June 20-24th: The 25th Anniversary MASTER GARDENER COLLEGE at the Virginia Tech Campus, Blacksburg, VA. MG College is considered advanced training and is open to all active and certified VCE Master Gardener volunteers.  General information and costs have been posted at 2012 MG College Program.  To register for your tours, workshops, and concurrent sessions of your choice, go to: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/mastergardener/  Register for housing at: https://regstg.com/Registration/Registration.aspx?rid=0a964a13-a187-402d-ad50-3885cdc0b78d. This only registers you for housing, it does not register you for the conference itself which is handled as a separate process.

Watch us on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7ad0YSkcs

All certified BAMGA members who plan to attend this event are encouraged to apply for our BAMGA scholarship (deadline: Friday, June 15th) BAMGA 2012 MG College Scholarship Application Form

Periodical cicadas are also commonly called the 17-year cicada or locust. The name “locust” is misleading because it applies to migratory grasshoppers. Not the same creature, and not the cicada you see each year either!

A note was sent out recently from Eric Day (Extension Entomologist, Virginia Tech) to our Bedford Extension Agent, Scott Baker,  to give him a heads up when there were signs of Periodical Cicada emergence. We had our first specimen brought in to the Bedford office on the day of the April BAMGA meeting. Many more sightings have occurred since. PhyllisT notified the office about huge numbers of emerging cicadas at her gardens. PeggyJ is sweeping about 30-40 off of her driveway each morning Quite a few calls are coming in from residents who are concerned and worried about these insects.. Most everyone in BAMGA has now seen these 17 year cicadas.

Bedford County is at the perimeter of the 2012 and 2013 emerging “Brood I” cicada population. So it’s possible that some Bedford County residents will see an emergence next year rather than now… Anyone who will be volunteering at the Help Desk will surely be receiving questions about them. There’s a very good fact sheet http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/444/444-276/444-276.html which says it all.

Here’s May 3rd’s interview with Sally Delta at WSET13 TV, as seen on Facebook… http://www.wset.com/story/18119933/17-year-cicadas-back-out#.T6NNp4V5Q3o.facebook

Some interesting tidbits:

1. While mass emergence can make folks think the sky is falling, plant damage is typically minimal.
2. Their characteristic RED EYES makes them easy to identify.
3. Above-ground life cycle of only 4-6 weeks. Next emergence is due in 2029!
4. The males do the “singing”. It’s their mating call.
5. They are not poisonous & don’t bite or sting.
6. Refer to “control tactics”, page two of http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/444/444-276/444-276.html

Enjoy them! They are very unusual in looks and habits, and their visit is a brief one, KathyN

Sign Up Now For The 25th ANNIVERSARY MASTER GARDENER COLLEGE

June 20-24 at Virginia Tech. More information below… See you there!

MAY

Thursday, May 3, 9;30-11:30am: BAMGA Monthly Meeting Topic “Bee Biology” by Nelson County Extension Agent, Michael LaChance. BAMGA meetings are usually held at the Bedford Administration building and are always open to the public.  Check your BAMGA newsletter or call the VCE office for more details…

Thursday, May 3, 6pm-8pm AND Friday, May 4, 9am-1pm: ELDERFEST at the Bedford Moose Lodge, 2986 W. Lynchburg -Salem Tpke (Route 460).  Join us for a celebration of senior related activities! Music, art, food, vendor products, free samples/products, and much more! Elderfest is a program sponsored by the Dept. of Parks and Recreation for seniors to learn more about services available in the geographic region. Bedford Area Master Gardeners will have an information booth at the event.

Saturday May 5, 9am-2pm: 19th Annual Moneta Herb Festival Location: Moneta Farm and Home Center.  Bedford Area Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your horticulture questions, assist with plant selection and container garden planting.  There will be three mini seminars presented by an herbalist as well as a Children’s Corner to entertain your youngest family members while you shop. Special prices on herbs and a great selection of shrubs, trees, annuals and perennials are always available. See you there! www.monetafhc.com (540) 297-5558

Saturday May 5, 8:30am-1pm: Festival of Gardening by the Hill City Master Gardener Association, at the Aviary in Miller Park, 420 Grove Street, Lynchburg Festival of Gardening Flyer

Saturday, May 5: Third Annual Statewide Invasive Plant Removal Day Help with invasive species infestations In VA’s parks and natural areas. The Virginia Master Naturalists and the Virginia Native Plant Society invite organizations to join in. All community groups are potential organizers for local events. Individuals are also encouraged to join any group’s activity. More volunteer information…  For site leaders: May5 IPR Day Site Leader Info

Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6: Train the Trainer Workshop for the Landscape for Life Educational Series offered by the U.S. Botanic Garden. Free. “We are hoping that your organization would send one person to learn how to teach this series.  The workshop will provide your organization with a complete kit of teaching resources that can be used to conduct classes in sustainable home gardening. The role of soils, water, vegetation and materials in sustainable landscape design will be explored along with class activities, exercises and discussions to illustrate the important message.” Ray Mims, United States Botanic Garden More info: Landscape for Life

Saturday, May 12, 9-Noon: BRWFS’ Annual Wildflower and Native Plant Sale About 30 different species to sell, including bloodroot, trilliums, twin leaf, spring beauty, spiderwort, jack-in-the-pulpits and native ferns. Besides being more beneficial to wildlife than non-native species, many of these plants have evolved to grow in shady areas, to be more resilient to insect damage and to be more tolerant of drought and poor soil. Location: Virginia Western Community College parking lot behind the arboretum http://www.brwfs.org/

Saturday, May 12 10am-11am: Wild Flower Walk  Discover natures’ hidden treasures while on a short walk.  Location: SML State Park Discovery Center, 1235 State Park Rd, Huddleston. For more info, call (540) 297-5998 or visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/smi.shtml

Wednesday, May 16, Noon-1pm: Live Webinar Forest Farming Non-Timber Products: Opportunities and Challenges Sponsored by NC State University Extension Forestry, Southern Region Extension Forestry and Texas Agrilife Extension. “A great diversity of native plant species are harvested for their value in the medicinal, culinary, craft, and other product markets… The market potential for many non-timber forest products is significant, but the economic viability of producing them through forest farming is a major challenge… Efforts are needed to get forest farming recognized in future government programs, such as the next farm bill…”  http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinars/forest-farming-non-timber-products-opportunities-challenges

Friday, May 18, 9am – 4pm:  Water Quality Monitoring: Tools for MS4 Compliance, TMDL Implementation, and Water Quality Protection & Restoration Sponsored by the Virginia Water Monitoring Council 2012 Conference Henrico County Training Center, 7701 E. Parham Road, Henrico. Please see www.VirginiaWMC.org for an agenda and registration form.

May 19-20th weekend: Scotts Strawberry Festival There will be live Bluegreass and Country music, kids activities, homemade on the farm strawberry ice cream and shortcake, horse & buggy rides, a petting zoo, vendor tents, funnel cakes, wine tasting, a Strawberry Princess Pageant and a Strawberry Pie Eating Contest. Pick your own strawberries or buy them already picked. Location: 5234 Joppa Mill Road, Bedford. For more info, call (540)297-7917 or visit us on Facebook.

Sunday, May 20,  3pm: “Orangeries” Part of the Cultural Reflections Sunday Afternoon Educational Series. Location: Bower Center in Bedford. “Orangeries are similar to a greenhouse or conservatory and were a fad in America during the late 1700s and early 19th century, built by prominent families on their estates. The name reflects the original use of a structure as a place where citrus trees and other delicate plants were kept alive through the winter months…” Presented by Sergei Troubetzkoy, Director of Tourism for Bedford. Free event… Open to the public…

Monday, May 21, 7:30- 9pm “Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont” by Dr Timothy Spira. Hosted by the Blue Ridge Wildflower Society and Roanoke College. Location: Massengill Auditorium at Roanoke College. Cost: free

Monday May 21 9am-5pm: Virginia Invasive Plant Workshop supported by The Piedmont Environmental Council. Location: Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton Approved by Bedford’s Extension Agent (Scott Baker) for BAMGA members  to receive the 6 hours of CEU. More info  at http://www.pecva.org/index.php/events/fighting-invasive-plants  and   Invasives Flyer

Saturday, May 26, 10:30am- 3pm: Pizza in a Pot with Master Gardeners Part of the “Hands on History” at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 1542 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest.  Children learn together with parents or grandparents how to grow herbs in containers. $5 supply fee plus regular admission. 434-525-1806 www.poplarforest.org

Tuesday, May 29: Profitable Greenhouse Production of Local Produce A workshop to be held in Wythville, VA. Schedule and more info @ http://www.hort.vt.edu/ghvegetables/workshops.html

(Undated) Short Online Class Diagnostics for Master Gardener Volunteers: Approaches to Plant Diagnostics. The class is $10 and was developed by Ohio State Extension specialists and the North Central CH IPM Working Group. Great for new as well as returning Extension MGs in diagnosing plant problems. Go to campus.eXtension.org , click on “Master Gardener”, then to class name.

JUNE

June 12, 19, 26: Arborist Certification Courses  Fairfax VA. Special Thanks to Merrifield Garden Center. More info at Arborist Certification Courses Brochure

June 20-24th: The 25th Anniversary MASTER GARDENER COLLEGE! Virginia Tech Campus, Blacksburg, VA. MG College is considered advanced training and is open to all active and certified VCE Master Gardener volunteers.  We should be live for registration by the end of business on Thursday, May 10. Registration will remain open until Friday, June 8. The costs have been posted at 2012 MG College Program.  The housing registration link is live and active. You can register for housing here: https://regstg.com/Registration/Registration.aspx?rid=0a964a13-a187-402d-ad50-3885cdc0b78d. This only registers you for housing, it does not register you for the conference itself which is handled as a separate process.  Also of interest… watch us on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7ad0YSkcs All certified BAMGA members who plan to attend this event are encouraged to apply for our BAMGA scholarship (deadline: Friday, June 15th!) BAMGA 2012 MG College Scholarship Application Form

When to prune? Go to Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication VCE Shrub Pruning Calendar

When/What/How Much to Spray Fruit Trees?  Go to Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication:  Home Orchards – Fruit Disease_and_Insects Please DON’T spray insecticides during bloom time! Protect our honey bees!

A Landscape Problem Solver Web Site is now available from the University of Maryland, Home and Garden Information Center. This site offers photographic keys to help diagnose and solve plant problems, using Integrated Pest Management principles. New pest posters at  http://plantdiagnostics.umd.edu/content/educational-resources.cfm. Subjects: brown marmorated stink bug, mosquitoes, spiders, stinging insects, and Norway rats.

1.  It is getting to be that time of year when you see all sorts of INTERESTING THINGS in the shrubs, trees, or early flowers.  I happened to spy these two “THINGS” the other day as I was walking down to the barn.  It is a little early to be seeing these, but because of the recent warm weather I was on the look-out for them… photo example to the left, click on answers below to view  more “things”.

2.  The client was planning on PLANTING A FULL SIZED MAPLE TREE and wanted to know how far from the house it should be planted.  He also wanted some information on good shade trees near the house.

3.  A  caller stated that the leaves on his RHODODENDRON were yellowing, and then turning brown, with defoliation also occurring.  He wanted to know what the problem was with the plant and how to fix it.

April 2012 Help Desk – Answers for: Bush Things – Planting Mature Maples – Rhododendron Leaves

1.  PHOTINIA (Red Tip)  leaves had started dropping off.  Spots of the bush were affected last year, and it is now spreading to a second area.

2.  A sample of OTTO LUYKEN LAUREL was brought to the extension office. The owner said that the plant has always looked stressed, but didn’t see any bugs on the plant.  (leaves have spots with holes).

3.  General information on EROSION CONTROL was requested.

March 2012 Help Desk – Answers for: Photinia – Otto Luyken Laurel – Erosion Control

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies… Gertrude Jekyll

APRIL

Wednesday, April 4, 6:30-7:30pm: HOME ORCHARD CARE A free presentation by Virginia Cooperative Extension and Southern States. Location: The Brambleton Center, Roanoke. Please pre-register (540) 772-7524  Home Orchard Care

Thursday, April 5, 9;30-11:30am: BAMGA Monthly Meeting: Rabies! Guest Speaker: Phillip Davis with the Bedford Health Dept.  He will talk about the animals we encounter in our yards/gardens that may be infected, the number of cases in our area, etc.  More info about our April 28th plant sale will be available. Some supplies as well. Bring your plant donation forms… as well as donations of books, pots, medium sized gift bags! BAMGA meetings are usually held at the Bedford Admin building and are always open to the public.  Check your BAMGA newsletter or call the VCE office for details…

Monday, April 9, 7-8pm: Organic Gardening at Southern States in Troutville. Call 992-1001 to register.

Saturday, April 14: Apple Blossom Festival  Second annual spring festival featuring crafts, jams, cider, games, rides, auction, entertainment, and apple butter making. At the festival,  Bedford Area Master Gardeners operate a “Help Desk”  information booth … See you there!  Location: Gross’ Orchard, 6817 Wheats Valley Road, Bedford. For more info, call (540)586-2436 or visit www.grossorchards.com

Saturday, April 14: Tomorrow’s Landscapes:  More Birds, Butterflies, & Bees for your Garden Presented by Piedmont/Blue Ridge Horticulture Society and the Environmental Studies Department at Shenandoah University . Location: Brandt Student Union, Shenandoah University, Winchester.

Saturday, April 21 9am-1pm: Herbalist Workshop Herbalist and registered nurse Robert Wooding will conduct a full day workshop  in the identification, preparation, and application of medicinal herbs. Location: Sedalia Center, Bedford. For more info, call (434)299-5080 or visit www.sedaliacenter.org

Sunday, April 22, 2pm: EARTH DAY Celebration at Booker T Washington National Monument. A Park Ranger and volunteers will give a program, for children ages 3-6, in celebration of Earth Day. Admission is free. http://www.nps.gov/bowa/index.htm

Monday, April 23, 7pm-8pm: Companion Planting at Southern States in Troutville. Call (540) 992-1001 to register.

Tuesday, April 24, 10am-6pm: Lynchburg’s Historic GARDEN DAY  Tour day includes four homes, Poplar Forest, Awareness Garden, Anne Spencer Garden, Miller Claytor House and Sweet Briar House. Beautiful homes and gardens will be available for touring as well as living history displays. Sponsored by The Lynchburg Garden Club and the Hillside Garden Club, tickets may be purchased in advance or at single sites the day of the tour. Headquarters is at Point of Honor, 112 Cabell Street. Event contacts are Robyn Johnsen at (434)384-8651 and Bette Bibee at (434)384-9104.

Saturday, April 28th 9am-1pm: Bedford Area Master Gardener PLANT SALE, located downtown at the Bedford Farmers Market (park behind Stellar One or Bedford Hardware Store).  Come see the wide variety and high quality of annuals, perennials, herbs, veggies, shrubs and trees. Master Gardeners will be available to assist you with  your horticulture questions. Bring a friend. See what wonderful plants we are sharing! There’s always room for more beauty in your life!

Saturday, April 28, 10:00am Growing Mid and Warm Season Vegetables Presented by the Roanoke Master Gardeners and hosted by the Roanoke Community Garden  Association. This program is the second in a four part series of “Grow Your Own Vegetables”, open to the public.  Join us in the garden for an informative talk! Location: 14^th Street Community Garden. Directions: In SE Roanoke turn off Rt 24 onto 14^th St. SE. Garden is on the right.  Look for the Frank Roupas Community Garden sign. Rain cancels the event.

Saturday, April 28: The National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway, will host two NATURE WALKS at the Peaks of Otter, led by Martin DiLeggi and Alan Pipkin. The first hike (8-10am) will depart from the Peaks of Otter Lodge for a 2 mile walk in search of the many migrant birds returning to the mountains. The second hike (2pm) begins at a nearby trailhead in search of emerging flowers. For more information, contact District Ranger Peter Hamel at 540-377-2377 x24 or Peter_Hamel@nps.gov

PUSS CATERPILLAR  (Megalopyge opercularis): This caterpillar, also known as the Wooly Slug, looks like you could reach out and pet it. Looks can be deceiving, for underneath the long, silky, blond-gray-tan coat of soft hairs lie numerous sharp, venom-laden spines. Siting of the Puss Caterpillar comes with a WARNING: It ranks #10 on the Ten Most Dangerous Bugs, keeping company with others such as the Africanized Bee (#4), Deer Tick (#5) and Black Widow (#6). Contact may produce severe reactions including severe burning of the skin. The pain may radiate rapidly to the lymph nodes in the armpit or groin area, then to the chest…

KUDZU BUG (Megacopta cribraria):  To quote from the Park Seed company newsletter: “Nature never stands still, and a new pest has arisen to make trouble in the vegetable patches of some gardens in the southeast. The Kudzu Bug is a smelly little guy much like a stink bug. It primarily feeds on Kudzu, Wisteria and Soybean crops, but has made its way onto other vegetable plants as well”…

Welcome to “BUGS: Good, Bad and Ugly”,  an ongoing series of articles about gardening  friends and foes. Master Gardener Jim’s stories tell us ways to identify, understand  and deal with various insects we meet every day. This often means putting aside the insecticide and simply admiring the many beneficial neighbors of ours! Click on the highlighted insect’s name  to see more photos, read his articles and follow recommended links. Contact your local Master Gardeners with any questions you may have about bugs in your garden.

Three easy ways to reach us: CALL the Bedford Cooperative Extension Office  at  (540) 586-7675, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ask for the Help Desk. VISIT the Bedford Cooperative Extension Office. Location: 122 East Main Street, Bedford County Admin Building, Suite 102, downtown Bedford. Hours: weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  EMAIL us with your HELP DESK questions @ Bedfordmg@vt.edu

The 2012 Pest Management Guides …available in PDF format and are divided into three volumes: Field Crops (456-016), Horticultural and Forest Crops (456-017), and Home Grounds and Animals (456-018). Each of the volumes is further divided into chapters and/or sections. Download the entire 2011 Home Grounds and Animals book, or choose just the section you need from the list… A great reference for keys to proper pesticide use and much more.

Note from Feb 2011: “Hi Pest Managers, There is a post at http://blogs.extension.org/mastergardener about… IPM training modules: IPM Cubed.  Regards, Bill Hoffman” National Program Leader – (Ag Homeland Security) Institute of Food Production and Sustainability NIFA/USDA 202-401-1112 whoffman@nifa.usda.gov

“GROW THE GOOD LIFE!”

A Day of Gardening Seminars for ALL Enthusiasts! Sponsored by Bedford Master Gardeners

Saturday, March 24, 2012   9:30am – 3:30pm Bedford Central Library ~ Bedford Room ~ 321 North Bridge Street, Bedford

MORNING: PILING IT HIGHER & DEEPER: RAISED BEDS & COMPOSTING IN THE GARDEN  Presenter: Kaye Moomaw, Owner of Irvington Springs Farm, Lynchburg, VA

AFTERNOON: NATIVE PLANTS, DIVERSITY-RICH GARDENS IN AN ECOLOGICALLY-CHALLENGED WORLD Presenter: Janet Davis, Owner/Operator Hill House Farm & Nursery, Castleton, VA  

Click here for more information

 Click here to download a registration form 

                        Or call 540.586.7675  Space is limited!

   The following article will especially be of interest to our Master Gardeners who have participated in the Beautiful Gardens Plant Introduction program but it is exciting news for anyone gardening in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Beautiful Gardens Plant Introduction Program is proud to announce the release of its first new plant, the VT Spirit daylily.  VT Spirit is named for Virginia Tech and is a wonderful representation of the school colors of maroon and orange.  It is hardy in all Virginia growing zones and boasts a longer than average bloom season for daylilies.   Click here to read more VT Spirit Introduction-1

Communities Take Root Program: “The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country…! We are now inviting applications for 2012. The first 100 qualified applicants will be in the running to win a free orchard, including orchard design, arborist expertise, and a fun community planting event. And, orchard recipients also receive a free community workshop on planting, pruning and caring for fruit trees.” (360) 318-7639  www.ftpf.org__

The 2012 edition of the Home, Grounds, and Animals Pest Management Guide is now active and the file is available at the following URL pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-018/456-018.html