The Southside Master Gardener Association (SSMGA) supports the Virginia Cooperative Extension and its mission to “enable people to improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs”.
Perennials the focus of Second Saturday at the Halifax Farmers Market
It’s the middle of summer and plants are looking a bit weary. However, for early blooming plants, now is a good time to divide the plant to make more plants to share. Join the VCE Southside Master Gardeners on Saturday, August 12 from 8 to 11 am, at the Halifax Farmer’s Market for a perennial display. At 9:30 a special demo will be held showing how to divide a perennial that has overgrown its space.
As of this writing, Blue Star, Amsonia hubrichtii will be the featured plant. This native perennial has flowers that, as the name suggests, look like blue stars. It blooms early, late April to May, so is good for pollinators needing an early nectar source. The plant grows about three feet tall and has a nice yellow fall color. As with most natives, Blue Star wants full sun, is drought tolerant once established and doesn’t like to be fertilized.
Visit the Halifax Farmers Market on August 12 where the Southside Master Gardeners will have a perennial display from 8 to 11 with a special demo at 9:30 where lucky attendees can take home a piece of Blue Star for their own yard. For more info call (434) 830-3383 or visit their website at www.ssmga.org.
As always, the market will have lots of fresh veggies, organic eggs and meat, baked goods, arts and crafts. Plenty of good stuff for everyone. The Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all your gardening questions. August 12 is the Halifax Farmers Market celebration of National Farmers Market Week. There will be a back to school tie-dye workshop, a scavenger hunt and free melon and popcorn while supplies last. Monkey Butt food truck and the Snow Cone truck will be on site
The VCE Halifax Extension Office is now open. If you have gardening questions, you can continue to reach an Extension Master Gardener or Extension staff member by sending an email to wmccaleb@vt.edu. If you are unable to email, you can call and leave a message at the Halifax Extension Master Gardener Help Desk at (434) 830-3383. Be sure to give us your first and last name, telephone number and the nature of the call. The Help Desk phone is routinely checked. Someone will get back to you, although it may be from a different telephone number. For information about the Master Gardener program, please call the Halifax Extension Office at (434) 830-3383, visit the website at www.ssmga.org or e-mail ask@ssmga.org. Visit the market for the freshest and best local products and support local growers, our friends and neighbors.
