Hunt County Master GardenersTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Learn with the Master Gardeners

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Learn with the Master Gardeners by Pat Newell

Hunt County Master Gardeners are excited to announce a 4 week course in March entitled “Learn with the Master Gardeners.” Over the years, we have seen many individuals who have been interested in taking the Master Gardener course, but could not make the commitment to an 11 week program, or the volunteer work that accompanies the Master Gardener title. This special opportunity will allow you to hit the high points of proper gardening, while learning many of the best practices to make your gardening a success.

The classes will be held each Thursday evening, March 7th thru Thursday, March 28th, at the Hunt County A&M AgriLife Extension office, 2217 Washington Street in Greenville. From 6 PM to 8 PM you will have the benefit of the knowledge and special training some Hunt County Master Gardeners have accumulated over the years on a broad range of topics.

A notebook provided will not only contain the information given in each presentation, but will also have a whole series of handouts written by experts from the TX A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This combination will help each attendee expand their knowledge to experience the joys of gardening while eliminating some of the causes of what can be, let’s face it, a frustrating and disappointing gardening season.

Topics to be presented include: It’s Soil, Not Dirt; Bugs: The Good, Bad & Ugly; Shady Characters & Perennials; Composting: Trash to Treasure; Earthkind Practices; Propagation: Making Babies with Plants; What’s Wrong With my Oak Tree; Caring for Nuts and Fruits; Herbs: The Spice of Life; and Steps To a Beautiful Lawn.

With daffodils showing up in full force, some buds swelling on fruit trees, and planting time upon us for our cool weather vegetables, it’s definitely time to get the best pointers and tips to experience vegetable, fruit, flower and lawn success. Hunt County Master Gardeners are excited to share through this unique opportunity!

Make plans now to join us for this 4 week course. Registration is $75 and will cover the entire 4 weeks of classes and a personal binder filled with resources. Paid pre-registration is required, as class size is limited. Registration may be completed at the Extension Office, 2217 Washington Street, or give us a call at 903-455-9885 Ext. 61.

Garden Crafts Workshop

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Garden Crafts Workshop

On Friday, August 10th, from 10 am- 2pm, there will be a garden crafts workshop.  Participants will get to make and take home a pressed flower bookmark, an herbal vinegar set, a bird bath or house, and a gourd birdhouse.  Participants must preregister and pay the $25 fee by August 3rd.  A lunch is included.  For more details, click below on the garden crafts flyer.

Garden Crafts flyer

Salsa Fest Approaches

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! Salsa Fest 2011! will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011! The educational portion will be held in the meeting room in the AgriLIFE building with the rest of the event to be held at the Heritage Garden next door.

Pesticide Training June 29th

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Pesticide Training June 29th

The June Pesticide Training CEU program will be June 29th at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center in Greenville, Texas.  This spring, talks will be given on the following:

  • Dr. Mike Merchant, Extension Urban Entomologist, Spiders and Insecticide Resistance;
  • Ms. Dee Lee Smith, Van Zandt County Extension Agent, Personal Safety with Pesticides
  • and Sun;
  • Mrs. Sara Allen, Hunt County Extension Agent, Pesticide Labeling;
  • Mr. Mike Yudisky, North Texas Poison Control, Bites and Stings of Summer.

Individuals with a pesticide license must have 15 CEUs over 5 years in order to renew their license.  This will give those in attendance five CEUs.  The fee for the day is $25 and includes drinks and snacks during the break.  Registration starts at 12:30 and the training goes from 1-6.  For more information, call the extension office at (903) 455-9885.

Hunt County Master Gardeners Bring Home Awards

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Hunt County Master Gardeners Bring Home Awards

Master Gardener Awards

Hunt County Master Gardeners brought home four top awards from the state master gardener conference held last week in Glen Rose. Pictured from left are Madeline Sullivan, Lissa King, June Dunn, Anita Harris and Sylvia Leeds. The master gardeners earned first place awards in Association, Newsletter and Educational Program and a second place in Mass Media.

Lamont Cunningham, Master Gardener Emeritus

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Lamont Cunningham, Master Gardener Emeritus

In academia, a professor who retires after serving his or her University and scholastic discipline long and well may be granted the title Professor Emeritus.  This means that the professor retains an office at the university, has access to university resources, and is accorded a great deal of respect.  Not everyone gets this title.  Actually, few attain it.

Master Gardeners are volunteers under the auspices of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Program, administered by the Texas A&M University System.  There have been a few instances where master gardeners have served with such distinction that they have been accorded the title Texas Master Gardener Emeritus upon retirement.  These master gardeners retain some privileges that active master gardeners are given, as well as being listed on the Texas Master Gardener Emeritus website and being accorded the respect of their peers.

To date there have been just 14 people who have been awarded the title of Texas Master Gardener Emeritus.  The latest is Lamont Cunningham.  Lamont entered the master gardener program in 1997, the second year it was offered in Hunt County.  He has served tirelessly since then.  He served the entire Texas community, both master gardeners and consumers, with his presentations on the history of Extension.  He gave it to each master gardener class in Hunt County, to civic clubs and organizations, and to anyone else that asked.

However, his biggest contribution has been the spearheading of the creation of the Heritage Garden of Hunt County.  Without him it likely would not have happened.  He is in the back row of the hose cutting, beside Judge Bobbitt, the County Judge at that time.

Hose cutting at the opening of the Heritage Garden of Hunt County

Hose cutting at the opening of the Heritage Garden of Hunt County on May 21, 2004

When Lamont decided to retire, it was clear he deserved Emeritus status for both his spearheading of the Heritage Garden of Hunt County and his work on the history of Extension.  Calls were made and paperwork was filed.  To be accorded this honor, the paperwork has to reach the Regents for the Texas A&M System and be voted on.

On Thursday, March 24th, the plaque and certificate making things official were presented to Lamont Cunningham by Sara Allen, Hunt County Extension Agent.  Lamont became the 14th Texas Master Gardener Emeritus.  Lamont said a few words about how much Extension meant to him and how much this honor meant.  Then his wife, Sarah, read a letter from their daughter expressing how proud she was of her Dad.  Then it was over and Lamont and Sarah left.  Lamont’s contributions, however, will continue to live as long as there are master gardeners in Hunt County and people who benefit from Extension in Texas.

Sara Allen, Extension agent, Lamont Cunningham, Master Gardener Emeritus

Sara Allen, Extension agent, Lamont Cunningham, Master Gardener Emeritus at the presentation of the title Emeritus to Lamont

Good Things Coming

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Good things coming

Master Gardeners have a busy week.  On March 22, we meet the follies director.  This is at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center at 7 pm.  The very next day, on the 23rd, at 5:30 pm, the follies auditions will be held at the municipal auditorium.  Do your best Fred Astaire, or Ginger Rodgers, as the case may be, and you may get picked. [Read more…] about Good Things Coming