Gardening Program Coming to Museum on August 18th

The VCE Southside Master Gardener Association will be presenting Kathy Fell of the Plant Virginia Natives Campaign to give a presentation on native plants for our area and discuss the mission of the Plant Virginia Native program. The presentation will be on Friday, August 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the South Boston Halifax County Museum. Reservations are requested.

This bright yellow False Sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides, is a native plant that shines in the flower garden. It blooms from June to frost. Come to the museum on August 18 to hear Kathy Fell discuss why and how to use native plants in the garden. Kathy Fell is originally from Ruxton, Maryland where she learned about natives from her Mother, an avid gardener. After attending college in New York, she moved to Minnesota to work for IBM. There she learned all about zone 4 plants and minus 40 degree temperatures. In 2007, she came to her senses and moved back east to Bassett, VA where she lives surrounded by 40 acres of woods. She is a Master Naturalist, a Master Gardener and a member of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Kathy’s presentation will cover the topic of Why Native Plants? She will discuss the distinction between native plants, non-native plants, invasives, cultivars, hybrids and GMO species. We will learn what is a regional native plant and how it supports the regional ecosystems, how to plan a garden to benefit the birds and bees and examples of plants native to Virginia’s Southern Piedmont. The second half of Kathy’s talk will center around the Plant Virginia Natives Campaign. This program is free and open to the public. As usual, light refreshments will be served. Please make a reservation by calling 434-476-2147, option 0 or email ask@ssmga.org. The museum is located at 1540 Wilborn Avenue in South Boston, landmark is the big red caboose. Hope to see you there for what will be an informative presentation.