Fall is upon us and now is the time for rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands into the dirt and creating beautiful gardens! If you want to enjoy the experience of watching your yard come alive with color and are wondering where to begin, than prepare to come out this Saturday to Jefferson college. New and old gardeners will have lots to choose from.

The Master Gardeners of Adams County are having a plant sale and a series of gardening seminars on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Historic Jefferson College, in conjunction with the Copper Magnolia Fest at Jefferson College in Washington.

The morning will begin at 9 a.m. with a plant sale and will last till all the plants are sold Master Gardeners have been busy propagating and planting their favorite plants to offer to the public at very reasonable prices. There will be plants for sale from A to Z: from Angel Trumpets to Zebra Grass. Plan to shop early for the best selection. The proceeds of the sale will be used to support other Master Gardener projects.

The gardening workshops will start at 10 a.m. with a seminar on “Composting and Your Best Friend the Worm” by Kelly Parks, Master Gardener. At 11 a.m. J.T. Smith will speak on “Growing Roses.” At noon, Michael Busbin will speak on “Fall and Holiday Tablescapes Using Natural Elements.”

Dr. Drew Bates, Area Horticulturist, Southwest District, MSU Extension Service, will present a seminar on “Controlling Insect Pest in the Home Lawn and Landscape” at 1 p.m. Trish Aleshire, will share the story of “The Restoration of Rosedown’s Gardens” at 2 p.m. All these seminars are open to the public at no charge.

The national Master Gardener program, begun in 1972, came to Mississippi in 1991 and is operated through the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Master Gardeners complete numerous hours of training and, in exchange, provide back many hours of community service each year.

The Adams County Master Gardeners are an active group of volunteers who regularly give of their time to projects benefiting the community and promote good gardening practices. Some projects include participating with the Sunshine Shelter, Melrose Garden Friends, helping at the Natchez City Cemetery and Duncan Park, participating in Belk’s Senior Day, helping to maintain the Historic Jefferson College Nature Trail, and working with area youth to promote interest in gardening. The Master Gardener program is designed to expand the capability of the Extension Office to disseminate home horticultural information and develop and support community programs related to horticulture and gardening.

Anyone with an interest in gardening should consider the Master Gardener program and we invite you to come Saturday, Sept. 15 and learn more about the program.

New classes will be held at the Adams County Extension office. For more information on the Master Gardener Program, call 601-445-8201.

Mary Jane Gaudet is a Natchez resident