The Northern Neck Master Gardeners (NNMG) will present a program on “The Waterfront Landscape: Stable Shorelines, Clean Water, Abundant Wildlife” at St Stephen’s Church in Heathsville on Friday, October 9 at 2 p.m.
There is no charge, but advance registration is requested. For more information, or to register, call the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Lancaster County Office at (804) 462-5780.
This program is an up-dated version of the presentation at the Bayne Center in Weems given in October 2025.
Members of the NNMG’s Shoreline Evaluation Program (SEP) will guide attendees through landscaping choices which can protect their properties, protect the waters of the Bay, and support the life cycles of those beneficial creatures living in our gardens and on our shorelines.
Our ecosystems face many challenges. Pollution of the waters of the Bay has long been a major issue. Storms of increased intensity contribute to greater erosion which in turn creates more polluting sediment. Ever-increasing development places greater strain on the natural world. Changing temperatures are forcing both vegetation and animal life to adapt or face extinction.
SEP member Susan Lindsey stresses that “in this changing world, the role of the homeowner becomes more and more significant.” She points out that “with judicious plant selections, waterfront property owners can strengthen their shorelines and counteract the erosive forces of water. And by keeping sediment out of the Bay, we all benefit as water quality is improved, resulting in healthy marine life.” In addition, an increased awareness of the urgent need to protect pollinators means more homeowners are focused on providing a supportive habitat for the insects that are essential to human existence.
The presentation will include suggested plants and planting plans for the common scenarios found on our shorelines and will highlight the plants’ benefits to our local ecosystem. Some examples of these plants will be on display.
Co-presenter Katherine McConnell states that “The aim of these lists and plans is to reduce the amount of guesswork and research required by homeowners when landscaping their shorelines and to provide user-friendly guidelines for almost every situation.” The presenters will be available after the program to answer individual questions.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact Trent Jones at 804-580-5694/TDD* during business hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Founded in 1989, the Northern Neck Master Gardener Association is a not-for-profit organization. Its purpose is to promote and serve the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardener Program in cooperation with the Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, and Essex County Extension Offices in fulfilling the educational mission of VCE.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.
Northern Neck Master Gardeners – www.nnmg.org
Virginia Cooperative Extension – https://northumberland.ext.vt.edu Contact: Mary Beane, Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Coordinator – mbbeane@vt.edu] – (804) 580-5694
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