Composting Basics and Soil Health - Instructor : Larry Baker 

Style : Lecture

February is the perfect time to start planning for the upcoming gardening season, and nothing matters more to your success than the health of your soil. Join this class to learn what truly makes soil “healthy” and why compost is often considered the single best amendment you can add to your garden.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about composting: what compost really is, why making your own is a true win-win, the basic equipment and simple steps involved, different composting methods, and the most common questions and misconceptions gardeners run into. You’ll also learn how and when to apply compost for the best results.

And because soil magic doesn’t stop there, we’ll explore additional easy ways to boost organic matter in your garden—even beyond compost.

Cut Flower Garden Planning for the Home Gardener - Instructor : Jean Olson

Style : Lecture

In this class, we’ll walk through everything you need to start your own cut-flower garden from the ground up. We’ll cover how to choose the right location, build and prepare your beds, improve your soil, select the best seeds, start them successfully, and grow healthy, productive blooms. You’ll also have the chance to sketch out a personalized garden plan.We’ll dig into the real-world stuff too—managing weeds and pests, using fertilizers wisely to boost growth, and knowing exactly when and how to harvest your flowers for the longest vase life.You’ll learn how to read seed packets, navigate seed catalogs with confidence, and you’ll even go home with seeds to get your garden started.

Shrinking Your Lawn, Planting with Natives - Instructor - Greg Wirtz

Style : Lecture

Learn how to reduce your lawn, and bring more life into your landscape, through the use ecologically-focused landscape design and gardening techniques. You will learn:

-  why ecology-based landscaping is becoming increasingly popular

- how to identify your landscape plants using phone apps

- about “keystone” native plants in our eco-region

- how to determine the plants that are native in your county

- practical ideas to replace lawn with native plants

- how to find native plants, shrubs, vines, trees & seeds for sale or trade

- tips to maintain your native plant gardens

🌱 Annual Plant Sale & Garden Themed Yard Sale 🌱
Hosted by the Rapidan River Master Gardeners

Join us for our annual plant sale featuring home-grown garden plants and houseplants, lovingly raised by Rapidan River Master Gardeners! 🌿
Shop a wide variety of plants, browse a gardening-themed yard sale, and enjoy local vendors and food.

Whether you’re planting a pollinator haven, refreshing your beds, or adding greenery indoors, this is a can’t-miss spring tradition.

🌼 Garden Plants • 🪴 Houseplants • 🛍️ Garden Treasures • 🍴 Food

Proceeds support local gardening education and community programs.

Fruit Gardening Production - Instructor : Ed Stuart

Style : Lecture

Consider yourself as a beginning gardener or a well experienced gardener when it comes to growing fruit?  

Regardless of where you are on this gardening scale, the goal of this class is to provide the practical knowledge to successfully produce your own fruit, year after year. 

The class format will feature open conversations, questions and answers, and real-world examples, so everyone feels comfortable to exchange ideas and information. 

The range of topics will include: planning; research; selection; purchase; planting; maintenance; and harvesting your fruits.

For those in attendance at the class, a bonus...a field trip to the instructors home in June  to see what's growing and taste what's in season!

Kids in the Garden: Stories & Seeds- Instructor - Leanne Matullo

Style : Hands On Activity for the Child aged  3 - 10 

Note : Parent or Guardian must stay with child for activity

This is a playful, hands-on introduction to gardening for young children and their caregivers. We’ll explore the demonstration garden with a simple scavenger hunt, enjoy one or two garden-inspired stories, and plant seeds in small pots for children to take home and tend. We’ll end with time to wander, wonder, and ask questions - inviting curiosity, care for the natural world, and the joy of growing something together. 

Making Earth Inspired Seed Paper - Instructor - Tina Evans-Zook

Style : Hands On Activity for the Child aged  3 - 10 

Note : Parent or Guardian must stay with child for activity

Kids will get their hands a little messy (the fun way) while learning how to turn recycled paper into plantable seed paper inspired by our beautiful Earth. We’ll mix, press, and shape paper embedded with wildflower seeds—then take it home to plant and watch it grow!

This creative, hands-on class blends art, nature, and a simple lesson in caring for the planet. Perfect for curious kids who like to make things and dig in the dirt.

Outdoor Plant Propagation - Instructors - Robert Legge and Jeanne Maloney

Style : Hands on 

Learn simple, reliable techniques to multiply your favorite outdoor plants and shrubs at home. We’ll cover cuttings, air-layering, seed-starting, root division, and caring for young plants, with hands-on demonstrations. Perfect for beginners who want more plants for themselves or to share with friends. Participants will have the opportunity to prepare and pot cuttings to take home.  Please bring garden clippers if you have them.

Invasive Plant Workshop - Instructor's - AnneMarie Pfaff and Greg Wirtz

Style : Lecture

Non-native invasive plants negatively impact property values and degrade natural habitats on both residential lots and agricultural lands. This workshop will begin with an overview of common invasive plant species, focusing on proper identification and how to distinguish them from similar-looking native plants.

The second portion of the workshop will cover effective control methods. The goal of this program is to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence needed to responsibly manage and restore the land around them.

Each participant will receive a Virginia native plant to take home and plant in their garden.

Houseplant Propagation Made Simple  - Instructor - Cindy Curtis

Style : Hands-On

Learn how to multiply your favorite houseplants without spending a dime! In this hands-on class, we’ll cover the easiest and most reliable propagation methods—stem cuttings, division, leaf cuttings, and more. You’ll learn when to take cuttings, how to root them successfully, and how to care for young plants as they grow. Each participant will take home their own cutting to nurture.

Holiday Wreath Making - Instructor- Cynthia Damico

Style : Hands-On

This hands-on workshop will introduce you to making a wreath from scratch using a wire form with hay/straw, then adorning it with bundles of evergreens and berries for a finished product that is both beautiful and uniquely yours.  We will also be working with some dried materials from our very own Demonstration Garden!  All supplies for making will be provided, please bring garden gloves and garden shears if you have them and dress for a little roll with some hay and sappy fresh evergreens.