The New River Valley Master Gardener Association invites you to get outside and visit our garden projects that are open to the public. Pollinator Week 2024 is a celebration of the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture. These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. As we reflect on the interconnectedness of our world, let’s protect and preserve these crucial pollinators. By understanding the impact of our actions on their habitats and embracing sustainable practices, we can pave the way for a flourishing future. (Learn more at: Pollinator Week | Pollinator.org)
Our MG program supports the counties of Craig, Giles, Floyd, Montgomery and Pulaski. ** = MG project and has received NRVMGA grant funding * = a community program that has received support from NRVMGA grant funding
Many gardening educational projects throughout our community apply for grant funding through the NRVMGA community grant program. The program accepts applications in October for review and determines funding by December of that same year. Approved recipients receive grant funding in January the following year. To know more about our grant program, contact us now and be prepared to submit your application in October.
More Information On Gardens You Can Visit
Craig County:
Maywood Garden Club Triangle Garden** – intersection of Rt 42 and Northside road, 11.7 miles from downtown Newport. – focus on native plants and pollinators. This project contributes to the community in three ways: 1) by educating the public through gardening in Craig County at the Triangle Garden and providing a trifold for people to read at the garden, 2) by providing a location for community gardening volunteer efforts, and 3) by providing gardening training to volunteers.
Giles County:
The Giles County Community Garden* – 529 Wenonah Ave, Pearisburg, VA. The garden is located in downtown Pearisburg near the courthouse. Volunteers help implement NRVMGA grants (the latest one was focused on water acclamation for the garden). We work with community residence, and children at the garden to teach sustainable gardening techniques, and how to grow their own for food security. * https://www.gilescommunitygarden.org/
Floyd County:
PLENTY!** Location: 192 Elephant Curve Road, Floyd, VA. 24091. This project nourishes the community and feeds hungry neighbors by growing and sharing food in Floyd County. NRVMGs plan and maintain the Small Space Demonstration Garden and educate on the need to support native pollinators. This garden gives people ideas on how to grow in containers, raised beds, water saving strategies, handicapped accessible gardening, vertical gardening and more. https://plentylocal.org/
Ecovillage Educational Garden** – 718 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd. This project entails talking to visitors about the gardens, and helping to maintain the learning garden and the village farm. www.floydecovillage.com
Floyd Center of the Arts Pollinator and Butterfly Garden** – 220 Parkway Ln S Ste 1, Floyd, VA 24091, provides education and a source of inspiration. The garden will benefit the earth by providing food for pollinators. Art members will learn more about the garden by educating grops of children about the plants and insects as they use the garden for art projects. Adults will use the gardens for inspiration for their art, and meditation. Planned signeage will help people understand what they are observing. A group within the Art Center is forming called “Friends of the Garden” and Master Gardeners will help guide these volunteers with planting and maintenance projects. https://www.floydartcenter.org/
Montgomery County:
Live Work Eat Grow Pollinator Garden!** The purpose of the project is to supply pollinators with ample food sources, host plants, and nesting spaces, to demonstrate appropriate practices that benefit pollinators, and to provide related educational opportunities for gardens and community. Also a fairy garden and herb/edible garden. The garden is located at: 215 Maywood Street, Blacksburg, VA The main office is located at: 4237 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA, https://liveworkeatgrow.org/about/
Great Little Park On Main** – 100 W. Main Street, Christiansburg. A community pocket park in Downtown Christiansburg that focuses on creating a sustainable environment for pollinators and an educational and enjoyable area for the community. It will create a community landscape for all to enjoy using sustainable practices, educating a volunteer “Great Little Team” to establish and care for the park. Downtown Christiansburg Inc. New members are welcome. We will be holding large workdays during the year, begining each with a short educational presentation related to the day’s tasks. Master Gardeners serve as educators for the work team. https://www.downtownchristiansburg.org/great-little-park-on-main
The Montgomery Museum Garden** – 300 Pepper Street in Christiansburg. A community garden that has been maintained by the Master Gardeners since 1989. The lower garden is dedicated to Eastern United States natives. The upper garden is a mix of summer annuals, ornamental vegetables and herbs, perennials, vines, shrubs, ground covers and vines that are native and non-native. The garden has been evolving to include more native plants. Seeds and divisions of plants are donated ot native gardens, plant sales and home gardeners. Working in the garden, seasonal walks, email updates and signage are ways we teach about the interaction of native plants and native insects. On Heritage Day, held on the third Saturday in August, we provide tours of the garden and a children’s activity.
Pulaski County:
The Children’s Zoo Garden** borders both entrances of the Pulaski County Library, main entrance is located at 60 3rd St NW, Pulaski. The Children’s Zoo Garden is full of plants with animal names such as snap “dragons”, lambs’ ear, zebra grass, butterfly bush, hen and chicks, fox glove, and tiger lily. Many people stop by to ask about the plants. MG volunteers help add new plants to the garden and thin spreading plants, often passing plants along to other MG projects. Pre-school children will assist with the garden. Other children may help throughout the season through library programs. An addition to the zoo garden is the new vegetable and herb garden. Story time will utilize the garden as they tie in stories with the vegetables growing in the garden. They learn about nutrition and what they can get from the earth.
Heritage Park Pollinator Garden*– located on Dora Highway. NRVMGA community grants helped start and support this Friends of Peak Creek project. Highlights the importance of native plants to improving the health of the area around Peak Creek. https://www.friendsofpeakcreek.org/
Monarch Waystation*– Pulaski Bike Park, 1990 E. Main Street. Support’s Friends of Peak Creek’s mission of habitat improvement along the creek along with educational outreach, strategically placed adjacent to the waterway to encourage people to visit the stream. https://www.friendsofpeakcreek.org/
The Pulaski County Youth Center** – 6671 Riverlawn Court, Fairlawn, VA 24141. PCYC is a youth center that serves mostly underserved families in Pulaski County as a pre-school and elementary before and after school program as well as an elementary school summer camp. This project is to offer garden programs for all ages of children year-round. 31 raised beds serve as the learning space, food production and pollinator garden. Home – Pulaski Community Youth Center
