Insight Into Being a Texas Master Gardener

The Texas Master Gardener program in cooperation with Texas A&M and Texas AgriLife Extension was designed to increase the availability of horticultural information to home gardeners.  Being trained by experts in the university system on a variety of crucial topics such as: Botany, Soils and Fertilization Entomology (concerning pests, beneficial insects and how to recognize damage and advise treatment solutions and prevention measures) Plant Diseases (turfgrass, trees & shrubs, vegetables & fruit, flowers etc) Vegetable Gardening (regular and organic) Environmental Landscaping Plant Propagation Earthkind© Principles, Soils and Roses Tree, shrub and plant selection and care Water conservation  - rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and more Growing Fruits, Nuts & Berries Turfgrass selection and management We are taken  through an intense course over 11 weeks here and are required to pass an examination at the end and volunteer for 50 hours over the first year. ** Some counties require additional things/hours. After the first year is completed you then are a certified Texas Master Gardener. To keep your certification a certain amount of volunteer hours and training are required each year. Its very easy to find yourself with several hundred hours in a year with not a lot of effort. Time really flies with the variety of options that are available. A few key items we are held closely to is: Information given out HAS to be research based. No home remedy solutions, herbs medicinal qualities, some types of organic practices, moon phases effect on gardening etc. We teach and advise. Oftentimes we get requests to come work on projects. The problem is there is just not enough time and we are not paid. We will be happy to pass along information to help. Some things we are not: Experts on everything. We have Master Gardeners who take training to be Specialists. A few of them are: Vegetable Specialist Propagation Specialist Rainwater Harvesting Specialist Entomology Specialist Junior Master Gardener Specialist Composting Specialist Oak Wilt Specialist Greenhouse Specialist All of these trained people are called on for certain questions and also they provide training on a higher level to fellow Master Gardeners. Outside of that, we have Master Gardeners who are better at some things than others. I immediately know who to go to if I have a question on herbs, for example. That person may not know much about perennials though. Its just how we all work together. The Master Gardener program in our county (HUNT) is considered a smaller one compared to counties like Dallas. We still are able to donate around 5000 volunteer hours to our county per year. This is a HUGE savings to our community and state as a whole. We have volunteered by taking calls at our Extension office, made house calls to help diagnose problems and traveled to give presentations to groups. We also can be found teaching school children through JMG at several local schools, churches, and area groups. We also maintain a demonstration garden with plants that are recommended for our area. We are happy to answer questions to those who ask. Its great fun and I am constantly learning something new from our group. We share plants and seeds among each other regularly which makes for a wide variety of plants for everyone. We do all of this as a not-for-profit organization that does all of their own fundraising to pay for many of the programs we offer. I may not know everything about certain types of gardening, but I'm trained to know how to find it. If I don't know, then I pass along my questions to the experts who do. Gardening and everything that goes along with it a lifelong pursuit of learning. That's what keeps it interesting and keeps us growing!

Earth Day Tribute - What Type of Gardener Are You?

Grapes are really abundant this year

Pink Verbena

Mullein

Spiderwort The more I garden and visit with other people and their gardens I have started asking this question. Its easy to be defined by a style, but in truth it goes deeper than that. I have found that gardening in many ways is an extension of a personality. Order, whimsy and purpose mark a garden in the same way we dress ourselves and decorate our homes. I think it is why our curiosity is sparked when an opportunity arises to walk around someone's yard or garden. They all tell a story. And we want to hear that story. Being involved with the Master Gardener program allows me the privilege of seeing more gardens than most. It's interesting to know that some gardens are more showy and "out-front" types that appeal to the eye.Those are the ones that make an immediate impression on visitors as one who knows everything about gardening and must be an expert. The truth is, the surface has only been scratched on the levels of gardening and know how. Even among our Master Gardeners if a question comes up about a certain plant or situation we often know immediately who needs to answer that question. That is why we have "Specialists" for certain things such as Vegetable Gardening, Composting, Etymology, Propagation etc. Its just hard to know everything. I often wonder when someone asks to see my yard what they expect. A botanical garden maybe? A show stopping view from the street? That always intimidates me when I think about it because in truth, I'm not that type of gardener. Mind you, I LOVE flowers and blooms of all types. I collect perennials and my inspiration is always an English Cottage Garden style. I fill in plants and collect them as gifts from friends and family. All of my plants have a story to tell. What is my type? I guess I'm really a backyard type of gardener with a cottage style flair. I plant things with a purpose. I like flowers and herbs so my bees and butterflies are welcomed in for a visit and nourishment. I plant vines and trees for shade. I grow food for animals and people. Its a broad spectrum of interests and I enjoy the challenge. It may not always be showy, but boy does it have a story to tell. One thing I can say is this, moving to the country has liberated my garden creativity process. I love the idea of hanging baskets overflowing with massive annual flowers and show stopping landscape design. I am inspired by them and often under my own breath say, "next year I will try this or that". But I often find myself back in the same places year after year building and dreaming in my own backyard. I like that... no pressure. Today I will be planting a few more herbs and filling soil in a three more raised beds where I grow food. I have several plants that have been given to me as gifts from friends that need a home in my yard. I will gladly place them with love and care as I think about my dear friends who gave them to me. New raised garden beds

Where Would You Recommend?

Calling All Garden Bloggers!

Since I am always totally blown away by your expertise in broadcasting garden information to the masses, I am calling on you for some much needed help.

Our local Master Gardening group (Hunt County Texas) is having their annual garden tour, where we feature 4+ gardens and provide educational opportunities to the public during that time. Our goal this year is to work on publicizing it better. The problem is this..we have a near zero budget. I'm betting there are places we can advertise that we're overlooking.

Is there a website, magazine, forum etc. that you would recommend for us to use? Help is truly appreciated.

Thanks a million!