Event Calendar

Event Calendar

Click on an event for more information!

* 2007 Master Gardener Training Class

Master Gardener Telephone Hotlines

TheWMMGA Berkshire hotline is being answered at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.until 12 noon. Call 413-298-5355 to speak to a Master Gardener.

The WMMGA Valley hotline is being answered at the Wisteriahurst Museum in Holyoke on Tuesdays from 9 a. until 12 noon. Call 413-533-0414 to speak to a Master Gardener.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS E-mail us year round with your gardening questions and a Master Gardener will research it and get back to you with an answer within 48 hours.

Some times it may be necessary to bring a specimen to the Hotline office. Please note that specimens can only be accepted during hotline hours. Come to the Center House, located directly across Route 102 from the parking lot at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. Please observe the following rules:
1. All specimens must be in a plastic zip-lock bag.
2. Insects must be dead. Place insects in a zip-lock bag and place in the freezer overnight, or put the insect in a glass jar with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol taped to the lid.
3. Plant material must be fresh. Dead plant material cannot be diagnosed. Bring in samples of both the damaged material and healthy material from the same plant.
4. For plant identification include leaves, stems, roots and flowering or seed bearing portions.

Soil Testing and Gardening Advice

Get your soil tested now for pH.

Soil Test Clinics in Hampden County

Every Tuesday - Farmer's Market at the X, Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield 12:30 - 4 PM

Soil Test Clinics in Franklin, Hampshire & Worcester Counties

May 26 - Hadley Garden Center - Noon - 3 pm
               Barre Farmers Market 9-12
June 2 - Amherst Farmers Market 9-12
             Greenfield Farmers Cooperative Exchange 9-12
             Barre Farmers Market 9-12
June 9 - Old Deerfield Garden Days 1 pm - 5 pm
             Amherst Farmers Market 9-12
July7 - Barre Farmers Market 9-12
August 4 - Barre Farmers Market 9-12

Soil Testing in Berkshire County

Soil Testing Berkshire Mall, Lanesborough Saturdays, 9-12 noon May 26

Lenox Farmers Market, Fridays, 3:30 to 5:30 May 25

Plant Exchange in Berkshire County

The Berkshire Group of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association invites all gardeners in Berkshire County to the "Bring a Plant, Take a Plant" plant exchange at the Demonstration Gardens on Saturday, June 2, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Demo Gardens are located behind the Springside House in the Herbert Arboretum at Springside Park, 874 North Street, Pittsfield.

Each gardener brings up to five plants from his or her garden, labeled with the name of the plant, growing height, blooming time and whether the plant grows best in sun or shade. All gardeners are given a sequence number and then when that number comes up, they swap for the same quantity of new plants to take home and plant. Gardens in Berkshire County are then enriched with new beautiful plants at no cost to the planter.

While the plants and gardeners are arriving, a Demonstration on Invasive Plants will be presented. A raffle of plants contributed by local nurseries will be held. Gardeners are invited to walk through the Demonstation Gardeners. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and do Soil Testing.

Those wishing additional information can telephone Geri Porter at 442-4740. Bring your plants at 10:30 and stay until all the plants have been swapped. We expect to conclue the festivities by Noon.

Master Gardener Training
Next Class will start in January, 2009
If you are interested in applying, click here.

Other Events
These events are not affiliated with the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association.

June 2-4, 2006 Native Plant Sale to benefit Mass Audubon Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries, 9 am-4 pm, rain or shine, at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 W. Mountain Rd., Lenox, MA. Nursery-grown wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs. Sign up in advance for free workshop on Saturday at 10 am: "Invasive Exotic Plants". 413-637-0320

"Wild Edible Plants of Massachusetts" - a hands-on interactive and intergenerational introduction to identification and uses of our native plants for food and beverage presented by naturalist/educator John Root. Free.

- Wednesday, May 31: 7:00-8:30 PM at Hadley Elementary School: funded by the Hadley Cultural Council.

- Wednesday, June 7: 7:00-8:30 PM at Gill Elementary School: funded by the Gill Cultural Council.

- Saturday, June 17: 1:00-2:30 PM at Meekins Library: funded by the Williamsburg Cultural Council.

- Saturday, July 15: 2:00-3:30 PM at Pelham Library: funded by the Pelham Cultural Council.

- Saturday, July 29: " 2:00-3:30 PM at Cummington Community House: funded by the Cummington Cultural Council.

Plant Swaps:
Please use the contacts listed for more information. These events are not affiliated with the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association.

LUDLOW PLANT SWAP on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from May 8th through Sept 11, 2006.
The Monday night dates: 5/8, 5/22 6/12, 26 7/10, 24 8/14, 28 9/11
Where: 451 Miller Street Ludlow, MA 413 262-0402 TIME: 6 pm PROMPT!

Betty & Chet Sokoloski #2 Hobbie Rd S Deerfield, MA 01373 (413) 665-7203
Held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month: Time: 6-7pm Starting: 4/12, 26 5/10, 24 6/14, 28 7/12, 26 8/9, 23 9/13, 27

Elaine Williamson ewilliamson@iglide.net 253 Warren Wright Rd. Belchertown, MA (413) 256-8204
Held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday night of each month EXCEPT for 7/4th which will be held on THURSDAY 7/6 Time: 6-7pm
Starting: 5/2, 16 6/6, 20, 7/6, 18 8/1, 15 9/5, 19