Fall Gardening Programs Coming to the Museum

The Southside Master Gardener Association will once again offer fall gardening programs at the South Boston – Halifax County Museum. These programs are free and open to the public. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling the Halifax Extension Office at 434-476-2147, option 0 or emailing ask@ssmga.org.
First on the agenda is “The Role of Hardscape in the Landscape” by Master Gardener Jean Blanton on Friday, October 12 starting at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hardscape gives the garden its “bones” or structure. It can be as simple as a birdbath or a bench or more complex such as a pergola or arbor. Hardscape can be used to define a space, hide an eyesore or control a slope. Walkways and patios are also considered hardscape. Jean will discuss how to plan hardscape into your garden and make it functional and enjoyable for garden visitors.
On Friday, October 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jessica Driver, VDACS Plant Inspector, will talk about Invasive Diseases and Pests of Concern for our Virginia landscape plants. Jessica will include a discussion about boxwood blight and spotted lanternfly. Some of these pests such as rose rosette disease can decimate all of the plants in that species very quickly. Therefore, it is important for us to recognize the signs and symptoms so we can take appropriate action.
Tim McCoy, VCE Extension Specialist, will speak on “Native Bees of Virginia” on Thursday, October 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Honeybees get most of the attention but in the background are the native bees that have been here long before the honeybees were introduced. Native bees are important pollinators and generally their emergence is timed with the plant they best pollinate. Tim will discuss their life cycles, what things are contributing to their decreasing numbers and what we can do to encourage these fascinating creatures to our gardens.
The museum is located on 1540 Wilborn Avenue in South Boston. Save time to enjoy the exhibits and gift shop. To make a reservation for any or all of these programs, please call 434-476-2147, option 0 or email ask@ssmga.org. These programs are open to the general public at no charge. Hope to see you there!