Norfolk Master Gardeners
830 Southampton Ave., Ste 2069
Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1045
The Germinator Blog
The Germinator Blog
Winter is my favorite time to visit arboretums. The reason? With a scarcity of leaves growing on deciduous trees, it is easy to see nature’s sculptures. On a chilly but sunny winter day with no snow it is a pleasure to bundle up, be outside, and observe the curves and angles of mature tree limbs. Virginia is home to 18 official arboretums, including three in our region: • Norfolk Botanical Garden with its 175 acres. • Tidewater Arboretum in Virginia Beach with its 5 acres at Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Research and Extension Center. • Chesapeake Arboretum in Chesapeake with its 51 acres. I have visited the botanical garden and AREC arboretum many times, but recently enjoyed my first visit to the Chesapeake Arboretum, which was only a 30-minute drive from my home. Virginia’s Department of Conservation & Recreation classifies the Chesapeake Arboretum as a Virginia Treasure. Admission is free with plenty of parking across from the trail head. The 3.5 miles of flat trails lead you through a mature hardwood forest with tall native trees. The arboretum started in 1996 and is part of both the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and the American Camellia Trail.
As 2024 draws to a close, I am struck by how Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners’ year-long invasive species theme inspired me. Like my childhood detective heroine Nancy Drew, I searched for clues to plants and animals that don’t belong in the 757. First, I accused the passionflower vine I bought two years ago of being invasive since in spring and summer it migrates far beyond its trellis. But, no, this vigorous climbing plant with its showy purple flowers and little green fruit is native to Virginia, according to the Virginia Native Plant Society. This exotic-looking beauty with its big frilly flowers is a host plant for variegated fritillary and zebra longwing butterflies. To be classified as invasive, offenders have to originate far from southeastern Virginia and disrupt our environment, economy or human health. So, the native passionflower vine is staying in my yard but with maintenance to keep it in its place. Note to self : Next time plant passionflower in a container like I did mountain mint. In October, I was convinced Asian jumping worms had invaded my black cloth grow bag. I was digging deep in the bag for sweet potatoes when wiggling, electric blue creatures jumped to the surface. They scared me and then quickly burrowed into the soil. I immediately thought of Dr. Linda Blum’s talk we had at our September Norfolk Master Gardener meeting about invasive Asian jumping worms. Dr. Blum is a University of Virginia professor, Piedmont Master Gardener and worm expert. After chatting with Dr. Blum and Ed Olsen, VCE’s master gardener specialist, I unstressed. Most likely my lively wigglers were Common Five-lined Skinks, who are native to our region. Their young offspring flash bright blue tails as they rapidly hide. Although these lively lizards had vacated my grow bag by the next day, I hope they remain nearby since skinks devour large quantities of mosquitoes.
I enrolled in this course with the hopes of gaining some scientific knowledge and hands-on skills to better garden at my home and at my preschool program. Norfolk Master Gardeners did not fail – they exceeded any and everything I had imagined. I had heard a lot about the newly acquired information, but certainly not to this extent. I have gardened for many years prior to taking the course – at my home and with the students at the Academy, but not with the zeal and confidence I now possess. Again, thanks NMG. From pollenating flowers to invasive plants, from rain barrels to compost bins, from square foot gardens to raised flower beds, nowadays, my conversations are more about “garden talk”. Check out what these new green thumbs have started thus far. We’ve added 2 square foot gardens at the Academy. We planted and harvested vegetables, mainly cucumbers and peppers and we also planted and harvested sweet potatoes for the first time. This fall, we harvested those sweet potatoes and for the first time, planted kale and collards. At home, it’s the beginning of garden heaven for me. I’ve added 2 square foot gardens, several raised beds and a few grow bags – all have been very successful. I also have a rain barrel and a tabletop compost bin (not fond of the bin though!) And for the first time ever, I planted a tree! So again, Norfolk Master Gardeners, thanks for an awesome program. I love the results! They say, “unless there are pics, it didn’t happen.” So, check them out!
Renee is originally from Franklin, Kentucky. Her family lived on a farm growing tobacco, soybeans, corn and hay.
Julia grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, but relocated to Wisconsin for college.
Debbie was born and grew up in California. Before moving to Norfolk she lived in Las Vegas, South Carolina and Tennessee. Because her son was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Norfolk, Debbie and her husband, Gary, moved here in 2011. Although Debbie is officially retired from her job as bookkeeper/payroll clerk, she currently works for her son’s company from home one day a week. Debbie met Vickie Reid while walking their dogs and Vickie shared that she was a Master Gardener. She encouraged Debbie to join the Class of 2024. Debbie laughed at the suggestion. Although she loves growing vegetables she didn’t believe she could become a Master Gardener. Upon joining and attending her first class she asked herself what in the world had she gotten herself into. Although it was a lot of information to digest, she is very proud of herself for completing the classes and learning so much. To attain her required fifty hours, Debbie worked at the Fred Heutte Center in both the pollinator garden and the square-foot garden. She also worked at the East Ocean View Children’s Garden, the Potager Garden and Butterfly House at Norfolk Botanical Garden, the plant sale and the seed project. Debbie attended the Virginia State Fair where the Norfolk Master Gardeners share information with attendees about gardening. Now that she has completed her training, she plans to participate in as many projects as possible, hoping to try all of the projects at least once. Debbie likes to tend to her garden at home, read, sew and visit with friends. She volunteers at her church and at Christian concerts. She is working on a scrapbook about her mission trip to Kenya with Project Lucas, where she helped them plant a garden. Debbie and her husband have been married for 34 years and have one son and three granddaughters. Her cat rounds out the family unit. When you see Debbie, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her to the Norfolk Extension Master Gardeners.
Westport, Ireland house photos from 2013 and 2024 show the progression of Virginia Creeper, which now surrounds the doorway.
Looking for a new way to bring in the New Year while improving our environment and having fun? Try composting; it’s relatively easy, will add nutrients to your gardens, both flowers and vegetables, and will decrease the amount of waste that you put into your trash. If this interests you, here’s a brief outline to get you started. Compost is composed of three ingredients: • Green Materials: grass clippings, coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit scraps, tea and coffee grounds, and weeds. • Brown Materials: leaves, uncoated paper, coffee filters, straw or hay • Water & Oxygen These materials are mixed together and over time turn into a rich organic resource for use in your garden. For the home gardener, the easiest way to become a composter is through the use of a garden tumbler like the one pictured below.
Amy was born in the Philippines. Her father was in the U.S. Navy and her family moved all over the country and the world, but retired in Virginia Beach. Amy graduated from Kellam High School and then Radford University with a degree in nursing. After her husband graduated from Virginia Tech, they moved to Minnesota so he could teach Chemistry in a small university setting. During the forty years they lived in Minnesota they visited Virginia Beach often and their goal was to retire here. When Amy’s daughter and son-in-law moved to Virginia Beach in 2016 with all the grandchildren, it set their retirement plans in stone! They purchased a home in Southeast Norfolk which reminded them of their country home in Minnesota. The property is on wetlands and there are no houses behind them. The icing on the cake is that it is one mile from her daughter’s home in Kempsville. Amy retired in June, 2023, after forty years as an Intensive Care Registered Nurse. Her passion was working in the Intensive Care Unit and she was fortunate to work in a large medically advanced hospital. She witnessed many changes during her career and even persevered through the pandemic. Amy learned gardening from her grandmother, mostly about planting perennials around their Minnesota home. She wanted to become a Master Gardener for years but decided to wait until she retired and moved to a new environment. Amy loved the Master Gardener classes. She appreciated the variety of classes, speakers and field trips that gave her an opportunity to experience many different sites around Norfolk and Virginia Beach. To attain her required fifty hours, Amy participated at the Native Dune Garden, the Zoo Garden, the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary, and the Butterfly House at Norfolk Botanical Garden. In addition, she was especially drawn to, and will continue to participate in the Significant Tree Project. She looks forward to learning about and visiting the remainder of NMG projects. When she is not working on NMG projects, Amy likes spending time with her family. Her son lives in Denver. Amy and her husband like to travel, especially when it involves being around family and friends. She enjoys scrapbooking and golfing; however, she has not golfed since moving to this area and is looking for some golf buddies so she can get back out on the golf course. When you see Amy be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her to the Norfolk Extension Master Gardeners.
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