Spring! Spring! Spring! (3/19/2025) - Yes, it begins today. And next week marks the fifth anniversary of this Covid-era inspired photo page. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. A honeybee enjoys a camellia in bloom… …

Invasive vines are difficult to control (3/19/2025) - Native plants are in fashion these days, and they should be. I follow and occasionally comment on several native plant Facebook pages, and I see that a lot of novice… …








Award-winning floral designer togive presentation in Gloucester (3/5/2025) - The Garden Club of Gloucester and Mathews will host a flower-arranging presentation and afternoon party on Thursday, March 13, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester,… …
Protect your back! (3/5/2025) - Spring will arrive in about two weeks, and gardeners are ready to get back to work cleaning up winter debris and preparing the beds. It is time for a quick… …

Prepare to weather the spring storm season (3/5/2025) - Spring is known for bringing an increased risk for lightning, hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, flash floods and more. During Virginia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 10-14, officials encourage residents to… …

A new fungal disease of ornamentals (2/26/2025) - “Oh, great,” I thought when I read the brief article on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program Facebook page, “Just what we all need, another fungal disease of ornamentals.”… …
Purple Martins return to Virginia (2/26/2025) - In a sure sign that spring is not far behind, the first Purple Martins of the year have been spotted in Virginia, according to a release from the Purple Martin… …
Seasonal confusion (2/19/2025) - Is winter lasting forever? Is spring coming soon? How much snow will fall? We don’t know the answers, but we do welcome your photos. Please send them to editor@gazettejournal.net. Doug… …

How to begin composting (2/19/2025) - In last week’s “Gardening Corner,” I wrote about some of the benefits of home composting: the creation of healthy organic material that will enrich the soil in your garden without… …

Potpourri (2/12/2025) - Winter birds, the first daffodils (hooray), beautiful camellias, Valentines and more: happy mid-February. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. A blue jay and broad-winged hawk are frequent visitors at the… …
Why bother to compost? (2/12/2025) - One of the most difficult truths for new gardeners to grasp is that gardening is hard work. Most gardening programs on TV don’t show the digging, planting, sweating, fighting off… …
