Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program - Sharing knowledge and empowering Virginia Communities! Part of @VACoopExt
Blacksburg, VA
Joined December 2013
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We're crepuscular! Active when its dim--dusk and dawn. Check out the white-lined sphink here: hort.extension.wisc.edu/arti…
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Beech leaf disease is an emerging threat in Virginia, spreading rapidly this year. Read more on the disease: usfs-public.app.box.com/v/Cu…
ALT Leaf with conspicuous yellow ridges and damage.
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What type of egg masses are these? Hint: this insect was renamed.
Spongy moth! Lymantria dispar, formerly called gypsy moth, is an invasive pest of hardwood trees in forests and yards. The caterpillars prefer the foliage of oak and other shade trees, but also attack conifers.
ALT Light brown splotches on tree trunk
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In Virginia, we have excellent tools for selecting native plants for the home landscape.
Plant Virginia Natives offers guides for each region which provide a perfect starting point: plantvirginianatives.org/
ALT Text reading looking for native landscape plants? with an arrow pointing to logo for the Virginia Native Plant finder
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Looking forward to spring blooms already? Here's an early spring bloomer: Flowering quince. Flowering quince is a deciduous shrub of the Rosacea family. It is native to China, but this attractive, large, and fast-growing shrub whose main merit has showy flowers in early spring.
ALT orange blooms on a woody branch with vivid green leaves
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There are many different species of mistletoe native to Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. Some species have red fruit, while others have white. Phoradendron leucarpum, or eastern mistletoe, is native to VA. It produces small white berries and has thick, leathery leaves
Fall & winter offer plenty of opportunities for birding! Virginia is in the East Coast flyway, which means we can observe many species as they travel, heading south for the winter. Lucky birders might even see a snowy owl or a golden eagle who has migrated down from Canada.
ALT Infographic with photos of a dozen different bird species
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Natures thermometers: In freezing temperatures, some species of Rhododendron exhibit thermonasty, which is a response to temperature in which the leaves curl and bend down.
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"Help my evergreens are loosing needles and turning brown!" It could be normal seasonal browning and needle loss--just because they're called evergreens doesn't mean they don't experience some seasonal browning! buff.ly/3TCytX5
ALT Three green bushes with patches of brown needles
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Powdery mildew, one of the main diseases of pumpkins and other cucurbits in VA, is believed to be airborne from other infected crops- starting in the southern states where cucurbits are grown earlier in the season. ➡️ Learn more: buff.ly/4gwbzdO
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