Ongoing and Annual Projects
Speakers Bureau
Contact Person:
Members of the Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners are available to make presentations to local organizations.Click here for a list of available programs.
Photo: Liz Dunn making a presentation on carnivorous plants.
Radio Spots on WFLO
Contact Person: Ann Morton Neale
Committee members research, prepare information on various topics of interest to the horticultural community. Patsy Miessler (the HOVMG voice of WFLO) records the massages that air regularly on WFLOClick here for a complete list of programs , including the upcoming topics, airing times and the complete texts of past programs.
Photo: Patsy Miessler, the voice of HOVMG on WFLO.
HOVMG Annual Plant Sale
Contact Person: Pat Lust
Most members of the organization participate in the annual plant sale. It is our goal not only to provide a wide variety of plants for sale, but also to provide information to the public about these plant varieties. Through this event we raise funds to support our other projects and activities.Click here for more information about the plant sale.
Photo: Carolyn Wells and Allison Martin in Pat Lust's backyard preparing for the plant sale.
Dillwyn Primary Butterfly Garden
Contact Person: Anne M. Field, Denise Bryan, Deb Naylor
Students designed, planted and are maintaining a butterfly garden that provides plants (food) for eggs, larval and adult stages of butterflies. This project provides for students a natural example of metamorphosis to compliment classroom study.Photo: Anne M. Field
Flora Mapping
Contact Person: Cynthia Wood
Master Gardeners identify wildflowers growing in selected state parks,
pinpoint their locations on topographical maps with GPS devices,
photograph them, and note growing conditions. The resulting data will
be compiled in a data base and Power Point presentation and will be
used to help state park officials monitor changes occurring in
wildflower habitat.Photo: Cynthia Wood at work
Basic Botany for Elementary Students
Contact Persons: Anne Mason Field and Cynthia Wood
This committee has developed a training manual that includes SOL-related instructional materials. Members of HOVMG provide hands-on experiences for students.Photo: by Cynthia Wood. Anne Mason Field with Prince Edward Elementary Students
Habitat for Humanity
Contact Person: Nan Colvin
Master Gardeners design environmentally–friendly landscape plans for each Habitat for Humanity home built in the area. Instruction on installation and maintenance is given to new home owners.Photo: Nan Colvin on a project
Arbor Day Observance
Contact Persons: Tina Wells, Nan Colvin
This committee collaborates with the Town of Farmville and the Arbor Day Foundation to carry out the annual Arbor Day observance. Members assist with planning and distribution of tree seedlings. HOVMG member, Nan Colvin, has been instrumental in Farmville's designation as a "Tree City," and she serves as a member of the town tree board.Photo: by Cynthia Wood - Rails to Trails
Planting and Maintenance of the Buckingham Historic Village (in conjunction with the Buckingham/Dillwyn Garden Club)
Contact Person: Jackie Paterson
Master Gardeners in conjunction with the Dillwyn Garden Clubs designed and planted several sites in the village with native species. The groups continue maintenance of the gardens.Photo: The project in progress
Town Beautification in Crewe
Contact Person: Cynthia Wood
HOVMG members provide guidance and assistance in maintaining the planters at Town Hall as well as landscape design and planting for the "Welcome to Crewe" signs.Photo: Cynthia and Pat admiring the new planters at Town Hall
Cumberland Welcome Signs and Court House Landscape
Contact person: Alice Metts
HOVMG members provide plants and maintain the public gardens at these locations. Participants have been careful to choose plants that are both drought tolerant and deer resistant and that bloom all summer.Photo: Provided by Cumberland County Administration
Dillwyn Primary School Water Garden
Contact Person: Anne M. Field, Denise Bryan
Students redesigned the pond and installed plants around the pond. This project will provide students with experiences with water plants and with examples of the relationships of plants and animals (fish, frogs, etc.) in a small ecosystem. While it beautifies the school entrance this pond will provide students with the opportunity to investigate the issues related to good soil and good water quality.Photo: Anne M. Field
Landscaping the Cumberland Community Center
Contact person: Alice Metts
The garden at this public location is used as a teaching garden, giving valuable horticultural education and experience to students from the Bear Creek Academy and from the GED class. Students learn how to care for borders and planters.Photo: Student and faculty member of the Bear Creek Academy working at the Community Center
Ask Alice
Contact Person: Alice Metts
Description: Do you have a gardening question for which you would like an answer? Contact Alice at alicemetts@gmail.com (Please put "Master Gardener" in the subject line.), or contact the Prince Edward Extension Office at 434.392.4246.Photo: Alice answering questions at the plant sale.
Information Booth
Contact Person: Jackie Patterson
This committee provides an educational exhibit at the Heart of Virginia Festival and other venues. Master Gardeners are available to answer questions and provide horticultural information.Photo: by Anne Mason Field
Bayscape Garden
Contact persons: Martha Powers and Deanna Fehrer
Description: The landscaping at the Natural Resource & Agricultural Building in Farmville (also the VCE office) demonstrates conservation landscaping principles. The site is located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, thus the term "Bayscaping." This approach minimizes the impact to the environment by utilizing native plants, providing wildlife habitat, reducing fertilizer and pesticides and conserving water resources. This model of low-input landscaping saves time, energy and money, while protecting streams, rivers and waters of the Chesapeake Bay.Photo: by Deanna Fehrer
photo unavailable Miscellaneous Projects
Contact person:
In addition to the many ongoing projects members of HOVMG are available to help with smaller projects in friends' and neighbors' back yards. We can help folks figure out the various problems or help with garden planning.Photo: Talking about dead spots in the grass
Cumberland Agricultural Youth Project with the Public Schools
Contact Persons: David Smith
This program is a new initiative. Members HOVMG will work with the Cumberland Extension office to reintroduce agriculture into the Cumberland public schools. Master Gardeners will assist with various topics related to gardening and other horticultural issues.Photo:
photo unavailable
Agriculture Awareness Day
Contact person: Deb Naylor
Event held in the fall to introduce Prince Edward fourth graders to a variety of agricultural issues. HOVMG hosts a table to provide gardening information.Photo:
