April 21-28, the week of this month’s new moon, is International Dark Sky Week. This is a worldwide celebration of darkness at night. It is also part of an effort to build awareness about the harmful impact of light pollution…
All of us who work in the garden appreciate how it can enhance our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With a variety of hands-on activities, the Piedmont Master Gardeners’ Therapeutic Horticulture Project is bringing these benefits to groups of underserved…
By Fern Campbell Piedmont Master Gardener National Invasive Species Awareness Week is coming up, scheduled for February 24-28. This annual event raises awareness about invasive species in North America, the threat they pose, and what can be done to prevent…
The shortening days of fall signaled to our plants that it was quitting time for the food-making machinery in their leaves. Green chlorophyll faded away and allowed an array of other colors to emerge in our foliage, delighting the eyes…
By Fern Campbell Piedmont Master Gardener Fallen leaves are a gift from Mother Nature to our yards and gardens. In addition to providing many other benefits, such as creating shade, sequestering carbon, filtering air pollution, and giving food and shelter…
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia, has been working its way toward our area since 2014, when it began taking its toll on vineyards, orchards and home landscapes in southeast Pennsylvania. In Virginia, it was first detected in…
In Virginia and nationwide, June 17-23 is Pollinator Week, a time to celebrate the essential role that pollinators play in supporting natural plant communities and in providing much of the food on our tables. You can celebrate locally by visiting…
In early March, the Virginia Cooperative Extension announced a state-wide, year-long initiative focused on tackling invasive species. As the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation notes, “invasive plants proliferate and displace native plant species, reduce wildlife habitat and alter natural…
By Fern Campbell Most people are able to identify praying mantids in our landscapes and think of them as a cool beneficial insect, a “guardian against pests.” But a closer look reveals a more complicated picture. Both native mantids and non-native…
Even in mild winters, homeowners need to be prepared for some icy weather. There are a number of ice melt products available to treat slippery sidewalks and hazardous driveway surfaces. However, the negative environmental and other impacts of some deicers…