Virginia Department of Forestry Senior Area Forester Patrick Murphy will present “Identifying Poisonous Plants” at the Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners’ Lunch and Learn at noon Thursday. Murphy heads up the Heartland work group comprised of Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties. He has been with the forestry department for 22 years in several capacities, and has served as area forestry for 16 years.

“What is this plant and can it harm me?” “Can I eat this plant?” “Is this plant poisonous to both my pets and to me?” These are just some of the questions Murphy will be answering about poisonous plants. He will also be discussing some of the history behind these poisonous plants and how they can and were used.

The Prince Edward County Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners sponsor the Lunch and Learn series. The program will be held in the conference room of the Prince Edward County Extension Office on Dominion Drive in Farmville.

Those wishing to attend are asked to bring their lunch and come learn how to identify plants that can be harmful to them or animals. The program is free, open to the public and lasts less than an hour.