The Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners (HOVMG) will hold the Aug. 1 Lunch and Learn in downtown Farmville so that participants can explore garden spots located nearby. Meet at noon at the Downtown Farmville High Bridge Trail State Park access near the caboose. The HOVMG will be leading a walk from the Town of Farmville kiosk at the High Bridge Trail crossing in downtown to the area behind the farmers market. Along the way speakers Deanna Fehrer and Jay Wilkerson will share information about the plantings located near this section of the High Bridge Trail State Park. Featured gardens include a pollinator garden, container gardens, a community herb garden and several small planted areas that showcase unique and hardy plants.

Fehrer is a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master gardener volunteer and member of the HOVMG. She is the district manager for the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District, which assisted High Bridge Trail State Park with the installation of the pollinator garden. The pollinator garden includes species of plants native to Prince Edward County. Fehrer will talk about the plants and the role they play in attracting and providing habitat for pollinators.

Wilkerson is the horticulturist for the Town of Farmville and a member of the Town’s Tree Board. He is responsible for the plantings and maintenance of numerous gardens and containers in the Town of Farmville, including the plant selections in the gardens located along the trail. Wilkerson is a lifelong resident of Prince Edward County. He graduated from Longwood with an Environmental Biology degree and worked at B&M Greenhouse for 11 years before joining the Town staff in 2017.

This promises to be an interesting tour of local gardens that we all enjoy downtown. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a novice, you will learn some details about the gardens from our two tour guides who were instrumental in designing and maintaining them.

You are welcome to bring your lunch and munch along the way or visit one of the many restaurants in downtown Farmville after the tour, which will last about an hour. Free parking can be found in the parking lot behind the kiosk area or metered parking along Main Street.

In the event of rain meet at the farmers market.