Information Sessions — How You Can Become an Extension Master Gardener
–Are you passionate about gardening? Would you enjoy sharing your passion with others? Then consider becoming an Extension Master Gardener volunteer. Â The training class will meet in-person one day a week from February through April. It will cover topics ranging from vegetable gardening, ornamental gardening, and fruit growing to soil health, wise water use, and disease and pest management. The training emphasizes science-based best practices that conserve resources and protect the environment. Â Virginia Cooperative Extension will begin accepting applications for the class on September 1.
To learn more about becoming a Master Gardener, you may wish to attend one of these information sessions:
- Thursday, September 4 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Â Â Â Â Online via Zoom
- Monday, September 8 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Â Â Â Â Â Gordon Avenue Library 1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville, VA
- Wednesday, September 10 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm. Â Scottsville Library 330 Bird Street, Scottsville, VA
- Monday, September 15 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Â Â Â Â Northside Library 705 Rio Road West, Charlottesville, VA
⇒Read More »Join Us: Learn How You Can Become an Extension Master Gardener
Rain Barrel Workshop at Starr Hill Downtown
–Starr Hill Downtown at the Dairy Market, 946 Grady Avenue (Suite 101), Charlottesville
–Every time it rains, stormwater carries nutrients from fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste, and chemicals from herbicides and pesticides from our homes to local waterways. Using a rain barrel at home is a way to reduce stormwater pollution and conserve water.
UVA Guided Tree & History Walk
—Saturday, September 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
⇒Learn more and register for the walk HERE
Late-Summer Guided Tree Walk at the Ivy Creek Natural Area
—Tuesday, September 9 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
—Limited to 25 participants
—Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
⇒Find out more and register for the walk HERE
Mint Springs Valley Park Tree Walk
–Thursday, September 18 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Limited to 10 participants
–Mint Springs Park Road, Crozet VA
–Join the Tree Stewards for an introductory tree walk around Mint Springs Valley Park. The walk will be relatively easy and mostly on flat ground with some uneven grass/field areas to view some of the Charlottesville Area Tree Steward’s newly-planted trees.  Trees include: Loblolly Pine, American Elm, Black Gum, Swamp White Oak, Tulip Tree, Sycamore, Bald Cypress, Persimmon.
⇒Find out more and Register HERE
Invasive Plants in Your Landscape and What You Can Do (in person)
–Saturday, September 13, 2025 • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
–Join Louisa Master Gardeners and Blue Ridge PRISM to learn more about invasive plants in your community. Discover which plants you are likely to find in your lawn, flower beds, shade gardens, and neighborhood, and learn about techniques for how to remove and control them. This is a FREE event at the Louisa County Library and is open to the public.
Garden Basics: Household Food Waste—The Big Picture: Food Preservation Methods as One Solution
–Trinity Episcopal Church 1118 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville, VA
–Consumers are responsible for most of the wasted food that winds up in our landfills and harms our environment. Learn some easy and practical strategies to reduce food waste, such as properly preserving food for later use, including food harvested from the garden. Canning, freezing, dehydrating, and fermenting are great options. FREE. Space is limited.
How to Select, Plant and Care for Trees
–September 30 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
–Planning on planting trees on your property this fall? Â Learn how to select a tree for your property that will have the best chance to survive and flourish in the place that you choose for it. Tim Maywalt, a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward will discuss best practices for planting and show you how to care for your newly-planted tree and your other landscape trees for the long term. Â Perfect timing before the CATS October 11th Tree Sale to learn how to plant a tree on your property that will have the best chance to survive and flourish in the place that you choose for it.
⇒Find out more and register HERE
Coming up in October . . .
Invasive Plant Identification Walk
–Wednesday, October 1, 2025 • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
–Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum in Harrisonburg for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants in the spring. This session includes a short hike along trails, some with uneven surfaces. Space is limited to 20 participants.
Invasive Plant Identification Hike
–Thursday, October 2, 2025 • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
–Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM and the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont in Charlottesville for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants in the spring. This session includes a short hike through the woods on trails with uneven surfaces. Space is limited to 10 participants. RSVP to register.
CATS Fall Tree Sale
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS) maintains its own tree nursery, entirely run by volunteers. We plant saplings obtained from the Virginia Department of Forestry and other sources and nurture them until they are large enough to be planted out.  We concentrate on native trees, some of which are hard to find from commercial sources.