McLennan County Master GardenersChildren’s Garden Fair
The Children’s Garden Fair began in 2008 to encourage families to get outside and enjoy nature and gardening with their children. The event is co-sponsored by McLennan Master Gardeners and the Carleen Bright Arboretum. It is a free event that occurs each year in October on the Sunday following the closing of the H.O.T. Fair. The gardens and nature trail are filled with activities such as the Scarecrow Contest, Live Music, Pumpkin Patch, Scavenger Hunt, Junior Master Gardener activities such as potting plants, and making paper sombreros fill this day. Woodway Youth Commission, HOT Master Naturalists, Master Composters, and Audubon Society contribute activities that make an enjoyable, as well as, educational day for all participants.
The 2018 Garden Fair will be held on October 14 from 2-5pm.
Annual Plant Sale
The MCMG Plant Sale is our annual fundraiser and gives us a chance to share our plants and educate the public about plants that will grow well in our area. Master Gardeners are available to answer gardening questions.
The 2018 sale will be May 5 at the Westview Shopping Mall Atrium.
Della Setser, Chairperson
M.L.K. Day of Service
The MCMGs celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day volunteering in our community. Traditionally this event is held on the third Monday of January.
MCMG Coordinators: Rianna Alvarado, Barry Vokes, and Louie McDaniel
Blackland Income Growth Conference
The 56th annual Black Land Income Growth conference is held each year in Waco. The conference will be held this year at the Extraco Event Center. We will be welcoming visitors from a ten county area. Our Master Gardeners take care of registration and collecting fees. The cost of the conference is $25 including lunch. The sessions on Wednesday, January 10, are as follow. From 8-11:30 the choices will include Beef, Grain, and Rural Land Management. The Luncheon speaker will be Dr. Joe Outlaw speaking on the Farm Bill update. The afternoon choices from 1:00 -4:00 will include Cotton, Forage, Wildlife, and horse. The next day Thursday, January 11 will offer Horticulture ($25) from 8:00-11:30, Intro to Private Applicator Training ($75), and BIG Recertification Program ($70).
The Horticulture topics will include: wine making, planting for insects, growing healthy, growing backyard fruit.
The Master Gardeners use about 40 to 45 volunteers to cover all of the sessions.
The main display area will be used for the 48th Mid-Tex Farm, Ranch and Garden Show which is free admission.
January 10 and 11, 2018
MCMG Volunteer Coordinator: Jim Seale
Gardener’s Gathering
The Woodway Beautiful Commission hosts this free event at Carleen Bright Arboretum each Spring. This event features area greenhouses, nurseries, and vendors selling garden decorations, and a variety of other crafts. The MCMG volunteers hand out valuable gardening information, lead garden tours and may be one of the featured speakers, or participate in Junior Master Gardener activities with the children.
Volunteer Coordinator: Pat Dillard
