Upcoming Events.
Twilight Talk - Why are American Kestrels Declining
American Kestrels are small falcons that inhabit wide-open fields in Virginia. Kestrels have declined by 73% in the Piedmont of the eastern United States since 1966. Habitat degradation, insecticides (killing prey), rodenticides (toxic to kestrels), mortality during migration, and low fledgling survival may all be contributing to the decline. But the relative importance of these diverse factors is poorly known. The Northern Virginia Piedmont Kestrel Project was started in 2021 to study what’s behind the decline in our area and to learn what landowners can do to help!
Bert Harris, Ph.D is co-Director at The Clifton Institute where he directs a program of ecological research that has the goal of providing actionable recommendations to landowners. He is also a passionate land manager and he works with his team to restore native plant and animal communities on The Clifton 900 acre property. He has a long-standing interest in the ecology and conservation of forests and grasslands in the Eastern United States. He has a background in research on the effects of the wildlife trade, climate change, and habitat loss on tropical birds. He has a B.S. in Ecology and Biodiversity, Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and a postdoctoral fellowship.
Please register below for planning purposes:
Twilight Talk - Autumn Wildowers for the Garden
Please join us for a talk about Autumnal flowers for the native garden.
Our Speaker: Nancy Vehrs is a conservation catalyst. Her mission is to inform people about the attributes and importance of native plants. She uses social media to attract thousands of individuals, conservation coalitions, garden clubs, and other green groups, globally. Her boundless enthusiasm in her public presentations online and person-to-person projects, entice volunteers to join in her conservation movement. Nancy is founder and President of the Native Plant Society of Virginia which has over two thousand members and twelve chapters. As a regional leader, Nancy’s mission is to promote, to educate, and to protect native plants and habitats. Her many projects include establishing pollinator friendly roadside gardens at Virginia’s rest areas; recording weekly bird counts at Huntley Meadows in Alexandria, Virginia ; and annual bird counts for the Audubon Society.
Please register below for planning purposes:
Saturdays in the Garden - Thinking Inside the Box: Everything You Need to Know About Nestboxes & The Annual Plant and Seed Giveaway
Come explore the fascinating world of nestboxes! Whether you are a bird enthusiast, a gardener, or simply curious about supporting local wildlife, this class is for you. Join speaker Valerie Kenyon Gaffney, former president of the Virginia Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society director, and Prince Willliam Master Gardener, for an enthusiastic discussion highlighting all aspects of nestboxes. Valerie’s lecture will include types of nestboxes, species that use them, and when and where to place nestboxes. This class is perfect for homeowners, educators, students, and anyone interested in conservation or wildlife gardening. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to help nature!
Stay afterward for the Annual Plant & Seed Giveaway, where free plants and seeds will be available and Master Gardeners on hand to answer your gardening questions!
Classes start at 1 p.m. and will last about one hour including a short question and answer period. Note that the presentation will occur rain or shine - inside the schoolhouse if there is inclement weather. Seating is limited inside the schoolhouse therefore participants may need to stand during the presentation. Feel free to bring a lawn chair.
Parking is limited at #18 Schoolhouse. Please park at the Northern Fauquier Community Park and walk over to the schoolhouse. Please do not park along Highway 55 or Whiting Road.
Registration is requested for planning purposes. See form below.
Twilight Talk - Moon Garden Walk: Plants for Nocturnal Wildlife
Please join us for a walk on best management practices for our native vespertine species, including plants, insects, bats, and more! We will also cover night blooming plants, plants that reflect moonlight, and moonlight’s effect on plant species.
Our Speaker: Virginia Working Landscapes Botany Technician Natalie Izlar leads grassland biodiversity surveys across Virginia’s Northern Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley. She trains volunteers, promotes native plants through outreach and consultations, and helps turn plant data into conservation strategies that support healthy landscapes and stronger community connections.
Please register below for planning purposes:
Master Gardeners at the 2026 Fauquier County Fair
Stop by the MG booth at the Fauquier County Fair!
Twilight Talk - Forgotten Foods: Wild Edible Plants & Regional Cuisine
Discover the hidden bounty growing all around us! Join restoration ecologist, forager, and Appalachian Foodways professor Clay Morris for an engaging look at the wild edible plants of our region. Learn how these plants were used historically, how to identify them in the landscape, and their potential role in modern food security and local cuisine. Explore the connections between nature, culture, and food as we rediscover these often-overlooked native resources.
Speaker: Clay Morris, Environmental Program Manager, Shepherd University Appalachian Studies Program, and advocate for bringing wild foods back to the modern table.
Parking is limited at #18 Schoolhouse. Participants are encouraged to park at Northern Fauquier Community Park and walk to the Schoolhouse. Please do not park along John Marshall Highway or Whiting Road.
Please register below for planning purposes:
Saturdays in the Garden: Growing Gigantic Sunflowers: A Hands-On Workshop for Ages 8 and up
Jason Loris, an Amissville resident, holds 2 Guinness World Records and 12 Virginia state records for growing giant vegetables. His PowerPoint/lecture will teach participants how to grow vigorous sunflowers from seedling to towering bloom. He will cover:
Which giant sunflower varieties perform best and the environmental conditions they require
Soil, fertilizer, and watering techniques that support exceptional growth
Tips and troubleshooting for pests, weather challenges, and common growing issues
Following the presentation, attendees will take part in a hands-on planting session. Each participant will plant mammoth sunflower seeds using Jason’s own award-winning methods, gaining practical experience they can take home to their own gardens.
This workshop is ideal for families, youth gardeners, or anyone curious about growing impressive, larger-than-life sunflowers. Materials will be provided. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Seating is limited inside the schoolhouse therefore participants may need to stand during the presentation or bring a lawn chair if the presentation is outside. The talk and workshop is FREE and starts at 1 pm, and lasts about one hour.
Parking is limited at #18 Schoolhouse. Participants are encouraged to park at Northern Fauquier Community Park and walk to the Schoolhouse. Please do not park along John Marshall Highway or Whiting Road.
Registration is required to ensure that we have enough kits for everyone. Fill out form here:
Virginia Native Plant Sale!
Join us for a special event celebrating Virginia native plants!
Wendy Dorsey of Yellow House Natives (Berryville, VA) will give a talk at 1:00 PM, followed by a plant sale from 1:30–3:00 PM.
The sale will feature $5 deep-rooted plug plants, all native to Virginia. These plugs have strong root systems that establish quickly and require less watering—making them a great choice for home gardeners.
🌱 Plants that we will be offering until supplies run out: Alumroot ‘Autumn Bride’, Blue Mistflower, Blue Wood Aster, Blue-eyed Grass ‘Lucerne’, Butterfly Weed, Calico Aster ‘Lady in Black’, Cardinal Flower, Hyssop-leaf Thoroughwort, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Moss Phlox ‘Emerald Blue’, Moss Phlox ‘Redwings’, Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint, New England Aster, Oak Sedge, Short-toothed Mountain Mint, Sneezeweed, Swamp Milkweed, Swamp Sunflower, Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’, Virginia Anemone, White Wood Aster, Wild Columbine, Wild Quinine, Woodland Stonecrop
Registration to the event is requested for planning purposes. Please use form below.
We hope to see you there!
Twilight Talk - There is More to Rhubarb than Meets the Pie
Curious about growing your own berries or balancing farming with a full-time job? Join us for an evening at Berry Simple Farm to learn, connect, and get inspired.
Rick Crofford—owner of Berry Simple Farm and VDOT Environmental Manager—shares his approach to keeping farming simple, focused, and high-quality. From thriving rhubarb and strawberry crops to practical pest and disease management, you’ll walk away with tips you can actually use.
We’re also hoping to welcome a Small Fruit Extension Specialist from Virginia Tech for added insight.
Topics include:
• Embracing the part-time farming lifestyle
• Growing successful rhubarb & strawberry crops
• Integrating smart pest management practices
🌦️ Rain or shine unless there are thunderstorms in the area.
Come out, ask questions, and see what “keeping it simple” really looks like on the farm.
For our planning purposes, please register for below. Thanks!
Give Local Piedmont
We need your support. Donate to a the Fauquier & Rappahannock Master Gardeners on Giving Day to keep our amazing community programs going!
Grow Your Own Food
April 18th - Grow Your Own Food Event at the John Barton Payne Building in Warrenton
With the Fauquier & Rappahannock Master Gardeners & Virginia Cooperative Extension
Curious about growing your own food? Come learn from your local Master Gardeners at this fun, hands-on community event!
Also, come hear about the new Warrenton Community Garden at the WARF and how you can get involved!!
We’ll have interactive stations to help you get started and grow with confidence:
Soil sample testing & guidance
What & when to plant in our local area
Gardening tips from certified Master Gardeners
Kids activities
Giveaways & more!
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your garden, our volunteers are here to help you succeed!
Bring your questions, bring the family, and let’s grow together
You can also stop by our booth at the first regular season Warrenton Farmer's Market!! Let's get planning!!
Twilight Talk - Native Flowers of Fauquier County
Join us for a one-hour presentation exploring the beauty and diversity of native wildflowers found throughout Fauquier County, along with a brief look at some of the challenges these plants face. Fauquier County hosts mature hardwood forests, meadows, fallow agricultural fields, wetlands, and riparian habitats, all of which support diverse native plant communities. Join us for an overview of some of the native wildflower bounty of our county. Presenter - Laurie Denker MacNaughton is a lifelong nature chronicler, avid wildflower photographer, and past Board member of the Virginia Native Plant Society, Piedmont Chapter. Event will be help rain or shine at the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, 24 Pelham St, Warrenton, VA.
Please Register Below for planning purposes:
Saturdays in the Garden: Garden Finds & Tool Shine
Join the Fauquier & Rappahannock Master Gardeners for a fun and informative spring morning at the Marshall Schoolhouse #18 Demonstration Gardens!
Browse a garden yard sale, enter our raffle fundraiser, and bring your favorite hand tools for professional sharpening by The Point Sharpening. Master Gardeners will also be on hand for Tool Talk—sharing tips on selecting and maintaining garden tools and answering your gardening questions.
Explore the beautiful demonstration gardens and get ready for the growing season!
✔ Free admission
✔ Cash or credit accepted for purchases
✔ Rain or shine
✔ All gardeners welcome
Parking is limited at the Schoolhouse. Additional parking available at Northern Fauquier Community Park. Please do not park on 55 or along Whiting Rd. All children should be accompanied by an adult
Piedmont Landscape Conference: Celebrating Ecological Abundance in our Region
Join us for the MGFRC’s first symposium!
Saturdays in the Garden - Invasive Plant Identification/Management Workshop & Annual Plant & Seed Giveaway!
Join us for a talk on invasive plant management and our Annual plant and seed giveaway!
Twilight Talk - Density, Diversity and Duration: Planting Food for Pollinators
Planting food for Pollinators
Saturdays in the Garden - Drought and Downpour: How Residents Can Manage Water in Any Situation
Learn how to manage water on your property
Twilight Talk - Patterns In Plants
Join us in learning about "Patterns in Plants" and mingle with local Master Gardeners and native plant enthusiasts!
Twilight Talk - How to iNaturalist
Learn How to use iNaturalist, a plant and animal identification application
Saturdays in the Garden - Birds, Bugs and Blooms: The Harmony of a Native Garden
Come join us for a talk by Janet Davis, operator of Hill House Nursery!
Twilight Talk - Reach for Growth: Using Horticultural Activities for Everyday Wellness
Come join us in learning about how digging in the dirt can help with our mental and emotional health
Remmington Community Garden Get Healthy Fair
Come visit the Master Gardener booth for help with your lawn and garden. We’ll have free seeds!
Natures Colors and Scents Workshop
Saturdays In the Garden - Natures Colors and Scents: A Hands-On Workshop for All Ages 4 and Up
Grow Your Own Food
Come learn about how and when to start your fruits and vegetables for an awesome garden!
Succulents and Cacti 101
Extension Master Gardener Benton Murphy presents essential information on succulents and cacti
Seed Collection and Annual Plant & Seed Giveaway
Come out to learn all about native seeds, techniques and ethics in seed collection, as well as seed preparation & storage. And, get some free seeds and plants!
Rady Park Arboretum 25th Anniversary Celebration
Fun for the whole family. Come celebrate with us!
History of Schoolhouse #18
Come out to learn about the important history of Schoolhouse #18
The Eastern Bluebird: Getting Them Started and Helping Them Stay
Come learn how to support the Eastern Bluebird in your own backyard!