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Fall Horticulture Seminar

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The Horticulture Committee of Austin County and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Austin County will be hosting a Fall Horticulture Seminar on Friday, August 28, 2026, at American Legion Post #442 located at 1630 Meyer St, Sealy.  Program registration will begin at 12:30 pm with the first presentation beginning at 1:00 pm.

Information to be covered includes Trap Plants for Your Vegetable by Gerald DuPont, Bluebonnet Master Gardener, Turf Alternatives by Dr. Manual Chavarria-Sanchez; Extension Program Specialist, and How to Utilize Your Rainwater by David Smith, Extension Program Specialist.

The program will cost $20 per person or $35 per couple. We ask that you RSVP to the Austin County Extension Office at 979-865-2072 or online at https://austin.agrilife.org/event-registrations/ to reserve your seat.

2026 Austin County Lunch N Learn Series – Fall

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Programs will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office located at 800 E Wendt St, Bellville. Doors will open with registration beginning at 11:50 am and the program beginning promptly at 12:00 pm, concluding by 12:55 pm. At the end of each session, the speaker and our Austin County Master Gardeners will be available to help answer gardening questions.

All Master Gardener Lunch-N-Learn programs are FREE and OPEN to the public, and you are welcome to bring your own lunch and drink. We will have a few refreshments available as well. Registration is not required but is encouraged.

Plant Exchange – Live Oak Art Center, Columbus, TX

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Saturday, September 26, 2026  10:30am – 11:30am

Bring anything gardening related you want to swap or give away. There will be plenty of tables to display your treasures. Please plan to take anything you bring that is not taken home with you as we have no storage facilities…it is just a couple folks who want to get plant folks together.

Many thanks to Live Oak Art Center for hosting our Plant Exchange again! Share with gardening/plant-loving friends! Hope to see you there.

Wanda Anglin
713 628 6545

Summer/Fall Colorado County Lunch and Learn

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Colorado County members of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association are pleased to announce the upcoming Colorado County Lunch-N-Learn Series for the summer and early fall focused on gardening and horticulture!

 Programs will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Colorado County Services Facility located at 305 Radio Lane in Columbus. Registration will open at 11:50 am with the program starting promptly at 12:05 pm and ending by 1:00pm. Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch. Light refreshments including tea and snacks will be provided. No preregistration is required for this free program.

 The following is our program line-up:

  • July 15th – Texas Superstar Plants
  • August 19th – Fruit Trees
  • September 16th – Preparing a Fall Garden
  • October 21st – Pruning Oak and Fruit Trees
  • November 18th – Holiday Gift Ideas with Herbs

For more information please contact the Colorado County AgriLife Extension Office at 979-732-2082.

Free to the Public!  Light refreshments provided.  Bring your lunch and learn!

2025 Master Gardener Graduates

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Congratulations to the 2025 BMGA Master Gardener intern graduates.

Class Coordinators were Cheryl Rose & Ruth Zabransky.
Pictured are:
L-R Front Row: Laramie Kettler (CEA), Andrew Harbich, Brian Jessogne, Ellen May, Cheryl Rose (Class Coordinator), Molly Harkness, Tammy Potter, Jennifer Posso.
L-R Back Row: Colin Marburger, Robin Jessogne, Joy Kamani, Tijuana Kamani, Kristie Kemp, Gerry Wells, Mark York, Ruth Zabransky (Class Co-Coordinator).

Not pictured:  Larry McCarty, Susan Brack, Susan Fernback, Frances Dorgant, Kent Jamison, Carolyn Givens, Donna Martinez, Joanne Stewart, Paul Dorgant

 

2025 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the 2025 annual college scholarships winners.  Scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties, Texas.  To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Jaylen Tesch – Austin County
Hannah Kunschick – Colorado County
Mikayla Otto – Fayette County
Cullen Halfmann – Washington County

The recipients demonstrated outstanding achievement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endeavors that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citizens and leaders in their communities.

Congratulations to our 2025 scholarship winners!

Scholarship Recipient Thank You Notes

 

Sprout to Share Free Seed Library Open in New Location

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The Sprout to Share Free Seed Library relocated to the Colorado County AgriLife Extension Office at 316 Spring St #106, Columbus, TX. New hours are Monday thru Friday, 8a-5p. Join the public Facebook group to watch for occasional Saturday hours and events: fb.com/groups/sprouttoshare.

The library, a project of Bluebonnet Master Gardeners of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is full of seeds, ready for spring planting! It is open to anyone from Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, or Wharton counties. No library card or any official documentation is needed.

Seed borrowers are encouraged to grow their seeds and enjoy the produce, sharing it with family and friends, then saving seeds from a small part of the produce to return to the library for the community’s future gardening needs. Want to be a seed library volunteer? Drop by the seed library to sign up.

2024 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the 2024 annual college scholarships winners.  Scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties, Texas.  To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Ryleigh Gilfoil – Austin County
Kase Weishuhn – Colorado County
Cooper Mau – Fayette County
Madison Moran – Washington County

The recipients demonstrated outstanding achievement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endeavors that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citizens and leaders in their communities.

Congratulations to our 2024 scholarship winners!

Intern Class of 2024 Graduates

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association (BMGA) and the Washington County AgriLife Extension Service  is proud to announce the graduation of 20 Master Gardener Interns who completed the 2024 Master Gardener Training Class.  The intensive training classes began January 10, 2024, and continued every Wednesday through April 24th at the Washington County Event Center in Brenham, Texas.  Trainees from all four BMGA counties were eligible for the class. The training class will not be held again in Washington County until 2028.

After completing 60+ hours of intense instruction, classroom training, field trips and passing a final exam, the interns are required to complete 50 hours of gardening volunteer service within one-year to certify as a Master Gardener.  Such volunteer activities on BMGA projects are designed to assist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in educating the public about gardening. One of the 2024 interns, Ms. Jennifer Burnett, completed her 50-volunteer hour requirement prior to the class graduation date of April 23, 2024, so is now a certified Master Gardener.

Class Coordinator Al Prescott said that the 2024 class schedule incorporated “new field trips, new speakers and other new material not used before in BMGA training classes.”  Christy Schweikhardt added that changing the presenters and curriculum helps keep the program fresh and current.

Congratulations to the 2024 BMGA Master Gardener intern graduates:

Joe Bluemel, Donice Karl, Shawn Brightwell, Helen Luchak, Aubrey Brinkmeyer, Shari McCoy, Jennifer Burnett, Rebecca McDowell, Brenda Coston, Gloria Mifflin, Susan Finster, Sally Pitts, Kirby Gor, Rita Saulsbery, Jennifer Groleau, Ashlee Schaper, Heather Horton, Kelsey Wilson, John Jacobs and Christina Wise.

The 2024 Class Coordinators were BMGA Master Gardener volunteers Al Prescott, Christy Schweikhardt and Gary Scardino.  Washington County AgriLife Extension Agent Kara Matheney was the AgriLife sponsor of the class.  Class Coordinators were assisted by Master Gardener volunteers Beverly Anderson, Cathy Conway, Linda Jordan, Teresa Wilson, Kay Przyborski, Renee Urish, Lisa Nicklow and Cindy McAllister.

Master Gardeners Teach Students About Monarch Butterflies

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Article and photos submitted by Teresa Wilson.

Nancy Galloway explaining the butterfly life cycle.

Students at Citadel Christian School in Brenham, Texas had the opportunity to learn about Monarch butterflies through two educational programs lead by Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation member Nancy Galloway, with assistance from Teresa Wilson and Mandy Ames, also Master Gardeners.  Both programs were held at the school on Novebmer 6, 2023.

The first program was for students in grades 1 through 4. It featured a detailed display illustrating theMonarch butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to butterfly, along with a live butterfly exhibit. Nancy, clad in signature Monarch orange top with a light brown field vest mimicing the colors of the Monarch, covered aspects of the north and south Monarch migrations, explaining the life cycle and yearly generational patterns.

Nancy Galloway leading class with Mandy Ames looking on.

Students were also given the chance to practice tagging Monarchs for research purposes, using simulated butterflies. In a practical demonstration, Nancy tagged a Monarch she caught earlier that day in her garden, with hopes that it would be found in Mexico, contributing to migration data.

Nancy Galloway talking with the class; Teresa Wilson looking on.

The second presentation was tailored for 10th-grade students who already had some knowledge of Monarchs. Nancy delved into the habits, nutrition, nesting needs, pests, and diseases associated with Monarchs. The class is now planning to create a natural area with milkweed, following Nancy’s recommendations, to establish a Monarch waystation habitat.

Nancy Galloway’s adeptness in adjusting lecture levels to suit the audience made the presentations informative. Teachers at the school also received educational packets to support ongoing learning.

This presentation was part of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s work to provide garden-related education at the school.

Tips for Safe Gardening in Extreme Heat Conditions

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Sun and dried grassExtreme heat makes for difficult gardening conditions for both the plants and the gardener. As gardeners, we focus on helping our plants and gardens survive the heat of Texas summer but also, we must also take steps to protect ourselves from the heat. More 100+ degree days are forcast for our area this summer.  Spending hours in such heat can pose serious health risks to gardeners. Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke can be debilitating or even life-threatening.

Here are a few tips to help reduce heat-related illness while gardening in the extreme heat:

Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing that allows air circulation. Long sleeves and pants can protect the skin from direct sun exposure and reduce the risk of sunburn. Additionally, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses can shield the face and eyes from harmful UV rays.

Hydration: Hydration is essential when working in hot conditions. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after gardening to replace fluids lost through sweat. Avoid excessive consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages while in the heat, as they contribute to dehydration.

Time of Day: Schedule gardening activities during the cooler parts of the day, typically early morning or early evening. Avoid working during peak sunlight hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m when temperatures are at their highest. Take regular breaks in the shade or air conditioning to rest and cool down.

Use Sunscreen: Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 on exposed skin, at least 30 minutes before going outside to reduce the risk of skin cancer.  Sunscrean helps prevent UV-ray-damage to the skin which can cause cancer and  “thin” skin that tears and bleeds easily. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more frequently if sweating heavily.

Seek Shade & Air Conditioning: Use natural shade from trees and tall plants in the garden or create a shade structure in the garden. Take frequent breaks in shaded areas or go inside to the air conditioning to lower your body temperature and minimize the risk of overheating.

Although we garden year-around in Texas, July and August are probbaly the most challenging physcially for both the plants and for us.  By taking a few precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses, gardeners can continue to find joy in the garden even in the hash temperatures of summer.  Stay cool out there gardeners!

 

New Texas Superstar Brochure

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The Texas Superstar brochure is updated.  The new brochure is a beautiful, full color 44-page booklet with detailed descriptions, suggested uses and special notes for each plant with the Texas Superstar® designation. Texas Superstar: Strong & Stunning Plants for Texans

Link to the Texas Superstar: Strong & Stunning Plants for Texans brochure

You may print, download, view it in your browser or on device.  Be sure to have it available when planning your landscape and vegetable gardens.

To be designated a Texas Superstar®  a plant must be beautiful and perform well for growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must also be easy to propagate, ensuring the plants are widely available and reasonably priced.
Texas Superstar® is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. Plants are designated Texas Superstars by the Texas Superstar executive board, made up of nine horticulturalists from AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Tech University.

2023 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the 2023 annual college scholarships winners.  Scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties, Texas.  To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Emma Eckelberg – Austin County
Abigail Hilley – Colorado County
Tamara Otto – Fayette County
Dawson Rudloff – Washington County

The recipients demonstrated outstanding achievement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endeavors that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citizens and leaders in their communities.

Congratulations to our 2023 scholarship winners!

Intern Class of 2023 Graduates

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BMGA Intern Class of 2023

On April 26, 2023 the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners held graduation ceremonies and a luncheon for 22 Interns at the Fayette County Agrilife Building in LaGrange, Tx.

Front row l-r:  Lucy Halasz, Colleen Clements, Pat Karisch, Patti Sobota, Carla Michalka, Terri Russell, Karen Miley, Bob Haeuser.

Back row l – r:  Sherise Davis, Jim Malik, Marian Tajchman, Mandy Ames, Gary Russell, Robin Greer, Greg Mills, Cindy Edge, Dennis Edge, Carol Daniels (class coordinator).

Not pictured:  Mary Frances Angello, Leslie Avioli, Alison Blake, Lilian Cavazos, Ra Shango.

Bluebird Eggs at Sens Center Demo Garden

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Bluebird eggs are a welcome herald of Spring at the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s Sens Center Demonstration Garden.  Five lovely bluebird eggs are in a nest box attached at the top of an 8′ tall chain-link fence which encloses the garden.  The nest box faces west toward an open area with woods approximately 100′ away.  The Sens Center Demonstration Garden is located in Bellville, Texas behind the Sens Community Center.

There are several species of bluebirds found in Texas, including the Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird. Eastern Bluebirds are the most common throughout the eastern and central parts of the state, while Western Bluebirds and Mountain Bluebirds are less common and typically found in the western and northern parts of the state. Bluebirds in Texas prefer open areas with scattered trees and may be found in fields, pastures, and orchards. They primarily feed on insects and berries and can often be spotted perched on fences, power lines, or other elevated perches. Bluebirds are a beautiful and welcome sight in Texas and are often attracted to birdhouses placed in suitable habitats.

Bluebird nest boxes are encouraged by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) as the boxes provide important habitat for bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds. In many areas of Texas, natural cavities suitable for nesting are in short supply, so nest boxes can be a vital resource for bluebirds.

The photo was taken by certified Master Gardener and BMGA member Leah Pearce, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

2022 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce its 2022 annual college scholarships winners.  Eight scholarships, ranging from $1,500 to $1,000, were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Washington, Fayette & Colorado Counties, Texas. To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Mackenzie Lee (Austin Co.)
Jagar, Rau (Colorado Co.)
Brynn Mikulenka (Fayette Co.)
Laura James (Fayette Co.)
Waylon Hinze (Washington Co.)
Weston Hinze (Washington Co.)
Keely Mikolajchak (Washington Co.)
Eli Saunders (Washington Co.)

All eight demonstrated outstanding acheivement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endevours that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citziens and leaders in their communtiies.

Congratulations to our 2022 scholarship winners!

Mackenzie Lee

Jagar Rau Brynn Mikulenka Laura James Waylon Hinze Westin Hinze Keely Mikolajchak Eli Saunders

 

Intern Class of 2022 Graduates

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By Faye Beery, 2022 Class Coordinator

On April 26, 2022, our new Bluebonnet Master Gardener intern class graduated with 33 interns.  One of them, Joe Jimenez, completed his 50 hours of volunteer work during the class period and is now a full fledged Master Gardener.  We also had the youngest intern that we have had, Webb Sherman, age 17.  The class had the largest ever enrollment with 40 students, but unfortunately, we lost 7 due to various reasons.

Joe Jimenez

Joe Jimenez with Class Coodinator Faye Beery.

Webb Sherman

Webb Sherman with Class Coordinator Faye Beery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We kept statistics for our class to determine the knowledge gained during the classes. Our pretest average grade was 55 with 23 missed. Our final test (posttest) averaged 89. The highest score was 98, made by several people. We also gave them 2 bonus questions from a list of words given them weekly that corresponded with their chapter. With the bonus questions, the average score was a 95. With the bonus questions, the highest score was a 108.

Several of the students were new to the area, having recently brought property in one of our 4 counties. There were also 3 sets of couples who were new to the area.

All of them were eager for information and asked lots of questions. They enjoyed the speakers and kept some of them a little over time to ask more questions. They are going to be good master gardeners, a good source of information for our community, and good friends.

Thanks also to the helpers for the class. Nikki Griffin was invaluable handling all the food and drink for the classes, as was Marcella Ausmus, helping with the hospitality and grading papers.  Esther Hartman, Susan Yancey, and Leah Pierce helped to grade papers also. Thanks to all who came.

2022 Intern Class

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Intern Class 2022

Interns:

Prudence Allwein
Ramin Baranpourian
Jim Campbell
Mary Lu Campbell
Nancy Darst
Linda Duffy
Carla Eriksson
Tory Farley
Jeri Franco
Dolores Gonzalez
Cheryl Grassmann
Freida Hale
Amy Schramm
Webb Sherman
John Sims
Chris Terry
Jim Hudgins		 Linda Huron
Joe Jimenez
Chad Johnson
Kayleigh Johnson
Lorrie Maddox
Scott Maddox
Rebecca Marek
Margie O’Brien
Mary Ott
Karen Reip
Jacqueline Samples
Keri Sherman
Barbara Shersh
Carrie Staples
Renee Urish
Angelica Zurita

 

There’s Always Something Blooming

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There’s always something blooming in our native plants garden. Low maintenance and lots of color even in the fall. Texas Lantana, Scarlet Sage, Green-Eyed Daisies, Mealy Blue Sage and Esperanza are still showing off their beautiful flowers. The Chile Pequins are full of peppers and the Yaupon Holly is loaded with beautiful red berries. The garden is open to the public so stop by and see what’s blooming.

Common Name: Lantana
Botantical Name: Lantana urlicoides

 

 

 

 

This Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association Texas Natives Garden is designed to educate visitors, students and area residents as to the benefits of native plants. The garden shows how native plants, trees and grasses attract bees, butterflies, and birds as well as providing a beautiful display of seasonal color.  Water-wise gardening practices are on display as an educational tool to show how rainwater harvesting and a drip irrigation system can be used efficiently.

Link to more information about Lantana urliocides

Find the garden located at:

E.A. Arnim Archives & Museum
101 E. North Main Street
Flatonia, TX 78941
The garden is between the brick and metal buildings on Hwy 95.

 

Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch

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Photo of Pete & Paula's Patch

Photo of Pete & Paula’s Patch

Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch is a section of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener’s Sens Center Demonstration Garden in Austin County, Texas.  The garden overall is dedicated to demonstrating sound techniques for growing vegetable and other food crops.  However, this year, Master Gardeners Pete Smith and Paula Trahan started the “Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch” to demonstrate the use of plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables in the garden. As many fruit and vegetable plants require a pollinator to set fruit, attracting pollinators to the garden is necessary.

Photo of lantana

Lantana

After about four months, Pete and Paula are pleased with how quickly our pollinator garden has progressed. “We truly got a late start, but everything has grown by leaps and bounds. Every plant was a pass along or freebie from the garden center.” Ms. Trahan explained.  Pete & Paul’s next step is to include a small solar water feature in the center to attract more butterflies, bees and birds. Included in the garden are lantana, standing cypress, Asian purple basil, echinacea, porterweed, rock rose mallow.

Twenty Years and….Counting! (& the Keyhole Garden)

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By Faye Beery, Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocaiton

That is how long the Master Gardener program has been going in our 4 county region.  On May 25, 2021 the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners celebrated our 20th anniversary of the demonstration garden in Austin County. While the weather was not the best, everyone enjoyed the program given by Dr. Shackelford, good food and seeing the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s demonstration garden located at the Sens Acitvity Center in Bellville, Texas. Vegetables were available, most gave a voluntary donation to the garden,  as well as some produce was avaialbe to pick in the garden.

Pete Smith standing the in the “keyhole” of the keyhole garden

A big attraction in the garden was the keyhole garden. The keyhole concept was first introduced into arid African regions by the U.K. organization Send a Cow. The idea was to help poor families grow their own food despite the poor soil and drought conditions. The keyhole concept is a raised circular bed with a wedge shaped cutout on one side which allows persons easy access to the whole bed. When seen from above, it resembles a lock and keyhole. In the center is a wire cage for compost which decomposes and provides nutrients to the bed.  This form is less labor intensive and more affordable for people who want to grow their own food. And you don’t have to bend over.

The outer structure can be any sturdy material, cinder blocks, bricks, rocks are a good choice. They are placed in a round design with a wedge on one side so that individuals can reach the middle as well as the outsides allowing for easy planting and harvesting. The wire cage in the center makes it easily accessible to place the compost materials.

Building the keyhole

Keyhole garden constuction

building the keyhole garden

Keyhole garden under construction

 

Rainwater system & keyhole garden

Rainwater system & keyhole garden

A strong advocate of the keyhole concept is Deb Tolman, PhD, from Clifton, Texas. She is an environmental scientist and landscape designer and co-founder of the Silo Project a non-profit organization, which is centered on sustainability. Due to her outreach and workshops, there are more than 70 keyhole gardens in Clifton, which is in arid North Texas.  She recommends a 3:1 ratio of brown and green material which forms the core garden. Decomposition rapidly generates heat and breaks down the material to feed plants. Brown material includes brown grass/leaves; paper and wood, straw, sawdust, lint from the dryer or vacuum, and lots of cardboard, which is the first layer in the bottom of the bed. It should be thoroughly wet to begin decomposition. Green materials include kitchen scraps, manure, green grass/leaves, or plants. Her website provides instructions on how to construct a keyhole garden.  Follow the link to her  Field Guide PDF .

There is also a new addition to the garden which is currently under construction this week. It is Pete and Paula’s pollinator patch. They plan to include plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables that grow there. We’ll have more on this when they begin planting.

I know everyone is happy to get back to our regular meetings. See you at the next one!

2021 BMGA College Scholarships Announced

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce its 2021 annual college scholarships winners.  Three $1000 scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Washington, Fayette & Colorado Counties, Texas.  The winners are Taylor Limbaugh (Fayette County),  Clayton Boeker (Washington County) and  Leroy Stavinoha, III (Colorado County).   All three demonstrated outstanding acheivement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endevours that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citziens and leaders in their communtiies.

Congratulations to all three 2021 scholarship winners!

Taylor Limbaugh, Fayette County

Clayton Boeker, Washington CountyLeory Stavinoha, III, Colorado County

2021 Master Gardener Training Class Graduates New Interns

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2021 Intern Class

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the graduation of 10 Master Gardener Interns who completed its 2021 Master Gardener Training Class.  The training classes began January 12th and continued every Tuesday through April 27th at the Weimar Civic Center.  This was the first Master Gardening Training class held in Colorado County, although trainees from all four BMGA counties were eligible for the class.  The 2021 Class Coordinator was BMGA member Robbie Showers, who was assisted by Lynn Showers.  Colorado County AgriLife Extension Agent Laramie Kettler was the sponsor of the class. Some training presentations were virtual while some where in-person.

After completing 64 hours of intense instruction and passing a final exam, to be certified as a Master Gardener,  the interns are required to complete 50 hours of gardening volunteer service within 1-year.  Such volunteer activities must be work on approved BMGA projects that assist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in educating the public about gardening.

One of the ten interns, Ms. Nancy Galloway, completed her 50-volunteer hour requirement prior to the class graduation date in April.  Robbie Showers commented that the 2021 “interns are eager to learn and work hard to get their hours.”  She said they “were a great bunch of people to work with” during the class.

Congratulations to the 2021 BMGA Master Gardener intern graduates:

Cheryl Rose
Mariar Schonenberg
Frank Montieth
Norma White
Nancy Galloway
Regena Williamson
Mary Ellen Holub
Lisa Slinkard
Linda Miller
Sharon Wegenhoft.