in Begins: 7:00 PM
Adult Release: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

After the adult release, stop back by 301 Tavern for an evening of fellowship and fun.

Two ways to register this year:

Option 1: Register through Danville Parks & Recreation
(Located at the bottom of the catalog under the Outdoor Recreation tab as “Ladybug Release Day”)
https://secure.rec1.com/VA/city-of-danville-va/catalog

Option 2: Register through Danville Public Works quick form
(Helps us ensure we have enough ladybug bags for everyone!)
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Nyw089AzPF

We hope you’ll join us for this fun and educational community event as we work together to promote healthier gardens, reduce pesticide use, and support pollinator-friendly practices in Danville.

05/28/2026

🌼🌿 Wouldn't this be awesome for our area?! 🌿🌼

Why mow it when it could bloom? 🌼

A strip of grass feeds lawnmowers.
A strip of wildflowers feeds bees, butterflies, birds, and entire ecosystems.

Sometimes, doing less for nature achieves far more. 🌿🐝

05/28/2026

With The Garden Club of Danville – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

05/25/2026

🌼🌿 Shout out to our multi-talented Master Gardeners Brenda Rowland, Gayle Thomson, and Sandy Pruitt for the well deserved awards they received at The Garden Club of Danville annual meeting last week. 🌿🌼

🌼🌿 Brenda received the 'Rebecca McGovern Award for Service Excellence.' 🌿🌼

🌼🌿 Gayle won the Turner Trophy for Artistic Design. 🌿🌼

🌼🌿 Sandy Pruitt was presented the Silver Basket for rose specimens. 🌿🌼

🌼🌿 We appreciate and are so proud of each of you! Thank You Ladies for all you do in DMGA as well as The Garden Club of Danville. You Rock!!! 🌿🌼