Victoria County Master         Gardener Association

From AG in the CROSSROADS -- Victoria Advocate

by MATT BOCHAT -- Extension Agent

PHOTO BY CHARLA BORCHERS LEON/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER

Dianthus -front, gerbera daisies- rear, wave petunias, coreopsis and other blooming fillers can be used in flower beds for transitional color.

What is a Texas Master Gardener? How do you become a part of this group? Do I need experience to be involved with this group?

The Texas Master Gardener program is a statewide volunteer service organization that falls under the umbrella of Texas A&M Agrilife Extension across Texas through each county extension office. Master Gardeners are members of the local communities who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens.

They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others and able to communicate with diverse groups of people.

In the Victoria County Master Gardener program alone, we have more than 140 active folks and growing.

Some of your children or you may have visited the Victoria Educational Gardens at 333 Bachelor Drive at the Victoria Regional Airport.

Also, we added the Master Gardener Healthy Kid's Camp. For one week, young folks got to learn about insects and gardening. The educational gardens were constructed and are currently maintained by Victoria County Master Gardeners. The Victoria Educational Gardens is one of several projects the Victoria County Master Gardeners donate their time and expertise. If you get a chance and want to see some wonderful plants and walk through a majestic outdoor setting, visit the garden.

Outside of the numerous service projects, the Master Gardeners provide tours at the Victoria Educational Gardens, present programs to various groups in Victoria and surrounding counties, write weekly columns for the Victoria Advocate, conduct a fantastic plant sale, coordinate Lunch and Learn, organize Victoria County Garden Tours, and much more.

Does this sound like an organization that you would like to join? Beginning with its first training class in 1997, the Victoria County Master Gardener Association and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension have been providing in-depth, horticulture based training to individuals that want to learn better gardening techniques and share this information with neighbors, friends and others in the community.

The next Master Gardener class is slated to begin Aug. 2 and will run every Thursday until the final exam Nov. 15. The class will be at the Victoria Educational Garden's Pavilion and will run from 1 to 5 p.m. This training will comprise 50 hours of intensive information on plant development, insects, vegetables, herbs, fruit and nuts, propagation, turf, diseases and much more.

The cost for the class will be $175 and will include all training materials. The deadline for registering is July 20. You can pick up an application at the Victoria County Extension Office, 528 Waco Circle, or print one off the website at vcmga.org. After completion of the course, you will need to give back 50 hours of volunteer time to the organization within one year as an intern. For more information, you can call the Victoria County Extension Office at 361-575-4581.

Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the county commissioners courts of Texas cooperating.

Matt Bochat is a County Extension Agent - Ag/Natural Resources Victoria County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.

Please take some time to read our previous articles about How To Become A Master Gardener

2019 July 12 -- EDUCATION: Ever thought about becoming a Texas Master Gardener? by Gail Farquhar

2018 July 06 -- GROWING WITH GARDENING: There are many reasons for becoming a master gardener by Bryan Serold and Barbara David

2017 July 14 -- PLANTING A SEED: Training class with 'go to' gardeners by Barbara David

2016 June 19 -- Become A Master Gardener by Michael Martignoni

2015 June 21-- FULFILL A DREAM: Become A Master Gardener by Janet McCrea

2014 July 11 -- GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY:  Become a master gardener by Debbie Hopper

2013 July 12 -- GROW WITH THE MASTER GARDENERS by Julie Moritz

2012 July 13 -- Learn from the Master Gardeners in their Field by James Grumman

2011 July 08 -- Gardening Course Will Get You Started In The Right Direction by Chip Stelpflug

2010 July 08 -- Master Gardeners Seek New Members by Helen Parks

2009 July 05 -- CALLING ALL GARDENERS: Get ready to sign up for the fall master gardener training class by Donna Sahualla

2008 July 10 -- FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT; Master Gardener class has something for everyone by Kim Green

2007 June 28 -- FOR THE LOVE OF PLANTS AND GARDENING: Go green with the 2007 master gardener training class by Linda Valdez

2006 July 20 --  LIKE A WATERFALL-NEVERENDING: Victoria County Master Gardener Classes for 2006 Begin Aug. 3 by Barbara Thedin

2005 July 14 -- Anyone who loves to garden can become a master gardener by Jean Wofford

2004 July 15 -- Texas Master Gardener training begins July by Jean Wofford and Maria Sobczak

2003 July 24 -- Why Not Become A Master Gardener? by Will Walker