Norfolk Master Gardeners

08/20/2026

Congrats to our Class of 2026 new Norfolk Master Gardeners Luanne, Deborah, Julia, and Denise and to Amy for her 250-hour milestone award!

08/16/2026

Hope you can join us this Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m for our Pretlow Good Gardening Talk.
You don't want to miss this up close and personal account of Hiking with the Monarchs. We'll hear from NMGs Farideh Goldin and Lucia Herndon who recently travelled to Mexico to hike among millions of monarchs in their traditional wintering grounds.

Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library
111 W. Ocean View Avenue

08/15/2026

Looking forward to a great event and tree adoption.

Here we go again! We hope you all will be able to join us on Saturday Oct. 10th at Lafayette Park for the 2026 Norfolk Arbor Day Festival!

We are doing our part to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by using our wonderful flier to honor some of the local arboreal and maritime history of this area. Longleaf Pines frame the image with a tall ship moving through the waterway. Our modern skyline roots us in the present and the shining sun lights up the scene. We have changed so much over these years and if we continue to work as a compassionate community, we can use lessons from the past, and take present action, to move into a bright future 🌳☀️🌳

We really do love seeing you all at this event so please come out, enjoy the park and say hello to your neighbors (the people and the plants). If you’re a Norfolk resident you can pick up a free tree to plant at home so that we can continue to grow wildlife value, experience the benefits of sharing space with trees, and keep Norfolk’s tree canopy healthy and full. As always, we’ll have vendors and organizations on site so come ready to ask questions, gain knowledge, and adopt a free tree! The event will start at 10am with a commencement ceremony and the honoring of our 3 award recipients ❤️

We can’t wait to see you all there!

08/14/2026

Another productive workday is in the books at the Ernie Morgan Eco Garden! We’re excited to share that the Human Sundial is officially prepped and ready for its next phase. Once the weather cools down, we plan to plant thyme and seed microclover throughout the area, creating a low-growing groundcover around the sundial. Our volunteers also stayed busy weeding, watering, and mulching to help keep the garden healthy during the summer heat.

We took some lovely pictures. A Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) found the dogbane (Apocynum). Some of our Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) has also reached an impressive 7 feet tall, making it quite a standout in the garden (please see the picture of Scott with our Primrose). We also discovered porcelain-berry an invasive vine that can spread quickly and smother native vegetation. Finding and removing invasive plants like porcelain-berry is an important part of maintaining a healthy and diverse garden ecosystem. Thanks Renee!

08/13/2026

The Kitchen Garden was showing off this week as MG volunteers, Chris and Francois, led a group of Norfolk Botanical Garden guests for a garden interpretation and tasting of our vegetables and herbs. We collaborated with NBG Sr. Adult Education Manager, Alexandra Cantwell. The pollinators were abounding and the flowers blooming. The Potager Garden and the NBG Adult Education Program work together to provide education information to guests throughout the year with special sessions scheduled periodically. Check the NBG Adult Education guide for upcoming opportunities. Thanks Anne Marie.

08/12/2026

After the August 11 Little Buds program at Virginia Zoo we think differently about fruits thanks to the horticultural book of the day: A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds. This delightful story by Jean Richards and Anca Hariton explained how apples, cherries, peaches and other fruits are not just delicious. They also are packed with seeds ready to become future plants that will bear more fruit. After story time, children colored fruit pictures and packed them in their own paper suitcases to tote home.

Look for the final Little Buds program of the summer at the zoo on Tuesday, August 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. You will find Norfolk Master Gardener volunteers under the shade of the giant live oak tree by the reptile house. They will be ready to read a new horticultural story and have craft supplies waiting for creative children to enjoy. Thanks Sally and Shirley!

08/12/2026

The ladies were in full force at the EOV Children's Garden. Well Keith did drop by early to help with enforcing the damaged tomato poles. We cut, cleared, pruned, removed debris, tied up plants and harvested. Our cantelope growing vertically are finally taking off. We also witnessed several stages in development of various insects. Thank you folks so much for such a wonderful and productive day. Thanks Blanch and the EOV Children's Garden crew!