York/Poquoson - VCE Master Gardeners

05/30/2026

Apply now to become a Master Gardener!
Applications are open for the 2026 class until July 8th.

Click on the link to learn more and apply.

Master Gardeners extend the resources of the land-grant university through their volunteer efforts.

05/26/2026

Did you know the “petals” on a magnolia flower aren’t actually petals at all?

They’re called tepals.

Most flowers have two separate parts: petals, which are often colorful and attract pollinators, and sepals, which protect the flower bud before it opens. In magnolias, those parts aren’t clearly different from each other — so botanists use the term tepals instead.

Magnolias are considered one of the oldest flowering plant groups on Earth, dating back more than 100 million years. They evolved before bees became widespread pollinators, which is why many magnolia flowers are pollinated by beetles instead. Their thick, sturdy tepals are durable enough to handle crawling beetles without being damaged.

Next time you see a magnolia tree in bloom, take a closer look. Those large, waxy “petals” are part of an ancient floral design that has survived since the age of dinosaurs.

05/04/2026

Bring the kids to the garden this year! We'll read a book, do a craft, and have fun exploring the garden!

05/02/2026

The York/Poquoson Master Gardeners thanks all who have supported us this year! Another successful plant sale is over at the York Learning Garden! We will have a half price sale on any remaining plants on Monday, 10-1

04/29/2026

Spring 2026 Plant Sale List

04/21/2026

Ever heard of Foamflower? These spring bloomers are some of the best shade plants money can buy. What foamflowers lack in flashy foliage, they make up for with airy, foamy white to soft pink flowers that bloom from March to July and attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

When mature, foamflowers grow between 6 and 12 inches tall and spread gradually by creeping rhizomes that root wherever they touch the soil. This mat-forming growth habit makes foamflowers an excellent groundcover for w**d suppression and erosion control, without the aggressive or invasive tendencies of many non-native groundcovers.

Learn more about his flower favorite at Almanac.com/plant/foamflower

04/21/2026

A big thank you to all our volunteers!

Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌿

Today we're celebrating the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program volunteers who play a vital role in bringing research-based horticulture education to communities across Virginia.

Through their work, they help promote sustainable practices and connect Virginians with the resources of Virginia Cooperative Extension.

We appreciate the impact you make every day. 🌼

Learn more about the program and how you can get involved ➡️ https://ext.vt.edu/lawn-garden/master-gardener.html

11/30/2025

Here’s another reason to “leave the leaves” and not mulch or burn them this fall. In their last act as a caterpillar, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) often crawl down to the base of their host tree and pupate in the leaf litter or dangling from twigs on a tree or on the ground. At this stage, the brown caterpillar and pupa blend in well with the detritus and a light covering of fallen leaves insulate the pupa from cold winter temperatures.

If you want to see more of these beautiful butterflies in your yard next spring, here’s something to consider with your leaves. If you’re going to pick them up, gently blow or rake your leaves into a planting bed or wild space on your property. Spreading them out in a “fluffy” layer of loose leaves that’s less than 12 inches deep is best (think of the typical leaf depth in a hardwood forest), but this may not be manageable for all homeowners. The leaf litter will allow any Eastern Tiger Swallowtail pupae attached to the underside of the leaves to have a chance at successfully overwintering and then emerging from the leaf litter next spring.

Given their beauty and abundance, it’s easy to see why Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are the state butterfly of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.