Rapidan River Master Gardener

06/17/2026

Squash those squash bugs! Anyone battling these? Drop a note with how you are handling these in your garden!
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit-and-vegetable-insects/squash-bugs

06/16/2026

We still have spots open for tomorrow's class!
Join us to make your own beautiful floral arrangement based on color theory.
We will be using every bloom available from our cutting garden and creating a lush garden design. All tools and containers will be supplied, please bring a box to bring home your design. This class is geared toward those already comfortable with basic floral design but is open to anyone.

What will be in bloom? snapdragons, sweet peas, cornflowers, baptisia, two types of sunflowers, feverfew, monarda, and other blooming perennials and native perennials like coreopsis, mountain mints and iris

Color Theory-Advanced Class - - Instructor- Cynthia DamicoExtension Master Gardener , 25-year veteran of the floral industry and the owner of Design In Bloom,…

06/15/2026

Help! My plants are bolting! Quick, put a stop to that asap!
Bolting refers to premature flowering. You want to pull up those cool season crops before they move into the reproductive stage, or bolt. Don't let them get away with it!

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/non-pest-issues-cool-season-crop

06/12/2026

Heavy feeders are vegetables with higher nutrient demands. For a number of our vegetables, It is recommended to supply additional fertilizer during the growing season through side-dressing. Some of the common garden crops that are heavy feeders:

Tomatoes
Peppers
Corn
Squash
Melons
Cucumbers

Broccoli, cabbage, beets, and carrots can also benefit from supplemental nutrition during the season.

show the image caption close caption Sidedressing heavy feeders, such as corn, with a diluted liquid or other fertilizer can give them a boost for optimal production. (photo: Andrea Knepper) Give Your Vegetables a Mid-Season Boost Share July 13, 2021 By UVM Extension Master Gardener By Andrea Kneppe...

06/10/2026

Is anyone out there succession sowing? Succession sowing (also called relay planting) is the practice of sowing seeds of the same crop at regular intervals so plants mature at different times. The goal is to avoid one large harvest and instead have a continuous supply of produce throughout the season.

Plan garden sowing in waves—plant seeds at intervals, rotate sites, vary varieties—to enjoy fresh, staggered harvests all season.

06/09/2026

Deadheading? Pinching back? What's the difference and when should we do it? Deadheading is removing spent blooms for energy redirection, while pinching back is removing young growing tips to encourage branching. You can keep your garden tidy and maximize rebloom performance with a little bit of both!

https://beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu/news/deadheading-and-pinching-back-summer-bloom-boosters/

06/08/2026

🦋🌿Many people plant butterfly bush because it attracts adult butterflies, but it provides very little support for the rest of their life cycle. Butterfly bush is not a host plant for native caterpillars, which means it does not provide the food needed for the next generation of butterflies to survive.

In addition, butterfly bush can spread aggressively in some areas, competing with native plants and reducing habitat quality for wildlife. A better choice is to plant native species that provide both nectar for adult pollinators and host plants for caterpillars.

Native plants support the entire food web—from butterflies and bees to birds and other wildlife. If we truly want to help pollinators, we need to do more than attract them; we need to provide the habitat they depend on to complete their life cycle.

Plant native plants and help create a healthier, more resilient environment for pollinators and wildlife. 🦋🌿
Photo courtesy of
https://www.facebook.com/savingmonarchs

06/07/2026

A productive morning at the Lenn Park Native Pollinator Garden! 🌿🐝🦋

Rapidan River Master Gardeners were hard at work today providing garden maintenance to help keep this important pollinator habitat thriving. From weeding and tending native plants to general garden care, every effort helps create a healthier environment for butterflies, bees, birds, and other wildlife.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who donated their time and energy this morning. Your hard work is making a real difference for our local pollinators and the community that enjoys this beautiful garden.

Be sure to stop by Lenn Park and see the garden's progress!

06/06/2026

Come visit us today (June 6th) , we are offering a free seed planting table for the kids.

06/06/2026

Today ! June 6th