The Piedmont Master Gardeners Association provides research-, science-based gardening information to the community of Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville.
Here you will find our calendar of gardening events, resources to answer your gardening questions, a lively and topical monthly newsletter (The Garden Shed), a list of our projects and community partners, and information on how to become a Piedmont Master Gardener.

Alternatives to Burning Bush
Question: The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a bush of choice in many neighborhoods. I’ve heard that I shouldn’t plant it because it’s invasive. Why and what are some alternatives? With its striking bright red or purplish fall foliage, red…
Create a Bird-Friendly Yard
Songbird populations are rapidly declining. Homeowners can help reverse this trend by creating a healthy landscape. Topics covered will include: using keystone native plants for food year-round, planting in layers to provide shelter, removing invasive species, and tips for shrinking...
Find out more »Garden Basics: Tools for Gardening Smarter, Not Harder
The Piedmont Master Gardeners will offer a primer on easy-to-find as well as odd, little-known, but handy tools for tending the yard and garden—from socks and gloves to clippers and tree-extraction tools. This free Garden Basics session will cover: •...
Find out more »Spring Lecture Series—Michael Carter Jr., “Africulture and Unique Organic Vegetables You’ll Want in Your Home Garden”
In this online presentation, Michael Carter Jr. will highlight the many contributions the African continent and people of African descent have made to farming and food traditions in the United States. He will also introduce some of the unique plants...
Find out more »Spring Lecture Series—Bob Schamerhorn, “Attracting Birds and Other Wildlife to Your Garden with Easy-to-Create Water Features”
Bob Schamerhorn’s online multimedia presentation will demonstrate water’s powerful attraction to birds and other wildlife in every season and will suggest ways to enhance our enjoyment of nature by bringing water into our backyards. Based in Richmond, Schamerhorn is an...
Find out more »Spring Lecture Series—Kim Eierman, “Designing a Pollinator Victory Garden for a Changing Climate”
Kim Eierman, an ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants, will cover the dramatic decline of pollinators due to factors that include climate change and will offer simple strategies gardeners can use to support bees and an array of other...
Find out more »Spring Lecture Series—Elisa Meara and Alex Thompson, “Attractive, Functional, Sustainable Solutions to Managing Stormwater Runoff in the Home Yard and Garden”
In this online presentation, landscape designers Elisa Meara and Alex Thompson will show how smart planting and attractive rain gardens can reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants that threaten rivers and streams feeding the Chesapeake Bay. A graduate of London’s...
Find out more »The Piedmont Master Gardeners’ 20th Annual Spring Plant Sale
Join us for our 20th Annual Spring Plant and Green Elephant Sale. The sale offers something for all gardens: • plants for sun, shade, or something in between • annuals, perennials, native and pollinator plants • herbs • vegetables •...
Find out more »For more information on any of our events, visit our Events page.
