Memorial; nature breaks out (5/27/2026) - Memorial Day is locally observed publicly and privately; among the plants and animals, everything is growing. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Shirley Lavin of Cobbs Creek photographed a monarch… …
Spring drought; and a rose regrows (5/27/2026) - Some weeks I feel as though I have nothing positive to say in the “Gardening Corner.” For example, last week I saw online a map of Virginia displaying the number… …
Wreath laying ceremonies (5/27/2026) - To mark Memorial Day, members of the Cricket Hill Mathews Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed wreaths at two locations in Mathews. DAR members laid wreaths on… …
UDC Memorial Day (5/27/2026) - Members of Captain Sally Tompkins United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter 2626 placed a wreath on Captain Sally’s grave as its Memorial Day observance. Tompkins, a Confederate nurse, is buried… …
Supporting Knott Alone (5/27/2026) - Susan Jenkins, treasurer of the Five Rivers Woman’s Club, presents a check to Dan Knott, founder of Knott Alone, in the amount of $1,064 from funds raised at the club’s… …Master Naturalists signup underway for its next basic training class (5/27/2026) - The Middle Peninsula Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists is now accepting applications for its next basic training class. Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping… …
Beauty (5/20/2026) - They show us birds, flowers, a fox, a turtle, and the beauty of a clear morning. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Joni Close of Susan called this visitor a… …
NSDAR luncheon (5/20/2026) - Members of the Cricket Hill National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, recently had their end-of-the-year luncheon at Southwind Pizza, Mathews. Among those in attendance were, in front from left,… …What causes oak tree decline? (5/20/2026) - Approximately 27 species of oak trees grow in Virginia; most are classified as either white oaks or red oaks. Some of us learned in Scouts to identify an oak by… …
Educators invited to take part in Dragon Run DREAM program (5/20/2026) - Does kayaking on a quiet meandering river through a Bald Cypress swamp sound like a great way to earn continuing education credits or professional development points? If it does, then… …
Birds, bees, flowers…and a snail. (5/13/2026) - Mother Nature is present wherever we turn. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Honeybee gathers pollen from kale blooms; from Cheryl Battle, Bavon. A male Eastern kingbird defends his territory… …Mrs. Cottontail enjoys winecups (5/13/2026) - No, not that kind of winecup; this bunny lady discovered my bed of pretty Callirhoe involucrata, commonly called winecup or purple poppy mallow, and she has feasted on the them… …
Bloomin’ beautiful (5/7/2026) - Everywhere you turn is a celebration of life. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Lunaria money plant, sent by Betty Ackerson. Camassia, photographed by Cheryl Battle, Bavon. Frances Blackburn’s red… …
Care of Asiatic and Oriental lilies (5/6/2026) - Earlier this week, I received this Facebook post from Cheryl, a high school friend: “Hey, plant lady. Looking for guidance. Got this Asiatic Lily… orange color. Trying to deadhead…removed dead… …
Gloucester Daffodil Club members at national convention (5/6/2026) - This year’s weather has created challenges for daffodil growers, but Gloucester Daffodil Club members did not let it stop their mission to grow and show daffodils. Members not only entered… …Bird life abounds (5/6/2026) - Upper six, clockwise from upper left: male hummingbird at feeder, sent by Janet Clark of Hallieford. An egret sits on a dock at Carter’s Creek, Gloucester, and a turkey in… …
In bloom (4/29/2026) - Iris, azalea and more have brought the beauty of spring. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Bearded iris sent by Cheryl Battle of Bavon. “Great year for Iris,” said Janet… …A safe haven for bees (4/29/2026) - In the August 27, 2015 Gardening Corner I wrote: … “with the beginning of autumn comes a new set of garden chores. Cleaning out spent flowers and vegetables makes room… …
Cricket Hill DAR (4/29/2026) - Vivian Carpenter, member of Comte De Grasse Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Yorktown, recently was accepted into Cricket Hill National Society Daughters of the American Revolution as… …
Finalizing plans (4/29/2026) - The Mathews Historic House Tour & Garden Party Committee met recently to finalize plans for the Sunday, May 17 event to be held at Providence Manor. The fundraiser, which is… …
Mosquito control topic of woman’s club talk (4/29/2026) - Retired Environmental Protection Agency attorney Marged Harris, a member of the Gloucester Woman’s Club, recently gave a talk to club members on the programs and problems involved with mosquito control.… …How does your garden grow? (4/22/2026) - We would like to know the answer. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Six black swallowtail butterflies spent the winter on Terri Malonson’s porch. Here is one. Azaleas, sent by… …
Earth Day 2026 (4/22/2026) - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 was Earth Day. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, an early environmentalist, who with a few others, envisioned an annual “Earth Day” as a nationwide “teach-in” on… …
Bird and wildlife survey (4/22/2026) - Members of the Middle Peninsula Bird Club and the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter visited Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester on April 16 to conduct a bird and wildlife… …
Birth announcement (4/22/2026) - Rebecca and James Hudgins of Mathews, announce the birth of a daughter on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News. She has been named Catrina Grace… …