Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

My 8-year-old came barreling through the door yesterday afternoon: “Is it summer?”

A simple question. With a not-as-simple answer. I explained the summer solstice and how it’ll officially be summer on June 21. Then I took one look at his face—and a blank stare greeted me, rather than wonder.

“Yep, for what it’s worth, I consider this already summer,” I said.

For any other folks out there with kids/grandkids out of school for the season, today’s lead story caters to the curious. And I promise, it’s a lot more exciting than my pitiful explanation of the sun’s position in the sky. As you enjoy the unofficial start to summer, remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Visit Staunton River State Park to view the Delta Aquarids meteor shower. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

Celestial events visible from Virginia skies this summer

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Virginia has its fair share of celestial events happening across its skies this summer. From full moons to meteor showers, there’s certainly enough to keep amateur astronomers busy.

Our top picks:

The Blue Moon on Sunday, May 31, is the second full moon of May. Moons are referred to as being “blue” if they are the second full moon within one calendar month, according to Almanac.
The theme for the Urban Astronomy at Widewater State Park’s June 12 event is “Fireflies in the Sky.” From 9 to 10:30 p.m., visitors at the Stafford park will learn how to use a Celestron telescope and learn about the history of the stars.
Public Nights at McCormick Observatory in Charlottesville, held on the first and third Fridays of every month, offer the public a chance to explore the work being done at the observatory. From 7 to 9 p.m., visitors can view celestial objects through the historic 26-inch McCormick Refractor and various other telescopes.

Feeling starry-eyed? There’s so much to observe in Virginia’s night sky.

Find events here →

Mayra Cordero sells her handmade cards at the Chatham Farm Market. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

Farmers markets are in full swing across Virginia

By Amie Knowles

Word’s out—I’m hearing that it’s farmers market season, y’all. The Chatham Farm Market kicked off its season in, well, Chatham, Tuesday, May 26. It’ll occur on Tuesdays (3 to 7 p.m.) and Fridays (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) through Sept. 8.

Customers can find everything from handmade cards by market director Mayra Cordero to fresh produce and homemade goods. Why mention this market specifically? Well, last year, we did a special feature on some of the vendors there.

Stories included:

Not close to Chatham? I can almost guarantee there’s a farmers market near you. Just click the link below, and it’ll take you right to some of our favorites.

Explore VA farmers markets →

Approximately 800,000 Virginia children are eligible for free school meals. (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Ways to help commonwealth kids access meals this summer

By Amie Knowles

Across the commonwealth, schools are wrapping up for the summer. However, for many children, that also means daily meals could come to a halt.

That’s because in a single school year, 800,000 Virginia youth can access no-cost school meals, according to No Kid Hungry-Virginia.

The good news is, there are a multitude of ways to help combat the hunger gap kids in your area may face while school’s out. One option is spreading the word about SUN Bucks.

“Virginia SUN Bucks provides a one-time $120 grocery benefit per eligible school-age child to help families afford food when schools are closed for the summer,” according to a media release by No Kid Hungry-Virginia. “Program eligibility is based on household income. In 2025, Virginia SUN Bucks reached more than 650,000 children.”

Another option is to participate in Virginia’s SUN Meals sites (also known as the Summer Food Service Program). Often offered at local schools, libraries, and community sites, these meals are free for individuals 18 and under. You can access a local listing here.

A third way to help is to donate to a trusted organization, such as Feeding Southwest Virginia, No Kid Hungry-Virginia, or a local food pantry.

Find a summer feeding site →

Have you shared this newsletter with a neighbor?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes a story from Aila Boyd. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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