2026 Spring Gardening Seminar
Save the date – February 28, 2026! Gregg Master Gardeners will bring two fantastic presentations to help you transform your garden to match your vision. “Right Plant Right Place” – 5 Basic Principles of Landscape Design, and “Earth-Kind Lawn Care” – Responsible Lawn Management for North Texas. You will also enjoy access to amazing local vendors offering plant materials, personal care and home products, publications, and more! Door prizes will be offered during the seminar and you can purchase tickets for beautiful and useful items for your yard and garden. Purchase tickets online, from any Gregg Master Gardener, or in person at the Gregg County Extension office. More Information
Scholarships for Graduating High School Seniors
If you know of a student with plans to pursue a degree in the field of agriculture, forestry, or a horticulture-related field, check out the Gregg County Master Gardener Scholarship for 2026. Two, $1500 scholarships are being offered to qualifying graduating seniors residing in or attending high schools in Gregg County. Deadline to apply: March 13, 2026. More Information and Application
Work Day at the Agriculture Extension Office
Monday, February 2, Gregg Master Gardeners turned out on a sunny, cool, day to clean dead foliage and remove weeds at the Gregg County Extension Office. Read more
Bulb Planting at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center
In January Gregg Master Gardeners planted hundreds of bulbs that will brighten paths this Spring at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center. The Arboretum is among the major community projects supported by the Gregg Master Gardener volunteers. More
Lunch and Learn: Ready. Set. Winter!The Gregg Master Gardeners November 21 Lunch and Learn program offered great information in cooperation with the Longview Arboretum. Attendees learned about getting your tools ready for winter storage and about prepping your beds now so you can hit the ground running in the spring. Pictures
Master Gardeners Maintain Community Gardens
Gregg Master Gardeners weeded and planted gardens at the Gregg County Extension Office and the JR Curtis Gardens on the grounds of the Maude Cobb Convention Center in October. The projects are in cooperation with City of Longview and Gregg County. Part of Master Gardeners mission is to beautify the community and educate the public. More
Lunch and Learn: Forcing Bulbs
Gregg Master Gardener Mitchell Garnett led an information filled session on Forcing Bulbs to enjoy during Winter. The session, held at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center on October 17, covered selection and preparation of bulbs for maximum success. Attendees went home with a few bulbs to put their learning into practice. More
Annual Plant Sale A Great Success
Gregg Master Gardeners had carefully nurtured over 1,000 plants representing over 140 varieties for months in anticipation of the September 27, 2025 Plant Sale. The weather was beautiful and the plants in great shape. We were thrilled when crowds streamed through the Arboretum gates at 9 am. By 11 am all but a handful of plants had left with their new happy owners. Funds from the sale support scholarships for students studying agriculture or related disciplines as well as community projects carried out by the Gregg Master Gardeners. We extend a special shout out to Gregg Jr. Master Gardeners and Gregg 4H members, under the guidance of Extension Agent Arvitta Scott and Master Gardener Pam Haney, who provided excellent help assisting customers and ferrying plants to vehicles. Look for us again in September 2026! See pictures
J.R. Curtis Gardens Work Day
Gregg Master Gardeners gathered at the Garden on September 16 to clean and weed beds. In a few weeks fresh fall plants will be set out to carry the gardens through the fall and winter. Come out and see the beautiful grounds! See pictures
Gregg Master Gardeners Clean Beds at Longview Arboretum
August 27, Gregg Master Gardeners weeded and cleaned beds at the Longview Arboretum. Master Gardeners have a regularly scheduled day at the Arboretum on the fourth Wednesday of the Month. See more pictures of the hardworking crew.
Maude Cobb Convention Center Work Day
Gregg Master Gardeners provided volunteer hours at the Maude Cobb Convention Center, JR Curtis Gardens, on June 25th. Master Gardeners and family members cleared weeds and trimmed plants. Pictures courtesy of Rachael Grimes. See pictures
Work Day at the Extension Office
Master Gardeners laid out fresh mulch on one of the beds they maintain at the Gregg County Extension Office on May 19. See pictures
Gregg Master Gardeners Visit Longview Garden
At the April 14 monthly meeting, Gregg toured a lovely garden at a home on Yates Street in Longview. Speakers provided an overview of the settlement of this area beginning in the 1800s, including history of some of the families who greatly influenced the development of the acreage in this area of Longview. See pictures
Attracting and Protecting Pollinators
Dr. Garrett Slater, Assistant Professor and Honey Bee Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Overton, spoke to Gregg Master Gardeners at its April 9th monthly meeting. 
An energetic and engaging speaker, Dr. Slater covered the life cycle and behaviors of pollinators, including bees, wasps, bumblebees and other insects. He invites visitors to tour the facility at Overton and learn more about the work Texas A&M is doing to protect these insects which are so important to food and horticultural crops in Texas agriculture.
2025 GREGG COUNTY MASTER GARDENER COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
AWARDS
The Gregg County Master Gardener organization presented $1000 scholarships to two area high school seniors from the class of 2025 at its April 9th meeting. The recipients will pursue degrees in an agricultural, forestry, or horticulture-related field. The recipients, Kalie Watkins and Mya Stuart will attend Texas A&M University in Fall 2025.
Gregg Junior Master Gardeners Are Having Fun Picking up Life Skills
Led by Extension Agent Arvitta Scott and Master Gardener Pam Haney, Gregg Jr. Master Gardeners are learning early how easy it is to grow healthy foods. Students are maintaining several vegetable beds and planters at the Gregg County Extension Office. The current group is aged 7-12, but other ages are welcome. We hope this hands on experience will stick with them throughout their lives.
Gregg Master Gardener 2025 Intern Class Tours Stephen F. Austin Gardens
It’s always fun and educational for Gregg Master Gardeners to take the short trip to Nacogdoches to visit the amazing gardens of Stephen F Austin State University. Along with diverse permanent plantings, SFA operates test beds where growers across the country send plant materials for the University to test how they survive in East Texas. Speakers this year were Gregg Grant and Dr. David Creech, who delivered their wealth of knowledge with humor and wit. See pictures
Spring Gardening Seminar was a Great Success
A full house, great speakers, quality vendors, gardener’s delight door prizes and raffle items, excellent snacks. View more. Look for our next seminar, tentatively scheduled February 28, 2026!
Visit the Sprout & Share Seed Library of East Texas!
(A Partnership with Gregg County Master Gardeners Association & Longview Public Library)
In addition to the many community projects sponsored by Gregg County Master Gardeners, a new opportunity is on the horizon. The seed library is going strong and has been restocked! Stop by the Library for free seeds. There’s still time to plant to bring beauty to a corner of your yard! The Seed Library is a new community resource that promotes gardening, sustainability, and education.
What is the Sprout & Share Seed Library?
The Seed Library will function like a traditional library, but instead of borrowing books, you can “borrow” seeds! You will find a selection of vegetables, herbs, and flower seeds for library patrons to take home, plant, and nurture in their own garden. The seed library aims to promote self-sufficiency and an opportunity for East Texans to grow fresh, healthy food in their own backyards.
In the coming months, library patrons can look forward to talks about gardening delivered by Gregg County Master Gardeners. For schedule updates and additional information, follow Gregg County Master Gardeners on their Facebook page or the Library event page
