"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." — Cicero
INTERESTING AND USEFUL LINKS
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Plant introduction program designed to expand production opportunities for Virginia growers and provide consumers with exciting new or superior underutilized plants. A statewide plant selection committee selects an annual list of ‘Plants of Distinction’.
Blandy Experimental Farm - The State Arboretum of Virginia
26 spectacular gardens on 385 acres...a place of ever-changing beauty. The Garden has nine islands and nearly one-quarter of the 385 acres is water.
Garden Web - Gardening in Virginia The internet's Garden and Home Community with a forum to discuss the various aspects of gardening in Virginia.
Tips on starting and growing indoor and outdoor herb gardens, including herb facts and activities for children.
Invasive Species Management Guide Originally devised as a tool for land managers at Department of Defense installations, this guidebook from the Wildlife Habitat Council is applicable to management of any natural area. The book's first section focuses on identification and management of specific invasive plants that occur in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Later chapters contain information about invasive species removal and habitat restoration techniques, including discussion of how to minimize impacts on native wildlife while controlling invasive species, how to prevent recurring invasions, how to restore native habitat, and how to use partnerships to achieve goals.
Ladew Gardens was started in the 1930’s by a fellow who apparently adored foxhunting and gardening. Besides the gardens, the property hosts polo matches and the spring steeplechase, My Lady’s Manor. The most famous feature of the garden is the garden “room” containing life-size topiaries of hounds in pursuit of a fox, one mounted rider lagging behind, and one mounted rider taking a (hedge) jump, all in yew spread out downhill over green grass. Gardeners will appreciate the non-topiary parts of the garden too. The 22 acres are divided into some 20 garden “rooms” with colors - pink, white and yellow, and themes - Victorian, woodland, tea, berry and Eden. The garden rooms are arranged on two perpendicular axis and afford wonderful views. The barn on the property is converted into studios and a café. Visitors can also purchase tickets to tour the house on the property which started life in the 1700’s as a 4 room 2 down 2 up. There is also a book -- "Perfectly Delightful," The Life and Gardens of Harvey Ladew by Christopher Weeks.
Ladew is located north of Baltimore in Monkton and is easy to get to
off the Jones Falls Expressway. Michigan State University and the Horticulture Gardening Institute have entered into an agreement with Learn2Grow, a division of Preferred Commerce, Inc. Learn2Grow is an exciting new gardening site dedicated to helping people become more successful gardeners. If you are looking for quality garden education or a solution to a garden problem, there is a wealth of information here.
A weekly show which covers the gamut of sustainable living subjects, including organic gardening, renewable energy, do-it-yourself home projects, green building and remodeling, modern homesteading, green transportation and more.
National Arboretum - Washington, DC - Check out their virtual tours!
National Gardening Association
Specializing in shade perennials
Suppliers of Beneficial Organisms in the North America Comprehensive listing by country of 142 commercial suppliers and over 130 different species of beneficial organisms for use as biological controls of pest organisms.
Trees Virginia - Virginia Urban Forest Council
University of Virginia Community Garden
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program
Virginia Master Gardener Association
“One-stop” shopping to programs and information about Virginia ’s environment...links to more than 800 organizations which provide environmental education programs and services in Virginia, including volunteer and funding opportunities, teacher workshops and lesson plans, conferences and community events.
Virginia Tech Department of Entomology Insect Fact Sheets
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FOR EDUCATORS
An outdoor classroom, also sometimes referred to as a schoolyard habitat or community restoration project is a space set aside for the development of natural habitats in which students and community members can learn about science and the outdoors through a hands on experience.
Welcome to Augusta Springs! We are an electronic commons created for volunteers and visitors to Augusta Springs, a popular U.S. Forest Service wetlands and conservation education center on the North River Ranger District, George Washington National Forest. The purpose of this site is to help students of all ages learn about the role that forests, particularly the National Forests, play in protecting and enhancing our most precious resource- clean water.
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Schoolyard Habitat Assistance Program Do you want to create a vibrant schoolyard full of educational opportunities for your students? Do you want to create colorful and fragrant garden space, attract wildlife habitat, and create an interactive outdoor classroom? Do you want to engage the surrounding community in your habitat projects?
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education...Who, What, When, Where and Why of Schoolyard Habitats.
The site provides educator resources, a free email newsletter, school examples, and basic tips on how to create a school habitat.
Garden in the Classroom-Lesson Plans and Activities Agriculture in the Classroom lessons and activities are grade specific. All lesson plans and activities are SOL correlated and may be adapted to meet classroom needs.
The schoolyard "movement" began in UK in the early1990's.
Center for Environmental Education Exemplary school guidelines; bibliographies of books and curricula; sample articles from Nature's Course newsletter and various web links.
Lists success stories and models of how Boston supports schoolyard projects with capital funds, staff and training.
A site for K-12 teachers that provides access to email lists and discussion groups for online lesson plans and curricula. It also includes funding resources.
Farm to School programs connect local farms and schools to provide healthful, local food. The program teaches the students about healthful eating, the importance of small farms and knowing about their food.
A great site sponsored by the National Gardening Association.
Sample activities and links. The program emphasizes wildlife as well as its importance as a basis for teaching how ecosystems function.
A non-profit organization dedicated to helping schools develop their grounds for learning.
In response to the growing interest in encouraging children to get outside, PLT has launched a national initiative Every Student Learns Outside™ and website to help educators make outdoor experiences part of their everyday lesson plans.
Science educators have long recognized the value of school gardens in motivating students to study science. Recent studies show that school gardening programs also boost students’ scores on science achievement tests.
Download a copy of their 133-page publication called Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide.
Creates and distributes curricula with a focus on making wise food choices, combating adolescent and juvenile disease, and attaining an understanding of sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need to grow vegetables safely.
GRANT PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN VIRGINIA
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