Master Gardener classes will begin soon, so now is the time to obtain invaluable gardening education and experience to share with our community.

Through the Master Gardener program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas. The 40-hour course covers many topics, including botany, soils, vegetables, ornamentals, insects, diseases and lawn care.

Classes are taught by Mississippi State University horticulture experts through video conferencing that is supplemented with live instruction by Adams County Master Gardeners.

There are also many hands-on learning exercises. No prior gardening education or experience is required.

Within one year of completing the course, Master Gardeners must complete 40 hours of experience. Don’t let this requirement intimidate you.

Obtaining hours is fun and easy. Adams County Master Gardeners work on a variety of projects, all designed to fulfill our purpose of educating the public by promoting responsible horticultural practices in accordance with research and recommendations of the MSU Extension Service.

Some of our current projects include crapemyrtle tree pruning demonstrations, maintenance of the nature trails and signage at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Historic Jefferson College, garden tours, educational outreach at the Natchez Mall, garden assistance at Melrose, educational workshops and plant sales.

If your gardening activities are limited by physical issues, you will still find plenty of opportunities to serve as our main goal is to provide education.

While fulfilling our educational goals, we have a lot of fun along the way. We recently took a field trip to the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens in Monroe and a nursery in Forest Hill, La. We meet monthly and have a speaker at each of our meetings.

We have an annual Christmas party and many other activities where we share garden knowledge.

Back to the basics. The classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in February and March, beginning Feb. 11. A fee of $95 includes course materials, classes, refreshments and a one-year membership in the Master Gardener Association.

For additional information, contact the Adams County Extension Office at 601-445-8201.

 

Karen O’Neal is the reporter for Adams County Master Gardeners.