NATCHEZ — On April 3 the Adams County Extension Service concluded a 10-session Master Gardener training for area residents. Beginning in February, course participants have endured over 40 hours of classroom teaching from Mississippi State University Extension and Research personnel.

Each week the class received lectures in one of the following areas; basic botany, soils, ornamental plants, fruits and nuts, vegetables, lawns, plant diseases, entomology, weed science and plant propagation along with other areas of horticulture.

The course was offered over interactive video directly linking the Adams County and over 40 other offices statewide along with the MSU main campus.

The Master Gardener program started in Washington state in 1974 and has since exploded nationwide enhancing the capability of the land grant universities and State Cooperative Extension Services to better reach the public’s needs. The Adams County Master Gardener Association maintains numerous year round projects to help enhance and maintain the beauty of the City of Natchez and Adams County. Trimming crape myrtles at the city cemetery, maintaining gardens at local antebellum homes, and enhancing the nature trail at Historic Jefferson College are only a few of the many service projects county residents should be grateful to this powerful group of volunteers for.

Adams County has one of the most active Master Gardener associations in the state and will host the State Master Gardener convention in Natchez from April 30 to May 2.

The next Master Gardener course will be offered in the fall. For more information contact the Adams County Extension office at 601-445-8201.