2026 Garden Symposium:
“Planting Ideas, Harvesting Change”
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Laurel Ridge CC, Corron Community Development Center, 173 Skirmisher Lane Middletown, VA
Join the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association for the 2026 Garden Symposium, a day filled with inspiration, education, and fresh ideas for gardeners of all experience levels!
This year’s theme, “Planting Ideas – Harvesting Change” celebrates how the ideas we cultivate in our gardens can create meaningful change in our landscapes, communities, and environment.
The symposium will feature three engaging guest speakers and a panel of local organizations who use community-power to make sustainable eco-friendly changes to our environment.
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- Robyn Puffenbarger – Bridgewater Professor and bird enthusiast, will share insights into birds and how to make our gardens more bird friendly
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- Jack Monsted – Curator of the Blandy Native Plant Trail, will highlight native plants and how to incorporate and take care of pollinator meadows
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- Kevin Rice – Entomologist with the Alson H. Smith Agricultural Research and Extension Center, will speak on insects and gardens
Whether you’re interested in native plants, wildlife, insects, sustainable gardening, or simply expanding your horticultural knowledge, this symposium offers something for everyone.
What is an Extension Master Gardener?
The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association supports its members — Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardeners serving the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren. The Association leads and financially supports projects, sponsors VCE home-gardening education events, coordinates each year’s Master Gardener class, and provides its members with unique continuing education and fellowship opportunities. Annual dues are $20 and open to all certified Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in the Northern Shenandoah Valley unit.
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are educators who volunteer within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management, education, and training. Extension Master Gardeners are required to continue their education each year to stay up to date on current issues and recommendations for home gardeners. As an educational program of VCE, Extension Master Gardeners bring the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth.
Ask a Master Gardener
If you have any type of gardening question, volunteers at our Extension “Ask a Master Gardener” Help Desks will provide unbiased, research-based solutions and guidance for any concerns you may have about trees, shrubs, house plants, perennials, annuals and more!
You can reach out to us by:
1) sending an e-mail with a brief description and photos of your gardening problems to your local extension office;
2) collecting and packing specimens for plant, plant disease or pest identification to leave at our conveniently-located drop boxes; or
3) stopping by in person at the local extension office in Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties.
Our Page County and Clarke County “Ask a Master Gardener” Help Desks operate virtually and do not hold in-person office hours. During the growing season, you may visit our booths at area plant clinics and farmers markets as well.
How to Participate
If you’d like to support your community as a VCE Master Gardener, see when the next class starts on our join page.
Please also consider participating in our educational events or pick up some plants and gifts at our GardenFest & Master Gardener Plant Sale.
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If you have questions about any programs and would like to keep in touch, please send us an email at nsvmganews@gmail.com
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.
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