
Prepare to weather the spring storm season (3/5/2025) - Spring is known for bringing an increased risk for lightning, hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, flash floods and more. During Virginia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 10-14, officials encourage residents to… …

A new fungal disease of ornamentals (2/26/2025) - “Oh, great,” I thought when I read the brief article on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program Facebook page, “Just what we all need, another fungal disease of ornamentals.”… …
Purple Martins return to Virginia (2/26/2025) - In a sure sign that spring is not far behind, the first Purple Martins of the year have been spotted in Virginia, according to a release from the Purple Martin… …
Seasonal confusion (2/19/2025) - Is winter lasting forever? Is spring coming soon? How much snow will fall? We don’t know the answers, but we do welcome your photos. Please send them to editor@gazettejournal.net. Doug… …

How to begin composting (2/19/2025) - In last week’s “Gardening Corner,” I wrote about some of the benefits of home composting: the creation of healthy organic material that will enrich the soil in your garden without… …

Potpourri (2/12/2025) - Winter birds, the first daffodils (hooray), beautiful camellias, Valentines and more: happy mid-February. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. A blue jay and broad-winged hawk are frequent visitors at the… …
Why bother to compost? (2/12/2025) - One of the most difficult truths for new gardeners to grasp is that gardening is hard work. Most gardening programs on TV don’t show the digging, planting, sweating, fighting off… …

Winter medley (2/5/2025) - Friends, the cold weather is still with us, and we continue to welcome your photos of natural beauties, indoors and out. You know and we know that it won’t be… …
Flowers that are here and gone (2/5/2025) - Last Sunday, I walked outside to look at the condition of the herb garden after some of the coldest winter weather in years. I was pleased to see new green… …


Brighter days (1/29/2025) - The past couple of weeks have brought bitterly cold weather, and birdlife has huddled up to get through. Now the weather is generally improving and days are longer. Please send… …

Do slugs eat daffodils? (1/29/2025) - At a recent meeting of local daffodil lovers, I overheard my friend, Tammy, telling other members about a slug attack on a daffodil grower’s plants. I joined the conversation, and… …

Nature provides (1/22/2025) - Yes, it’s cold and sometimes gray outdoors, but nature continues to provide beautiful views indoors and out. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. A college of cardinals gathered on Thursday… …
White oaks and red oaks (1/22/2025) - The only way you can respond to some questions is to take a deep breath, pause, gaze sagely at the questioner, and say, “That is a very good question,” affording… …
Preservation Virginia conductingsurvey to ID threatened historic places (1/22/2025) - Preservation Virginia is conducting its annual drive to identify historic places under threat of being lost. The list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places raises awareness of historic sites around… …
Snowed under (1/15/2025) - With snow photos…it has been so long since we had a measurable fall. Look for flowers and more in next week’s paper. Please send your photos to editor@gazettejournal.net. Snow covered… …
