When I completed my Master Gardener training in 1981, several of my classmates and I wanted to set up a plant clinic at the Alexandria Farmers' Market. It would be a free service to the city and staffed by volunteers, who could provide horticultural advice and diagnostic services to homeowners. But we needed a free spot at the market to set up. Needless to say, it took a lot of effort to get that spot, but eventually the plant clinic became a valuable service to the community for 30+ years.
This year, City Hall has decided that free horticultural advice is no longer needed, and the Plant Clinic can no longer have a seat at the market. I'm wondering who is making this determination, especially considering the environmental impact of invasive plants, scorching summers, and the decimation of our valuable tree canopy to make way for things like snack bars at the high school athletic field.
Paula Coupe
Alexandria