“Gardening for Pollinators” is the topic for the February edition of  the “Backyard Botetourt” series that will be Monday, Feb. 27 in the Fincastle Library.

The February event draws together additional partners in conservation by

featuring local Master Gardener, Dr. Rebecca Ross, who will offer gardening

guidelines for attracting and supporting local pollinators. Virginia Cooperative

Extension Master Gardeners are trained volunteer educators who work within

their local communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound

horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and

training.

Tim Miller will also discuss the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), a cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Miller is the Education/Outreach Coordinator for Mountains Castles Soil and Water Conservation District.

The series of free educational presentations is a cooperative venture between Mountain Castles SWCD and Valley Conservation Council (VCC) with an emphasis on making the public aware of the natural resources Botetourt County holds.

This month’s program is also supported by the Virginia Extension Service Master Gardeners, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program.

Miller and VCC local representative and Upper James Program Manager Genevieve Goss host the programs.

For more information on these organizations, visit their websites: www.mountaincastles.org and www.valleyconservation.org.

For updates on the “Backyard Botetourt” series and weather cancellations, visit/like the Facebook pages of Mountain Castles SWCD and Valley Conservation Council.