Victoria County Master         Gardener Association

PLANTING A SEED: Training class with 'go to' gardeners

July 14, 2017

By Barbara David/Victoria County Master Gardener Intern

Edited by Charla Borchers Leon/Victoria County Master Gardener

PHOTOS BY MASTER GARDENER, BRYNN LEE

Several thousand visitors, including students and adult groups, tour the Master Gardener Victoria Educational Gardens annually. Shown here is Master Gardener Linda Hartman with a group of students upon completion of a tour. Interns, or trainees who complete the fall training course, often assist with VEG tours throughout the year and acquire required volunteer hours for certification as Master Gardeners.

Trainees are exposed to educational opportunities from some of the best in their fields, like when Master Gardener specialists provide in-depth training to fellow Master Gardeners and the public on areas of their expertise. Shown here are participants at a plant propagation class conducted by Greenhouse Specialist Donna McCanlies with hands-on training for various types, including air propagation demonstrated here.

I heard about the Master Gardener program while living in San Marcos about 25 years ago.

A friend of mine joined the program and would tell me about her experiences, the friends she made and the valuable information she received.

Finding answers

During the years, I watched as her level of expertise grew.

She was the one I went to with gardening questions - and if she didn't know the answer she had the resources to find the answer.

I promised myself that once I retired, I would look into the Master Gardener program.

So in July 2016, I retired and promptly signed up for the training class that started in August.

I was apprehensive about a 16-week, four-hour/week program, but once the classes started, that was gone, and I was totally committed.

Time with fellow gardeners

Gardening is one of my favorite things to do, and what could be better than spending time with fellow gardeners?

We like to get our hands dirty, and we love the smell of dirt. There are three reasons why I have enjoyed this experience.

• Gardeners From Numerous Area Communities

First of all, I met so many new people. My classmates were fun to be around, and there were many seasoned Master Gardeners who were involved with the training class.

There are people from Bloomington, Cuero, Edna, El Campo, Ganado, Goliad, Hallettsville, Inez, Lockhart, Moulton, Pierce, Port O'Connor, Port Lavaca, Seadrift, Shiner, Yoakum, Yorktown and, of course, Victoria. So many people for you to meet and get to know.

• Learned from Experts in Field(s)

Second, the speakers. The classes are taught by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists, county extension agents, Texas A&M professors and local experts, including our own master gardeners, many of whom are experts in their field(s).

We, as Master Gardener trainees, had the opportunity to learn from the experts and were encouraged to ask questions and "pick their brains."

Some of the topics last year were:

• Perennials, roses and bulbs

• Home fruit and nut management

• Plant propagation

• Composting and rainwater harvesting

• Vegetable and herb gardening

• Lawn care and turf grasses

• Plant disease

• Landscape horticulture, container gardening, xeriscape

Most of the same material will be covered in this year's training sessions as well.

• Good Food During Breaks

And last, there was good food. Since the classes last about four hours, we had a break about halfway through the afternoon when snacks were served. One thing for sure, this group loves to eat good food - and is known to cook and share recipes.

Why else become a Master Gardener?

In addition to the plethora of information you learn and the many new people you meet, there are other perks to being a Master Gardener.

• You have the opportunity to participate in the annual state Master Gardener conferences. This year, the conference was in Galveston and included a short cruise.

• You have the opportunity to be involved in various community activities such as the plant sales, the bridal fair and Master Gardener tours for local schools and organizations as well as a Summer Camp for Kids.

• You have the opportunity to take advantage of various specialist programs, sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, such as plant propagation, greenhouse management, rainwater harvesting, home fruit production and earth-kind landscaping. These special 2- to 3-day programs are held in College Station and are available to Master Gardeners throughout the year.

• You have the unique opportunity to learn so much about what you love to do and participate with those who have similar interests and at the same time have fun doing so.

Important class information

Victoria County Master Gardener Association, which started in 1997 and has about 140 members and interns, will kick off the 2017 training class running for 16 weeks beginning Aug. 3.

The classes are held at the Victoria County 4-H Activity Center, 259 Bachelor Drive on the grounds of the Victoria Regional Airport, from 1 to 5 p.m. every Thursday afternoon in August through November 16.

The fee for the class is $175. This fee covers the cost of the program including speakers and the Master Gardener training manual, a valuable resource that will be of great use for years to come.

See adjoining information to this article on how and where to obtain an application.

Take advantage of this opportunity and sign up for the upcoming fall class. The deadline is July 21. You will be glad you did!

The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com.