Strasburg Community Garden

11/11/2026

Hay - the most valuable crop in the Old Dominion.

Data source found here>>
https://sb.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=VIRGINIA

11/10/2026

WOODY KEYSTONE PLANTS: The Nyssa (tupelo) genus appears in the Wild Ones roster of native woody plants that serve as larval hosts where it is listed as supporting caterpillars of 26 Lepidopteran species, including the Hebrew and Azalea Sphinx moths. The flowers of Nyssa species plants are a nectar source for a wide variety of pollinators, and the dark blue fruit produced on female trees is a nutritious food source for migrating birds. In addition, natural hollows may form in the trunks of these trees, creating nesting and refuge sites for cavity-nesting birds, squirrels, and raccoons.
There are three species of Nyssa native to Virginia, although Black Gum, also known as Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), is by far the most widespread in the state. This medium-sized tree is noted for its brilliant fall foliage and can be used as a lawn or street tree or in the center of a large rain garden. Water Tupelo (N. aquatica) and Swamp Tupelo (N. biflora) are common only in the central and southern Coastal Plain.
Learn more about the characteristics and care of Black Gum on the MGNV website at https://mgnv.org/plants/native-plants/trees/nyssa-sylvatica/

11/10/2026

The leaves of Flowering Dogwood (Benthamidia [=Cornus] florida) turn beautiful shades of red and burgundy this time of year. The bright red fruits add to the display, too. These high-fat fruits are an important food resource for migrating birds such as Wood Thrushes and Red-eyed Vireos, as well as many overwintering songbirds.

11/09/2026

Here’s a great reason to “leave the leaves” and not mulch or burn them this fall. In their last act as a caterpillar, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) crawl down to the base of their host tree and pupate in the leaf litter. At this stage, the brown caterpillar and pupa blend in well with the detritus and a light covering of fallen leaves insulate the pupa from cold winter temperatures.

If you want to see more of these beautiful butterflies in your yard next spring, here’s something to consider with your leaves. If you’re going to pick them up, gently blow or rake your leaves into a planting bed or wild space on your property. Spreading them out in a layer of loose leaves that’s less than 12 inches deep is best (think of the typical leaf depth in a hardwood forest), but this may not be manageable for all homeowners. The leaf litter will allow any Eastern Tiger Swallowtail pupae attached to the underside of the leaves to have a chance at successfully overwintering and then emerging from the leaf litter next spring.

Given their beauty and abundance, it’s easy to see why Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are the state butterfly of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

11/09/2026

Hibernate or hiber-not?

As temperatures drop, some animals may seek shelter for the winter. For some species, this means sleeping in cozy dens until spring returns. Box turtles, snakes, and bats are all types of animals that hibernate in the park. Cold-blooded reptiles, like snakes and turtles, cannot produce their own heat. This means that they have no choice but to hunker down and wait out the winter.

Bears may be the first animals that come to mind when you think of hibernation, but they are not considered true hibernators. Instead, during the coldest months, they may enter a state called "torpor." This is a lighter form of hibernation. Although bears in torpor don't eat, drink, or use the bathroom, they stay somewhat alert, and even give birth! They may also leave the den on warm days. Winters in Shenandoah are relatively mild. For this reason, some bears may remain active all year round, with no break to hibernate or enter torpor.

Although they don't hibernate, black bears are still more active during the fall as they hunt for food. When travelling along Skyline Drive, please mind the speed limit, and give bears or any other animals you see space. To learn more, visit: https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/black-bear.htm.

NPS Photo | D. Machado

11/08/2026

What to do with Leaves – EMG Jenn

Leaves have been falling at a furious rate on my property. Fallen leaves are a bounty for the home gardener – don’t rake them up and bag them! Did you know that up to 8 MILLION tons of leaves end up in landfills every year? They can do a much better job staying in your garden to enrich your soil and provide a habitat for native wildlife. Decomposed leaves make a great, FREE mulch!

Photo by EMG Jenn

Join us each Tuesday to learn about you can add to your garden. See previous posts at

11/07/2026

It's not too late to sign up for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners Garden Symposium - next weekend on November 14th!

All about Planting Ideas and Harvesting Change

Doors open at 8 AM; the first session starts at 9 AM

Register here: https://royalexaminer.com/master-gardeners-invite-public-to-november-14-symposium-on-birds-native-plants-and-healthy-gardens/

Gardening is about more than growing flowers and vegetables. The plants people choose can provide food for birds, support pollinators, attract beneficial insects, and improve the environment well beyond their own backyards. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association's 2026 Garden Sym...

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

🍃Fall is for planting! 🍂

Cooler temperatures and steady moisture make fall the perfect season to establish strong, healthy roots in your home garden. It’s also an ideal time to choose species that support Virginia’s natural ecosystems.

Not sure where to start? Explore the Virginia Native Plant Finder to discover the best native plants for your region and help your garden thrive while supporting local wildlife: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/native-plants-finder

📸: Lilium Superbum

11/04/2026

Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) spend most of the summer hiding under logs and leaf litter. On rainy nights in autumn, though, you might spot one dispersing to the dry margins of a woodland pond or stream to mate. After mating, the females lay eggs in shallow depressions under leaf litter and logs. Marbled Salamander larvae hatch after winter rains fill these temporary, fish-free depressions.

Have you seen one?