April 2003 Unit Reports

CHESAPEAKE Pauline Price	Graduated 31 new Interns Lunch and Learn Series continues at the Central Library The Green Thumb project has officially become a regional effort to educate more citizens in the Hampton roads area Planning their Plant Sale.
FAIRFAX George Graine	A "pitch," developed by George Graine, to join VMGA was presented to the day and night class on March 26. If interested, this pitch can be e-mailed to Unit Representatives upon request. This year we instituted a new policy whereby we discussed our program, in some detail, with all potential MG applicants several months prior to our training that commenced in January. This orientation provided a feel for what would be taught and what would be expected of new MGs especially during the growing season (May-September). Senior MGs: Later this year, an effort is contemplated on finding out the root cause(s) for diminished senior MG participation. Approximately one-half of our active MGs are in service year 1-3, and three-quarters of the MGs are in service year 1-5. Only 16% of our MGs are in service years 6-10! We are interested in finding out how other units retain senior-mentor MGs. (We do not have any problem attracting MGs to our program. In fact, we always have a waiting list. This past year we had about 90 people on the list.) Ready-Set-Grow: This program was a whopping success! The final count was 41 MGs worked at 66 classrooms. In March we taught 1618--4^th graders something about basic botany and how plants are used in our society, e.g., food and clothing. Horticulture Help Line: Sometimes referred to as the "grow line" operates year ‘round and with increased MG support during the growing season. At this time of year, we work three days per week for three hours per day. Six senior MGs perform this service as we go about answering citizen questions and/or doing research for a total of 54 hours each week. New President: In April, Teri O’Brien was unanimously elected as our new president. Prior to that, she served in the capacity as vice-president. During the past seven years, she has become increasingly active in support of the Fairfax program. I am pleased to note that Teri intends to join VMGA this year. Furthermore, by this action it underscores that Fairfax is serious about the success of VMGA in support of MGs throughout the Commonwealth. It should not go without mentioning the fact that our Extension Agent, Adria Bordas is a member of VMGA. There are 59 members in the Greensprings Group. They have garden market days planned at their Horticultural Center. They also have a help line.
FAUQUIER Andrew Orland	Recently graduated 20 new Interns (Andrew is one of them). Participating in the Ready-Set-Grow program Information booths will be set up at The Plains and at the Farmer's Market in Warrenton. Will be participating in Prince William's Spring Fling. Hort line is in operation. Will be at Warrenton Days on May 17^th. Have compiled on a CD, the complete set of Chuck Hoysa's Hort Notes.
GLOUCESTER Sherry Ratcliffe	June 4-5 will be Eco Expo. The MG's exhibit will be on Butterflies for Matthews and Middlesex 4^th graders. In the planning stages of a Farmer's Market/Court Days. Conduct tours at Brent and Becky's. Involved in Hort Therapy at a local nursing home.
GOOCHLAND-POWHATAN Alexandria Haselman	Help Line operates 2 days a week. Helping to establish wildflower gardens in the new parks. Conduct the Clean and Green program for local lawn care.
HANOVER Cheri Haggerty	Graduation will take place May 16. Have official coordinators to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Will be conducting another workshop for volunteers wishing to work in VCE office. Have scheduled over 26 Plant Clinics through October at Ashland Berry Farm, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Ashland Farmers Market, and Strange's Nursery. Will be offering an information booth through Maymont at Herbs Galore and Sandy's Plants Maymont Day.
HENRICO Susan Anthony	22 members recently completed their course.
JAMES CITY COUNTY WILLIAMSBURG Dale Firestone Angela Cingale	Have 130 active MGs. Graduated 20 Interns and 8 professionals Leann Dubois, a graduate of Eastern Kentucky, has filled the position of Horticultural Project Assistant. She also was a program coordinator for Cornell Cooperative Extension. She will split her time between JCC-Williamsburg and New Kent. Annual Plant Sale is April 26 at the JCC-Williamsburg Recreation Center. Participating in the Farmer's Market twice monthly. The Composting Group increases their recycling activities. In addition to recycling from the Reid Learning - Teaching Garden, they are beginning to gather suitable meal prep castoffs from one if the Colonial tavern kitchens. These are added to the periodic garden trimmings. The benefits are to teach recycling from the kitchen and to keep the pile hot until the crops are harvested.
LYNCHBURG-AMHERST- CAMPBELL Catherine Powers	Graduated 18 Interns. During Garden Week, they will have exhibits at Lynchburg House.
NORTHERN NECK Jinny Estell Pat Rogers	Bonnie Appleton spoke to their group. There were 71 in attendance. Gave away over 500 tree seedlings in the elementary schools. Sponsoring a Bayscapes seminar on April 26^th. Attendees will have the opportunity to plant marsh grass with a representative from the Marine Science Institute.
NORTHERN SHENANDOAH Chuck and Sally Walters	Represent a 5 county area from Winchester to Page County in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley Have a new Volunteer Coordinator, Bob Carlson, a retired agent. Will be participating at Mayfest at Blandy on Mother's Day weekend. Have started their new class and it will run through June. Paige County MG's will help during the Bed and Breakfast Garden Tours in Luray. Will support the new Farmer's Market in Edinburgh. For 6 weeks this summer, they will present a weekly lesson to the 4-H day camp.
PRINCE GEORGE Cheryl Sebera	Their plant sale, "The Garden Party" will be May 10. They will be at historic Walker House in Petersburg during Garden Week. Will have an information booth at Prince George County Celebration. On April 29^th, they will take a tour of the VSU facilities that they missed while cleaning up after us on March 8.
PRINCE WILLIAM Pat Reilly	Graduated 28 snow-tested Interns Local association, MGPW, conducted its first Gardening Series for the public. Citizens got in depth classes on 5 topics while MGPW raised money for their Teaching Garden The group working to become Stewards has completed their comprehensive plan. They will form a Storm Water Management team, update and complete the County's tree inventory, prepare and promote traveling displays and demonstrations and start the groundwork for an arboretum. Susan DeBolt, the Environment Hort agent, will retire at the end of June. Spring Fling will be April 26. There will be 39 vendors, 34 MG Booths and 22 non-profit groups represented.
ROANOKE Shelby Snider	A Fall class has bee very successful for them. This year they held it at night. A new Hort Therapy location at Bryan Center. Working with 4 school gardens. Have a successful Speakers bureau. Plant Sale is April 26.
ROCKBRIDGE AREA Chuck Norrington	Graduated their new class the end of March. Preparing for "Massive Master Gardener Plant Sale May 10 Working with a Special Ed class at the local high school. These kids have installed a compost system. "Grow Line" is up and going. Local education trips have included an extensive tour of the Asian Pear Orchard. Next big trip is to Lewis Ginter and Maymont.
SOUTHSIDE (HALIFAX) Bill McCaleb	Elected new officers.
SUFFOLK Betty Freedman	Graduated 23 new Interns They have completed their first issue of a Unit Handbook. Their Learning Garden is ready and will begin holding once monthly workshops for the Suffolk public and outlying areas. They are presenting a series of summer workshops at the Learning Garden from 9-20 AM on selected Saturdays. A tentative schedule includes Horticultural Therapy and Perennials, Butterfly Garden, drought Resistant Garden and Herbs, Ornamental Grasses and Putting the garden to Bed. These workshops are open to the public at no charge
YORK Jackie Lohr	In the season for our Lawn Team Advance Training, lawn clinics, on-site diagnostic clinics Planning an educational trip to Charleston, , Hort therapy After a brief layoff, our Master Gardener summer garden tours and the 4- H fundraiser, the chrysanthemum program will take off. Although it rained last Saturday during the annual picnic York County gives to thank all its volunteers in every program. We were inside and enjoyed the day very much.
VIRGINIA BEACH Paul Campbell	All it has done in Virginia Beach recently is RAIN!!! Graduated 24 new interns. Treemendous Saturday was the first volunteer opportunity for the new Interns. Arbor Day was to have been celebrated at the Hampton Roads Agriculture and Research Extension Service on April 11. Unfortunately the weather played havoc and the event was cancelled. However, the Champion trees are there and are readily identified with a commemorative plaque.