During Native Plant Month in April, folks in Virginia and across the nation can celebrate by planting native trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses to establish habitats that allow our birds, pollinators, and all wildlife to thrive. Incorporating native plants…
It’s that time of year when lawnmowers come out of hibernation. But in a growing number of communities, the mowers are still lying about doing nothing. Why? Because of a No Mow movement taking hold around the U.S. It’s not…
According to Virginia Cooperative Extension, a typical homesite with about 2,300 square feet of roof and pavement will send more than 62,000 gallons of runoff into the surrounding watershed each year. If unchecked, the stormwater flowing off roofs and driveways…
This spring, when we relaunch our Healthy Virginia Lawns and Healthy Landscape programs, the Piedmont Master Gardeners will advise households on how they can reduce the environmental footprint of their yards and gardens. This includes pet waste, particularly dog poop…
The Christmas tree in your home was grown with a purpose. It was planted and nurtured until it was big enough to sell. It was then cut down and hauled to our local towns, where families carefully pick the perfect…
In July, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the migratory monarch butterfly as endangered and declared it “at risk of extinction” in the United States and Canada. The U.S. monarch population has declined between 22 and 72 percent…
The envelope, please. And the winner of the Favorite Vegetable of the 2022 Albemarle County Fairgoers is … carrots! Followed by broccoli and tomatoes, with only three votes separating the top and third-place winners. The least favorite vegetable: okra. The…
There’s no denying the usefulness of English ivy (Hedera helix) as ground cover: it’s evergreen, grows quickly, and tolerates shade, drought, and a variety of soil types. These characteristics, of course, also make it easy for English ivy to spread…
Do you like watermelon, avocados, nuts, apples, peaches, blueberries, or chocolate? None of those foods would exist without pollinators. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 150 of our U.S. food crops depend on pollinators, including almost all…
It’s hard to imagine that, in 1900, white-tailed deer were nearly extinct in Virginia. The state’s largest herbivore has made a dramatic comeback over the past century, but its recovery has taken its toll on our forests, agriculture, health, safety…