Master Gardeners Invite Public to November 14 Symposium on Birds, Native Plants, and Healthy Gardens

Gardening is about more than growing flowers and vegetables. The plants people choose can provide food for birds, support pollinators, attract beneficial insects, and improve the environment well beyond their own backyards.

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association’s 2026 Garden Symposium will focus on that bigger picture, scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown.

The event, themed “Planting Ideas, Harvesting Change,” will feature three expert speakers and a community discussion panel exploring how individual gardening choices can benefit wildlife and entire neighborhoods.

Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Candace DeLong and Extension Master Gardener Linda Bartlett recently visited the Royal Examiner studio to discuss the event.

Bartlett emphasized that the symposium isn’t limited to experienced gardeners.

“We have a full day of education planned for everyone, not just Master Gardeners,” she said.

The program will take place at the Corron Community Development Center on Laurel Ridge’s Middletown campus. Doors open at 8 a.m. for registration, breakfast, and coffee, with presentations beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing through 4 p.m.

Gardening With Birds and Wildlife in Mind

The symposium’s first speaker will be Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger, a Bridgewater College professor and Extension Master Gardener who will discuss gardening for birds.

Her presentation will explore how gardeners can create landscapes that provide food, shelter, and habitat for birds.

The second session will feature Jack Monsted, assistant curator at Blandy Experimental Farm, home of the State Arboretum of Virginia.

Monsted manages Blandy’s Native Plant Trail and will discuss the importance of native plants in creating healthy landscapes.

Native plants are particularly valuable because they have adapted to local growing conditions and support native insects, birds, and other wildlife.

The discussion also touched on the problems invasive plants can create when introduced into environments where they do not naturally belong. Choosing plants suited to Virginia’s climate and growing conditions can help gardeners avoid those problems while supporting local wildlife.

Bartlett explained that the symposium will introduce gardeners to native plants that offer better alternatives to invasive species.

“You’ll learn what to plant instead,” she said.

The third featured speaker will be Dr. Kevin Rice, an entomologist at Virginia Tech’s Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester.

Rice will discuss garden insects, including those that damage plants and those that provide valuable services.

The presentation will help gardeners better understand the difference between harmful pests and beneficial insects.

DeLong noted during the interview that natural systems often help control insect populations.

“Nature has a way of taking care of a lot of those things,” she said.

Understanding those relationships can help gardeners make informed choices about managing pests without unnecessarily harming beneficial insects.

Taking Gardening Beyond the Backyard

The symposium will conclude with a community panel exploring how individuals and organizations can work together to improve landscapes and natural habitats.

Participants will include Bill Moore of the Lake Frederick Conservation Club and Amanda Sheets of Sustainability Matters.

The panel will also feature representatives of local Tree Steward organizations, including groups serving Front Royal and Winchester.

Sustainability Matters has been involved in projects that use native plants to restore land and support wildlife, including meadow development at Jim Barnett Park in Winchester.

The Tree Stewards focus on caring for and preserving community trees, while conservation organizations work to protect natural resources and encourage responsible land management.

DeLong said the panel aims to help participants think beyond their own gardens.

The discussion will explore how residents can become involved in larger projects that benefit their communities.

Master Gardeners Make a Difference Year-Round

The symposium also provides an opportunity to introduce more residents to the work of Extension Master Gardeners.

The program operates through Virginia Cooperative Extension, which connects communities with educational resources from Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

DeLong serves as a consumer horticulture Extension agent in Frederick County, helping residents with home gardening questions, landscape management, and invasive species concerns.

She also works with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Extension Master Gardener program, supporting volunteers who provide gardening education and community service throughout the region.

The organization’s volunteers are active in Frederick, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, and Clarke counties.

Their activities include educational programs, demonstration gardens, plant clinics, youth gardening events, and assistance with community landscaping projects.

Bartlett described the personal satisfaction she has found through volunteering.

For retirees and others looking for a meaningful activity, she said the program provides opportunities to meet people with similar interests, learn new skills, and give back to the community.

Volunteers can choose from many kinds of activities, including working directly in gardens, helping at farmers’ markets, and teaching children.

Local Master Gardeners have been involved in educational programs at Samuels Public Library in Front Royal and maintaining the Community Teaching Garden at Belle Grove Plantation near Middletown.

DeLong explained that Virginia Cooperative Extension’s mission extends well beyond gardening.

Its programs also support agriculture, livestock, orchards, 4-H youth development, nutrition education, and family and consumer sciences.

Through those programs, university research and practical knowledge reach residents in communities throughout Virginia.

Event Supports Local Gardening Projects

In addition to educational presentations, the November 14 symposium will feature exhibits, raffle baskets, door prizes, and other activities.

Attendees will receive a welcome bag, and organizers encourage participants to bring cash if they wish to take part in fundraising raffles.

Proceeds will support the Master Gardener Association’s ongoing educational and community projects, including local teaching gardens and outreach programs.

Attendance costs $65 per person, with lunch available as an optional $15 add-on.

Bartlett said organizers will also accept walk-in registration, though they encourage people to register ahead of time.

The symposium offers a full day of learning for experienced gardeners, beginners, and anyone interested in making their property more welcoming to birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.

With presentations covering everything from native plants to beneficial insects and community conservation, organizers hope attendees will leave with practical ideas they can use at home.

How to Attend

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association’s 2026 Garden Symposium will take place Saturday, November 14, at the Corron Community Development Center, Laurel Ridge Community College, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, Virginia.

Doors open at 8 a.m., with presentations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration costs $65, and an optional lunch is available for $15.

Participants can register online at:

Register for the 2026 Garden Symposium

Additional information about the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association is available at www.nsvmga.org.

Whether you’re growing your first garden or have spent decades working with plants, the symposium offers an opportunity to learn something new, connect with other gardeners, and discover how even small changes can benefit the environment.

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