SAVE THE DATE - Spring to Green - Feb 6, 2027 - Olde Dominion Ag Complex, Chatham, VA
About Danville Master Gardeners
Our Mission - Sharing Knowledge and Empowering Communities.
Danville Master Gardeners are neighbors, volunteers, and lifelong learners united by a shared passion for lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens. They are curious by nature, committed to expanding their horticultural knowledge, and inspired by the opportunity to help others grow—both in their gardens and in their confidence.
Our mission is to empower volunteers to make a meaningful impact throughout the Danville community by sharing research-based horticultural knowledge and promoting sustainable gardening practices. As trusted resources, Master Gardeners support the Virginia Cooperative Extension by answering gardening questions, maintaining educational literature at local garden centers and public libraries, and connecting with residents through an information booth at the Danville Community Market each Saturday.
Their service extends far beyond answering questions. Master Gardeners cultivate a love of gardening in the next generation through hands-on learning at the E.A. Gibson Elementary greenhouse, write educational articles and newsletters, partner with local organizations on community beautification and environmental stewardship, and lead workshops and presentations for gardeners of all experience levels. Every project, conversation, and volunteer effort reflects our commitment to strengthening our community—one gardener, one garden, and one growing season at a time.
History of Cooperative Extension
Prior to the Civil War, very few college curricula addressed agricultural problems that affected farmers. In 1862, Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act that provided for "land-grant universities" to educate citizens in agricultural and mechanical fields. In 1887, Congress passed the Hatch Act to provide facilities to the land grant universities to conduct agricultural research. In order to disseminate this new information, Congress passed the Smith Lever Act of 1914 for the establishment of Cooperative Extension offices.
In Virginia, there are Extension offices in every county to "extend" to the public this research. Extension units in this state are closely linked to Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. The role of Extension agents is primarily educational. The Master Gardening Associations work in coordination with the Extension Agent in helping people solve their own problems though educational programs.
Extension Master Gardeners
Virginia Extension Master Gardener volunteers (EMGs) are educators who work within their communities to promote environmentally sound gardening practices. EMGs bring the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth.
The VCE Master Gardener program is made up of more than 5,000 active and certified Master Gardener volunteers throughout Virginia who contribute more than 350,000 hours of volunteer service each year. Almost 1,000 new volunteers are trained annually.
History of Danville Master Gardener Association
Documents indicate that an informal gardening group was organized in Danville as early as 1985. The first graduating class from the Danville Extension Master Gardener training program was in June 1988. By January 8, 1990, the Danville Master Gardener Association had been officially chartered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Since that inaugural graduating class, hundreds of local citizens have participated in the annual Danville Extension Master Gardener training program.
Long Standing Service of Danville Master Gardener Volunteers
For nearly four decades, the Danville Master Gardeners Association (DMGA) has been rooted in service, education, and community engagement. What began as a commitment to sharing horticultural knowledge has grown into a lasting legacy of volunteerism that continues to enrich the Danville community.
Since 1986, Master Gardeners have welcomed visitors at the Danville Community Market, where they distribute Virginia Tech horticultural publications, provide gardening demonstrations, answer questions, and offer practical, research-based advice. Through educational resources, seed and plant sales, and one-on-one conversations, they have helped local gardeners grow with confidence.
In 1999, the DMGA expanded its outreach by becoming volunteer docents for the Butterfly Station Pollinator Garden at the historic train station. That tradition continues today, with Master Gardeners participating in the annual Butterfly Hello celebration each spring, helping young visitors discover the essential role of pollinators in healthy landscapes and ecosystems.
A defining chapter in the Association's history began in 2002, when Danville Public Schools partnered with the Danville Master Gardeners to revitalize an unused greenhouse at Glenwood Elementary School. Following the consolidation of city schools in 2009, the program found a new home at E.A. Gibson Elementary School, where it continues to flourish.
Today, the Gibson Elementary greenhouse serves as an outdoor classroom where students experience the joy of growing plants while learning about science, nature, and environmental stewardship. Throughout the school year, Master Gardeners create hands-on educational experiences for students and staff, inspiring curiosity and cultivating lifelong skills. After more than two decades of partnership, the program's impact has come full circle—some of the children who first discovered gardening in the greenhouse have grown up to become Master Gardeners themselves.
As the organization has evolved, its purpose has remained unchanged: to educate, serve, and strengthen the community by sharing a passion for gardening, one volunteer, one project, and one generation at a time.
Spring to Green
What started as a DMGA workshop in 2011, evolved into a horticulture educational event for the public and state-wide Master Gardeners alike. In 2012, the event name was changed to “Spring to Green.” As attendance increased, Spring to Green outgrew the Stratford Conference Center. From 2014 through 2019, the annual conference was conducted at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. In 2020, Spring to Green moved to its current home at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, Virginia.
The annual event is held in early February and attracts impressive keynote speakers from the gardening world. Sponsored by generous donations from community businesses and individuals, Spring to Green has expanded to a full-day event, including lunch, door prizes, raffles, and a large vendor group. Each attendee also receives a take-home gift bag. The DMGA Spring to Green conference continues to evolve as Southern Virginia’s premier horticultural event.
Community Partnerships
In 2024, DMGA partnered with Danville Public Works and the Department of Parks and Recreation for the Ballou Park Reforestation program under the city’s Grow in Danville initiative. DMGA adopted a Community Pollinator Garden at the Ruby B. Archie Public Library. Additionally, a new
collaboration with the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History allowed DMGA to participate as a nonprofit organization in the Art on the Lawn
event.
2025 marked a year of expanded collaborations with Danville Public Works, Danville Parks and Recreation, and the Ruby B. Archie Public Library. The city launched its DVAOutdoors initiative, and the library started a gardening series called Growing Together (previously named Trowel and Error). DMGA members are involved in both.
Bee City USA
On July 1, 2025, the Danville City Council voted to became a Bee City USA member. DMGA is proud to be a founding member of Danville’s Bee City Committee.
Bee City USA is a national program run by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It encourages communities to work to protect pollinators—like native bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds—by creating safe and sustainable habitats, teaching people about the benefits of supporting pollinators and using eco-friendly practices.
To earn this title, Danville has planted pollinator gardens at city-owned properties, helped local groups build their own pollinator-friendly spaces, cut back on pesticide use, and held workshops and events to teach people about pollinators. These efforts help keep our local ecosystem healthy, support biodiversity, and make our city more sustainable.
DMGA is a founding and ongoing partner in this effort. The pollinator garden at the Rubie B. Archie was adopted by DMGA as part of this initiative.
Current Danville Master Gardener Association Officers
President: Elizabeth Tomilin
Vice President: Isla Wiles
Secretary: Brannon Blount
Treasurer: Kelly Adcock
Past President: Billy Holley
Volunteer Coordinator: Debra Bailey
Parliamentarian: Judy Hodnett