Gardening calendar

Saturday, July 6, 2013

SATURDAY

New River Valley Garden Tour

A self-guided tour featuring eight gardens: six in Blacksburg and two in Christiansburg. Master gardeners will answer questions at each stop. Tickets are available at libraries in the New River Valley and the Salem Library. Proceeds benefit the summer reading programs. Tour maps can be found online.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Start at any of the homes

How much: $12 advance, $15 day of tour

Contact: www.mfrlfriends.org/gardentour.html

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday Garden Walk: Plant for Pollinators

Holly Scoggins, associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Horticulture and director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden, will discuss why the pollinator species needs diverse sources of pollen and nectar. After a discussion on what flower characteristics appeal to a particular type of pollinator, the group will walk the garden and look at some examples.

When: Noon

Where: Hahn Horticulture Garden, Virginia Tech

Cost: Free

Contact: 231-5970

THURSDAY

The Outdoor Classroom: “Conserving Our Forest Pharmacy: Wild-Harvesting Wildflowers”

Christine Small, a forest ecologist at Radford University, will discuss wild harvesting and the work to conserve Appalachian medicinal plants.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Wildwood Park, Radford

Cost: Free

Contact: ftaylor@rcps.org

FRIDAY

“Rats to Roses”: Urban Gardens of New York City

Earth Friendly Friday presents “Rats to Roses,” a film from the Sierra Club Chronicles. In the 1970s, New York City residents began creating small oases of hope through 800 community gardens. They planted flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables to feed the needy. Then ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani began to offer the properties to housing developers, and community leaders kicked into high gear to protect the gardens. The film follows two of these gardens.

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: The Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Road, Roanoke

Cost: Free

Contact: 343-5080

Monday, August 12, 2013