Home and garden class, Germanna Community College, Fredericksburg campus. "Making an English Trough," today, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Palestine Farm in Ruther Glen. Learn to make an English trough from hypertufa, a lightweight material with the appearance of concrete, to create your own planters from scratch. A great winter project for gardeners looking for ways to create or enhance their landscapes with container gardening. Cost is $39, plus $10 for materials and lunch; pay instructor before class. For details and registration, call 540/891-3012.
Caterpillars: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Monday, Oct. 16,
Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tour, Thursday, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m.-noon, buses leave from Tabernacle Baptist Church on Kings Highway, King George County. Visit parts of scenic King George rarely seen while learning how to implement various forestry and wildlife tools to meet your goals and improve the integrity
It's All About the Turf, Thursday, Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Virginia Cooperative Extension, Stafford County office, 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway. Turf specialists from Virginia Tech will speak about growing healthy turf, turf insects, nutrient management planning, turf diseases and weeds. The program is designed for anyone working in turf maintenance with local governments, schools, parks, golf courses, retail businesses and home landscapes. It is approved for 3B recertification and eight Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association CEUs.
Low-Maintenance Gardens and Gardening Books, Saturday, Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. This First Saturdays in the Garden event is free and open to the public. The speaker will be Bonnie Appleton, professor of horticulture at Virginia Tech and author of "The Book of Lists." The schedule includes: 9:30 a.m., meet at the library theater to tour the low-maintenance plantings; 10:15 a.m., a presentation on favorite gardening books; and 11 a.m., Appleton's presentation on some of the best choices of trees for Virginia landscapes. This program is sponsored by the Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Central Rappahannock Regional Library. 540/658-8000, ext. 24.
Holiday Arrangements Using Nature's Bounty, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-noon, Washington's Ferry Farm, 268 Kings Highway (State Route 3), Stafford County. Local flower designer Dona Holt will lead participants in using local plant material to make a holiday arrangement. Mechanics and greenery provided. Participants may bring materials from their own gardens and should bring their own clippers. Cost
Goblins and Gourds at the Garden, Sunday, Oct. 22, 1-4 p.m., Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond. Features a costume parade, pumpkin face-painting, harvest activities, live music by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra and a gourd "petting zoo." Buffet lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; $6 adults, $3 children ages 3-10. Free with garden admission. 804/262-9887, visit lewisginter.org.
Cooking From the Garden, Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-noon, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond. Richmond-area chefs will create healthful, palatable dishes from this season's veggie star: pumpkins. They will prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert, plus offer growing tips and nutritional information. $32. For reservations,
--Compiled by Carol Lee
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