MASTER GARDENER VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: In this recorded class on “Sustainable Landscape Basics,” Extension Master Gardener Amy Crumpton presents solutions to a number of challenging landscape scenarios, such as eroding slopes; wet, soggy spots; and hot, dry hell strips. mgnv.org/mg-virtual-...

Why Your Houseplants Need a Little Space This Winter #mgnv #mastergardener #winterhouseplantcare In the world of indoor gardening, January is a month of dormancy for many of your plants. The most helpful thing you can do for your plants right now is to leave them alone. If you want your greenery…

A layered landscape with trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and ground covers help manage water on your property. Larger woody plants buffer the impact of rain, hold water on their leaves, and absorb it with their roots. Moisture-loving plants of varied heights can be installed in rain gardens.

BARK QUIZ: The answer to this morning’s bark quiz is Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a small native understory tree notable for producing the largest edible fruit in North America. Dangling purplish-brown flowers appear on its branches in early spring before the leave emerge.

BARK QUIZ: The bark of this tree is smooth with wart-like lenticels. It has a strong peppery smell due to the presence of the phytochemical acetogenin that appears to act as a natural pesticide. Learn the tree’s identity in this afternoon’s 4:00 p.m. post.

Word Quiz of the Week #MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary To what does this rhyme refer: “Sedges have edges, rushes are round, and grasses are hollow, straight to the ground”?

WOODY KEYSTONE PLANTS: The Prunus (cherry and plum) genus ranks as number two in Dr. Douglas Tallamy’s list of keystone plants that provide larval host support, hosting 456 Lepidoptera. Virginia species include tall Black Cherry and smaller Chickasaw and American Plum.

During this quiet winter season, you may enjoy taking a look at our series of garden musings. These short seasonal poems and essays were penned by Master Gardeners as they reflected on different aspects of gardening. mgnv.org/category/ga...

Register now for a free class on KEYSTONE PLANTS for the HOME LANDSCAPE to be offered via Zoom on Friday, January 23, 2026, 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST. Join Master Gardener Elaine Mills to see how woody and herbaceous plants can be used in gardens of various sizes. Register: virginiatech.zoom.us... # mgnv

TREE: Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress, Baldcypress) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Found along wet stream banks, swamps, and river bottoms, Bald Cypress has a root system, which often produces “knees” that rise above the ground or water’s surface. This conifer…

MASTER GARDENER VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: Check out this recorded presentation for insight into the principles of landscape design and a clear step-by-step process to create multifunctional landscapes that also support the local ecosystem. mgnv.org/mg-virtual-... #mastergardener #mgnv

Winter Salt Impact & Salt-Tolerant Plants #mgnv #mastergardener #saltdamage Discover how salt from de-icing can harm garden plants and explore treatments and salt-tolerant alternatives for a healthy garden.

Whenever possible, design your landscape to include plants in multiple vertical layers: canopy and understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous species, and ground covers. Varied plant species at each level will provide food, shelter, and nesting spots to support a range of wildlife. #mastergardener #mgnv

BARK QUIZ: The tree pictured in this morning’s bark quiz is Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), a stately evergreen tree native to the southern United States. It is noted for its glossy dark green leaves, large fragrant flowers, and the bright red seeds of its fruits. #mastergardener #mgnv

BARK QUIZ: The bark of this tree is brown to gray and smooth when young, possessing a number of small lenticels. As the tree ages, close plates or scales develop. Learn the tree’s identity in this afternoon’s 4:00 p.m. post. #mastergardener #mgnv #bark #barkquiz

Word Quiz of the Week #MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary What tree, native primarily to the southeastern United States, has knobby knees?

WOODY KEYSTONE PLANTS: Studies by Doug Tallamy show that the Quercus genus of woody plants is by far the most supportive of Lepidoptera, serving as the larval host to well over 500 caterpillars. Examples include majestic White Oak, stately Red Oak, and fast-growing Willow Oak. #mastergardener #mgnv

Urban Agriculture Events and Resources: January 2026 #mgnv #urbanagriculture #vegetablegardening Urban Agriculture Events and Resources, our new monthly series includes information from MGNV, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture, EcoAction Arlington and more.

Winter Salt Week is a national-scale event dedicated to raising awareness around salt pollution and reduction solutions. Locally, two regional webinars have been scheduled for January 21 and 23 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. To register: www.novaregion.org/1... #mastergardener #mgnv

Make plans for gardens you would like to visit this spring by checking out our Regional Gardens blogpost series. Follow the link from our website sidebar to see articles on renowned gardens from Connecticut to Georgia. mgnv.org/category/re... #mastergardener #mgnv

VINE: Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina or Yellow Jessamine) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Fragrant, yellow bells of Carolina Jessamine are a sure sign of spring. A profusion of flowers appears for several months, and glossy, pointed leaves remain attractive all…

#mgnv #mastergardener #vegetables Part 1 of a two-part, beginner-friendly series on how to grow your own vegetables, from planning to harvest. This course offers actionable steps to help you build a productive, resilient vegetable garden in any space. mgnv.org/event/grow-y...

MASTER GARDENER VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: This winter, learn about what homeowners can do to deal with changes in our climate. This recorded presentation outlines five practical actions to consider implementing in the new year. mgnv.org/mg-virtual-... #mastergardener #mgnv

Nature is in trouble, but we can all help to restore essential ecological services in our landscapes, no matter the size of our garden spaces. This year, follow our Restoring Nature series with weekly practical actions to support wildlife, manage water, and restore soil health. #mastergardener #mgnv

BARK QUIZ: This week marks the beginning of a year-long series of bark quizzes. See if you can recognize the details of bark in each Tuesday's noon post to help you identify the tree, shrub, or vine whose identity will be revealed that afternoon at 4:00 p.m. #mastergardener # mgnv #barkquiz

Word Quiz of the Week #MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary How do vines, like  Gelsemium, Lonicera, and Wisteria, climb?

Today is National Bird Day, the perfect occasion to learn what you can do to support these charming garden visitors. See our recorded class “Welcoming Birds to Your Yard” for practical tips to help these feathered guests feel at home. mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom...

WOODY KEYSTONE PLANTS: Each Monday throughout the year, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will introduce a genus of woody plants identified in studies by entomologist Doug Tallamy with examples of species native to Virginia and links to further information on their care and use in the landscape.

Green Spring Gardens has announced the schedule for their Winter Lecture Series of online and in-person lectures. January classes include gardening for birds, fairy gardens, orchids, and conservation dogs. See the Winter 2026 issue of Parktakes for details at heyzine.com/flip-book/bb986c7...

Introducing Word Quiz of the Week #MasterGardener #Glossary Over five years, #MGNV developed an illustrated horticultural and botanical glossary, defining 313 terms accompanied by about 1482 photos/illustrations/diagrams/videos. New glossary additions are paused for 2026 while we introduce "Word…

Winter can be the perfect time to catch up on caring for your houseplants. You can find advice on both plant selection and care from our resident expert, Master Gardener Evin Morrison, by following the link from our website sidebar to see all of her articles. mgnv.org/category/houseplants/

TREE: Thuja occidentalis (American Arborvitae, Northern Whitecedar) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic This native of northeastern and north central North America can be very long-lived; along cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment in Canada, specimens could be over 1,000…

Restoring Nature Action 1: Design a Layered Landscape #mgnv #mastergardener #layeredlandscape The first action item in our Restoring Nature series focuses on designing a layered landscape filled with native plants to create a full and abundant habitat.

MASTER GARDENER VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: Welcome to a new year of MGNV Bluesky posts. Each Thursday throughout 2026, we will introduce a recorded presentation from our MGNV website, with suggestions for talks on a range of gardening topics, from composting and container gardening to weeds and wildlife.

A Climate-Conscious Gardening Checklist and Next Steps, 2025 #mgnv #climatechange For the past eleven months, we’ve explored the topic of climate change and practical actions gardeners can take in their home landscapes in response. To help home gardeners remember some of the techniques discussed,…

SHRUB: Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry) – New in 2025! #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic This native shrub provides four-season interest. Abundant spring flowers are followed by showy fall fruit that may persist into winter as an important food source for…

New to the Glossary: Corymb #MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary A #corymb is a flat-topped or convex inflorescence shaped by the varying heights of its flower stalks. Individual stalks grow upward from different levels on the rachis, with the outer stalks being longer than the inner stalks so that…

GRASS: Danthonia spicata (Poverty Oatgrass) – New in 2025! #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Native throughout the Mid-Atlantic, this diminutive bunchgrass is being tested as a component of a sustainable lawn. It thrives in sunny exposures with poor, dry soil and…

Keeping Living Potted Christmas Trees Alive Indoors: A Complete Guide #mgnv #mastergardener #livingchristmastree Each holiday season, more and more people are choosing living, potted Christmas trees—not only for their beauty, but also for the joy of keeping a tree alive long after the decorations…

GROUND COVER: Mitchella repens (Partridge-berry) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Common throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Partridge-berry is a sweet trailing plant with shiny, rounded evergreen leaves distinguished by a stripe down the main vein. Fragrant, paired,…

Introducing: Restoring Nature in Our Yards #mgnv #mastergardener #dougtallamy Nature is in trouble. Our new Restoring Nature series will share practical actions on how we can all play a role in helping to restore essential ecological services in our urban and suburban landscapes.

In winter mulch insulates the soil and plant roots (which are more sensitive to cold than stems). As freezing weather approaches, mulch any susceptible plants you have, including newly planted trees and plants. Thanks to the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program for the graphic.

GRASS: Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic This native of much of North America was once a dominant grass of the tallgrass prairie. A good choice for erosion control on slopes, it combines well with robust wildflowers, like…

Leslie Fillmore – Our New Associate Extension Agent #mgnv #vce #mastergardener Welcome to Leslie Fillmore, our new Associate Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arlington County/City of Alexandria. Leslie has been our Master Gardener Coordinator for the past eight years. We are…

Nature’s Action Guide #gardening #mgnv #book review Nature’s Action Guide provides gardeners (and armchair gardeners) with 15 do-it-yourself actions that anyone can undertake to create or restore ecologically functioning wildlife habitat in a yard or other spaces.

Between the Rows – A Guide to Vegetable Gardening: December 2025 #vegetablegardening #mgnv #mastergardeners Vegetable gardening information, planning for next year, gardening journals, and holiday gift guides for gardeners in your life.

Planting Trees, 2025 #mgnv #mastergardener #trees #carbon sequestration No discussion about how we can help cope with climate change would be complete without addressing the critical importance of trees. Trees offer habitat, nesting sites, and a variety of food to wildlife and the life functions…

PERENNIAL: Hibiscus moscheutos (Swamp or Eastern Rose-mallow) #MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic While each of its flowers lasts only a day, Swamp Rose-mallow can be covered with up to 20 striking, saucer-shaped blooms at a time. This stately perennial is native to…

New to the Glossary: Stipule #MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary Stipules are modified leaves whose size and form vary among species. Typically much smaller than and distinct from primary leaves, they may be overlooked by casual observers. However, rose stipules are easy to identify—a pair fuses along…

2025 September – October Public Education Classes – Now Online! #mgnv #mastergardener Public Ed classes offered from September through October 2025 are now online. Each video has been edited and captioned, and each page includes multiple resources.