Category Archives: Horticulture

Leesburg Va Monroe-Fall Sale

Horticulture, Uncategorized

It is hard to believe but fall will be here soon! Summer’s heat and dry weather has been hard on our plants in Northern VA and many annuals are very tired looking. Now is a great time to refresh with fall color. We invite you to visit the Fall Plant Sale at Monroe Technology Center In Leesburg, VA where you will find beautiful mums, pansies and other plants to inspire and students eager to assist. Plant sale proceeds support scholarships, so please stop by and enjoy. Sale days and hours are: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 10-6pm; Sept. 22, 10-5pm; and Sept. 23, 10-4pm.

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Gardening friends

Horticulture

“Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that are used widely on farms, as well as around our homes, schools, and city landscapes. Used to protect against sap-sucking and leaf-chewing insects, neonicotinoids are systemic, which means they are absorbed by the plant tissues and expressed in all parts, including nectar and pollen. Unfortunately, bees, butterflies, and other flower-visiting insects are harmed by the residues. Extremely concerning is the prolific inclusion of these insecticides in home garden products. Home garden products containing neonicotinoids can legally be applied in far greater concentrations in gardens than they can be on farms – sometimes at concentrations as much as 120 times as great which increases the risk to pollinators. As a gardener, you have an unique opportunity to help protect pollinators by avoiding the use of these insecticides, asking your local nursery or garden center if plants have been treated with neonicotinoids, and encouraging your city or park district to use alternatives to neonicotinoids on plants that are visited by bees or are bee-pollinated.”

http://www.xerces.org/wings-magazine/neonicotinoids-in-your-garden/

 

Do you hear what I hear;

Horticulture, Uncategorized

Christmas will soon be here and many enjoy decorating homes and businesses with poinsettias, wreaths with colorful bows, roping and fresh floral arrangements. Others like something a bit different, such as a blooming cyclamen, Christmas cactus or amaryllis. Whichever of these is your favorite, we invite you to visit Monroe Technology Center’s annual Christmas Sale if you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area. In addition to these, we will have a great selection of hand-sewn pet scarves in all sizes and patterns. These “Faithful Friends” Stitches slip on collar scarves by Patricia Woolard Woodley make great gifts! Sale days and hours are December 2: 10am – 7pm; December 3: 10am – 5pm and December 4: 10am – 4pm. Sale proceeds go towards scholarships for our agriculture students.

Merry Christmas, Debi

Christmas Sale for High School

Horticulture

By Debi Chaves…

Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant. Through extensive breeding, they now come in a variety of colors, pinks, white, purple, multi. There are extensive varieties named after their characteristics such as Jingle Bells, Marble, Monet, Strawberries and Cream, Tapestry, Winter’s Rose, etc. Yet red seems to remain the favorite. Perhaps, because it symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas. August’s green leaves, transformed by a succession of ‘totally dark nights’, are red by Christmas, reminding us of the cost of Christ’s blood shed for our sins. The bright yellow bloom in the center of the red opens into a star like burst helping to tell the story of the Wise Men who followed that star, the ByLight and Hope of the world.
If you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area, I would like to invite you to stop by the Monroe Technology Center’s Plant sale. There will be lots of poinsettias to choose from in addition to other flowering plants such as Christmas cactus and cyclamen. Fresh wreaths with custom bows are also available along with pine garland and other fresh greens and centerpieces. While you are enjoying the beauty, you can sample cookies made by the Culinary Department along with hot cider. The days and hours are: December 3: 10-7pm; December 4: 10-5 pm; and December 5: 10-4pm.
Merry Christmas. Debi

Debi’s New

Horticulture

By Debi Chaves

Today I got a new calendar by Neale Donald Walsch that Sara spotted in a store and thought it was just what I needed. Generously, MG purchased it and gave it to me. It’s titled, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Does that make you a little nervous? I know it did me because my comfort zone is just that…comfortable. But the calendar title is also encouraging and challenging and I’d like to share the quote for August. “Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.” Wilfred Peterson.

Walk with me in the new!
debplant1@gmail.com

Spring Plant Sale 2014

Horticulture, ,

After a long, cold winter and late spring, it is wonderful to see greenery, color and new life again! Come and join us at Monroe Technology Center’s annual Spring Plant Sale where you are sure to find a plant (or a cartload) you will love. Whether you’re looking for an herb, tomato or berry plant from our edible collection, a favorite perennial or annual, native plant or hanging basket…we want to help make your visit enjoyable. Look for students wearing bright yellow T-shirts that say CS Monroe Technology Center Spring Plant Sale designed and provided generously for us by world famous CustomInk! Or you may find a student or staff eager to help you in a green apron designed especially for Monroe also by the artists at CustomInk! We will have trees, shrubs, aquatic plants and over 600 hanging baskets to choose from so come early for best selection.

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Hours are Wednesday, April 30, 10am-8pm; Thursday, May 1, 10am-6pm and Friday, May 2, 10am-5pm. 715 Childrens Center Rd, Leesburg, VA.

Oh, and bring your appetite also as the Monroe Culinary Arts Department will be selling pizza rolls and lemonade to raise funds to send students to a national culinary competition.

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Poinsettias for Sale

Poinsettias for Sale

Deborah Chaves, Teacher, says;
What would Christmas be without a beautiful poinsettia plant? So many colors and varieties are available today to choose from but red is still the favorite. There’s something almost magical about poinsettias. Taking care of a greenhouse full of them at Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg, Virginia beginning in August, I am always in awe of the transformation they go through. They start as a tender green plant and then get brutally cutback in early September, leaving an ugly stump and a few leaves behind wondering how to possibly recover from this set back. But within weeks the plants are growing new leaves and by the end of October those green leaves (now called bracts) are undergoing a color change. Red is slowly creeping in and by Thanks giving I am feeling very thankful that almost 50% of the plant is now red and a small yellow flower is starting to burst forth in the center. Yes, Christmas is on the way! Those red bracts remind me that the blood of Christ was shed for all the sins of the whole world and the yellow flower assures me that He truly is the Light of the world. The poinsettia has done its work to symbolize this amazing Truth as plant by plant they leave the greenhouse and make their way into homes, offices, events and churches.
At this year’s Monroe Technology Center Christmas Plant Sale there will be other plant reminders of the gift of Christmas. To me, fresh evergreens and garland speak of the promise of eternal life we have with God the Father through Jesus Christ. Wreaths can symbolize unbroken fellowship with Him and with His family. Bows decorate and adorn, speaking of the beauty of the season, along with other blooming plants. And on and on the symbols go…
If you are in the Leesburg area, I invite you to visit Monroe Technology Center and purchase many items, taking lovely reminders of Christmas with you.
December 4: 10-6pm, December 5: 10-5pm, December 5: 10-4pm

Monroe Technology Center FFA Fundraiser

Monroe Technology Center FFA

We are supporting The Monroe Technology Center FFA T-Shirt campaign. Buy and wear your shirt to show your support:
https://www.booster.com/monroetech

The Monroe Technology Center FFA is proud to be the only FFA representing Loudoun’s students in agriculture curriculums such as Biotechnology, Environmental Plant Science and Veterinary Science.

The National FFA Organization was organized as the “Future Farmers of America” in 1928 in Kansas City, MO. In 1988, the official organization name was changed to The National FFA Organization to reflect the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300 careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass management. In 1950, Congress granted FFA a federal charter, making it an integral, intracurricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Acts. Two of the FFA top three executives are employed by the U.S. Department of Education. FFA operates on local, state and national levels. Student members belong to chapters organized at the local school level. Agricultural education instructors serve as chapter advisors. Chapters are organized under state associations headed by an advisor and executive secretary, often employees of the state department of education. States conduct programs and host annual conventions. Contact The Monroe Technology Center FFA is proud to be the only FFA representing Loudoun’s students in agriculture curriculums such as Biotechnology, Environmental Plant Science and Veterinary Science.

Contact Deborah.Chaves@lcps.org for any questions you might have.

Thanks to Chris Mar and CustomInk for helping us raise funds for the Monroe Tech FFA.

My Orchid

My Orchid

I’m glad I answered the door when my neighbor, Marion, knocked. Perfectly lovely! Oh, and some homemade chocolate chip cookies as well! Some days are real good!

Gardening Tip. Marion said she heard to water my orchid just drop in an ice cube! What do you think?