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Why is my swamp milkweed dying?
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Date Posted: Thu, Aug 14 - 11:54 pm
- I have an established butterfly bush and swamp milkweed plant in my yard. They’re both around 3ft tall. This year, both plants began dying fast. We haven’t dumped anything there, nothing changed as far as plants, soil, drainage, etc. with one exception. Three years ago we planted some Blue Mistflower. It never came up until this year. It is climbing the dead butterfly bush. I’ve read Blue Mistflower spreads via rhizomes and that this could potentially be the cause. Any thoughts? Other things I should check? Thanks!
- Thanks for reaching out to the Richmond Master Gardeners! I've connected with one of our gardeners, Pam, that has a wealth of knowledge on native plants to help give you some guidance. There has been a lot of chatter in the Virginia Native Plant Society Facebook group that this has been a banner year for milkweed aphids. Swamp milkweed seems particularly susceptible to this aphid, and you truly have “a” plant (singular), it becomes the sole target for the aphids. The aphids submit a dew that causes a fungus. Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t show the milkweed clearly enough for this to be more than a guess, but we think it’s a reasonable possibility. We wouldn’t blame the blue mist flower. Yes, it’s hardy and loves to spread, but it’s a valuable late-season food source for pollinators. We recommend planting a different companion for it. You did not mention you soil or light conditions, but the Plant RVA Natives guide (download free at vnps.org) will help identify companion plants that can hold their own with an enthusiastic spreader. Pycnanthemum muticum, clustered mountain mint, might be a possibility, and it blooms much earlier, spreading the glory. Since butterfly bush is designated invasive in Virginia, we can’t ethically recommend trying to save it or replacing it with another. But its loss provides an opportunity to plant more natives. If you have additional questions about natives, Pam will be at the West End Branch of the Richmond Public Library on Wednesday afternoons after Labor Day. You are welcome to stop in and chat with her more!
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Garden Support at The Doorways
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Date Posted: Wed, Aug 06 - 2:48 pm
- I am the Volunteer and Outreach Manager for The Doorways, a nonprofit in Richmond that provides lodging for patients and their family members while they receive medical care nearby. We have a lovely garden area that needs some pruning/mulching and new plants for fall. I'm wondering how to connect with volunteer Master Gardner's to see if there's interest. Thank you!
- Thank you so much for reaching out — The Doorways provides such an important service to the Richmond community, and your garden sounds like a lovely and meaningful space for your guests. As Master Gardeners, our primary mission is education. Our volunteer efforts are focused on teaching and sharing best practices related to horticulture and sustainable gardening. While we aren’t a labor-based group, we’d be happy to support your efforts in an educational capacity. If you're interested in learning more about what types of plants could thrive in your garden or how to plan for fall planting, we can connect with our volunteers to see if we have someone available for a consultation. For hands-on help with pruning, mulching, or planting, we would recommend reaching out to a local garden club or professional landscaping service who may be better equipped for that type of volunteer or contracted work. Please e-mail us if you are interested in a planting consultation: rvamastergardeners@gmail.com
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Speaker Request
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Date Posted: Thu, Jul 24 - 7:23 pm
- Hello. My alumnae organization is looking for a speaker for a zoom or possibly in-person meeting Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:00. We were thinking the topic could be planting native species but are open to suggestions. Thanks in advance for your response.
- Hello! Thank you so much for thinking of the Richmond Master Gardeners for this opportunity. We always enjoy getting the chance to share information about planting native! I'll follow up with an email to you to get a little more information and see what we can coordinate.
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Extension Turf Grass program
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Date Posted: Fri, Jul 18 - 1:26 am
- Status of turf program. Sent in $45.00 In may/ june with no confirmation so far.
- Hello! The Richmond Master Gardeners are not connected with a turf program. And I'm not personally familiar with the city of Richmond offering one, especially since the city has been without an extension agent for the last several years. I would be curious to know what address you sent it to. I was able to find that Henrico does offer a program, but that it is unfortunately suspended this year: https://henrico.ext.vt.edu/programs/anr/smartlawns.html I can try to help you find a resolution. Please email RVAmastergardeners@gmail.com with the address you used and any other information you have available and I will see if I can help you get some answers. Thank you!
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Home Consult
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Date Posted: Mon, Jul 14 - 12:43 am
- Hi there! I am a first time homeowner trying to get a handle on our front and backyard. The previous owner was an arborist and master of the craft and I am doing my best to keep the garden afloat but I think I need some guidance! I would so love if someone could come out to help advise. Is that possible?
- Hi Athena, Thank you so much for reaching out to the Master Gardeners. How wonderful to have an established garden come with your new home! I will send you an email to get more information about the neighborhood you are in and what is currently growing in your garden so that I connect you with a Master Gardener. Keep an eye out for an e-mail from us!
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Bitterness in Cucumbers
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Date Posted: Tue, Jul 01 - 1:28 am
- I'm growing cucumbers for the first time this year, and so far have only harvested a few. They are heirloom straight 8 cucumbers I started from seed. I'm harvesting them at about 6 inches long. I cut the ends off when I slice them to avoid bitterness, but they still seem to taste quite bitter and soapy. I'm not spraying them with anything, and I was them well with water when I harvest them. What might be making them bitter?
- Thanks for reaching out to the Richmond Master Gardeners! Bitterness in cucumbers—especially heirloom varieties like Straight 8—is a fairly common issue, although frustrating, and it’s usually due to the natural compounds called cucurbitacins. A few reasons you might be experiencing bitterness: First off, we have to think about environmental stress, especially given the extreme heat and big down pours we have been having. Cucurbitacin levels tend to rise when the plants are under stress and common stressors for cucumbers include: Inconsistent watering (periods of drought followed by heavy watering), high temperatures, and also poor soil fertility or nutrient imbalance. Straight 8 cucumbers tend to be prone to bitterness, especially in hot and dry conditions. Try to keep soil moisture even by watering regularly (especially during hot spells), and consider using mulch to conserve moisture and keep soil temps steady. There's a chance your cucumbers are sitting on the vine a little too long and getting a little overripe. If you notice any yellowing of the skin or a hard waxy exterior, they are likely getting a little too ripe. You could try harvesting a little sooner, maybe when they are 5 inches, to see if that helps. As you already seem to know, the bitter components are most concentrated at the the stem end, in the skin and just under the skin. In addition to trimming the end of off, you could try peeling the cucumbers. I've also heard of people soaking them in cold salted water for about 40 minutes once they are peeled. I haven't tried this myself, but I've heard it helps to reduce the bitterness. Their are some hybrid varieties that are bred to reduce bitterness. If none of the above ideas help you to reduce bitterness, you could try growing a hybrid variety next time and see if that helps. Good luck! We hope you are able to enjoy your cucumbers!
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Plant ID: Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
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Date Posted: Mon, Jun 09 - 7:29 pm
- Is this plant A weed Invasive
- Thank you for reaching out to the Richmond Master Gardeners! Based on the photo you shared, the plant appears to be Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia). While some gardeners consider it a weed due to its ability to spread vigorously, it is actually native to the eastern United States, including Virginia. Its spreading habit can be a challenge if you're aiming for a more controlled or manicured landscape. However, it also offers ecological benefits: it's a host plant for fritillary butterfly larvae, supports pollinators, and provides low-growing ground cover, especially in shady or naturalized areas.
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Home Consultation
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Date Posted: Tue, Jun 03 - 11:24 am
- Hello, I stopped by the Master Gardener Help Desk last week and Pam told me that you all do yard consultations. I wondered if we could get one for our yard in the next couple of weeks. Please let me know. Best, Ellen
- Yes! We do have a group of master gardeners that offer home consultations. I will follow up with an email to get a few more details and then send your request to our group to try to get you connected with a volunteer.
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Becoming a City of Richmond Master Gardener
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Date Posted: Tue, Jun 03 - 11:20 am
- I'm interested in becoming a master gardener in Richmond, but haven't had much luck finding the resources to become one within city limits. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!
- Hi Amber! We're excited to hear about your interest in becoming a Master Gardener in the City of Richmond. The city has been without an extension agent since 2021. Our group of Master Gardeners has been continuing on without that leadership, but has been unable to host classes for new master gardeners. Recently, we have gotten connected with Chesterfield and Henrico and now have opportunities to have new members go through their classes and still join the City of Richmond!! This has been a very excited opportunity for us. We will be opening applications for the program in September. I will send you an email, please e-mail me back to get on the wait list for more information as soon as it is available.
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Home Consult for Native Plants
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Date Posted: Tue, May 27 - 1:08 am
- I’m slowly redoing our front and back yards with native plants and would love some planning advice, including as to trees. Thank you!!
- Thank you so much for thinking of the Master Gardeners as you embark on the journey of redoing your yard with native plants! What an exciting venture that will have such a great impact! I will send you a follow up email to get a little more information from you in order to see if we have a volunteer available for a consultation. Please check your email to continue this conversation!