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Kristi Hendricks

Western Tidewater Master Gardeners, partnering with the Carrollton Branch of the Blackwater Regional Library, maintain a “Learning Garden” on the library grounds located at 14362 New Towne Haven Lane. This expansive Learning Garden serves as an educational outreach component of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Isle of Wight County Office.

Stroll the Learning Garden to see a wide variety of plants you might like to have in your own beds and borders. Then plan to stop by the WTMG Second Annual Plant Sale scheduled at this same location on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, May 6. Bring a wagon to easily transport your plant selections.

The sale is held to support numerous community Master Gardener activities throughout the region, encouraging and promoting environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and training. The trained volunteer educators of WTMG not only sponsor the sale, but will also be on hand that day to answer questions about the Learning Garden.

An abundance of popular native and pollinator plants will be available for sale this year. Of special highlight, the MGs will have starter pollinator garden kits to assist less experienced gardeners to launch into their own backyard activities. And if you have questions about plant suitability in our USDA Hardiness Zone (7a-8a,) volunteers at the onsite MG Plant Clinic will be ready to assist with information.

Over 90 species of plants will be bargain priced. Plant selections will range from a variety of annuals, perennials and herbs to trees, shrubs, vegetables and houseplants. The sale will feature both ornamental and functional plants that successfully thrive in our Southside soil and weather conditions.

MGs carefully grow the majority of the plants in their own gardens or start the plants by seed. Lynn Hamm, sale project coordinator, says her favorite plants to be for sale are in the Rudbeckia genus as the yellow flowers stand out in the garden and the pollinators love them. She encourages all to experiment with different plants at home and enjoy the healthy practice of gardening.

Continue to grow your gardening knowledge after the plant sale by joining the Bring Gardening Home discussions. These events are also held at the Carrollton library beginning at 10 a.m. Upcoming topics include Best Kept Secrets (May 19,) Hot Weather Gardening (June 16) and Learning Gardening Maintenance (Aug. 19). Visit blackwaterlib.org/carrollton/ for a series listing.

Explore the Learning Garden at any time, find the right plant for that tough patch in your landscape at the plant sale and please participate in upcoming MG discussions. VCE events are open to all interested in horticulture and gardening. Featured publications are available online at pubs.ext.vt.edu/.