The Piedmont Master Gardeners Association
460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902-6441 434/872-4580 Fax: 434/872-4578
PMG Resources: We're Here to Help PMG Reference Desk
Answering the public's questions on a wide array of gardening topics is one of PMG's most important missions. In 2006 alone we clocked close to 2,000 hours researching and responding to queries on subjects ranging from bug and weed identification . . . to composting and soil testing . . . to growing the best tomatoes and biggest pumpkins. We're available by telephone, e-mail, or walk-in most of the year, particularly during peak gardening season (March-October). If our Master Gardeners or local extension agent are not able to find an answer or solution to your problem, samples are forwarded to the laboratories at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg for further analysis. . . . Call, visit or write us. . . . We love a good challenge!
Where You'll Find Us:
Horticulture Help Desk: 434/872-4583, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, March through October. Located in VCE offices on the 2nd floor of Albemarle County Office Building #5, 460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville. (Directions and map) E-mail by clicking: Help Desk.
Master Gardeners and interns who staff the Help Desk handle e-mail, call-in and walk-in questions throughout the gardening season. Clients might be asked to bring in samples of plant material to help staff identify specific problems. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
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Charlottesville City Market: PMG hours: 8:00 a.m. to noon, Saturdays in the summertime. Located off of the Downtown Mall in the Water Street open-air parking lot.
PMG members and interns staff a table at Charlottesville's Saturday morning market to answer questions and provide seasonal gardening information to home gardeners. If desired, bring plant or insect samples. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
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Crozet Market: PMG hours: 9:00 a.m. t0 noon, second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
PMG members and interns are available two Saturdays each month at the open-air Crozet Market to answer questions, distribute seasonal information, and take insect and plant material samples. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
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Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 200 Main Street, Charlottesville. CHECK with VCE office first, before going to the library. Winter months only.
PMG members are on hand at the main library one evening each month to answer gardening questions. Call the main VCE office at 434/872-4580 during winter months to confirm availability.
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PMG workshops and lectures. See the PMG Calendar for listings of our workshops, clinics, and lectures throughout the year.
Horticulture Help Desk: 434/872-4583, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, March through October. Located in VCE offices on the 2nd floor of Albemarle County Office Building #5, 460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville. (Directions and map) E-mail by clicking: Help Desk.
Master Gardeners and interns who staff the Help Desk handle e-mail, call-in and walk-in questions throughout the gardening season. Clients might be asked to bring in samples of plant material to help staff identify specific problems. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
_____
Charlottesville City Market: PMG hours: 8:00 a.m. to noon, Saturdays in the summertime. Located off of the Downtown Mall in the Water Street open-air parking lot.
PMG members and interns staff a table at Charlottesville's Saturday morning market to answer questions and provide seasonal gardening information to home gardeners. If desired, bring plant or insect samples. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
_____
Crozet Market: PMG hours: 9:00 a.m. t0 noon, second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
PMG members and interns are available two Saturdays each month at the open-air Crozet Market to answer questions, distribute seasonal information, and take insect and plant material samples. Click here to find instructions on preparing samples.
_____
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 200 Main Street, Charlottesville. CHECK with VCE office first, before going to the library. Winter months only.
PMG members are on hand at the main library one evening each month to answer gardening questions. Call the main VCE office at 434/872-4580 during winter months to confirm availability.
_______
PMG workshops and lectures. See the PMG Calendar for listings of our workshops, clinics, and lectures throughout the year.
Preparing samplesSamples intended for analysis by PMG or VCE should be placed in sealed sturdy ziplock bags or appropriate bottles. A good rule of thumb is to provide sufficient plant material to show us the full range of the plant's state. We prefer samples that include healthy tissue through diseased tissue, accompanied by about a pint's worth of roots in soil.
If providing an insect sample, bring us MULTIPLE specimens, if possible. Hard-bodied insects may be frozen; soft-bodied insects can be submitted in a small bottle filled with alcohol.
Questions? Call the Horticulture Help Desk: 434/872-4583.
