What’s New? | Smith County Master Gardeners

From Bulbs to Blooms

The event this year was very successful, in large part to Greg Grant’s expertise in bulb selection and his presentation of them at the sale. For pictures taken at the October 14th event, go to http://www.pbase.com/mrd/2017bulbsblooms where views of the crowd and individual Master Gardeners are available.

The 2018 Gardening Guide

The 2018 East Texas Gardening Guide is now available at $7.00 each. More information on its availability around town will soon be posted soon at gardening-guide-calendar.

The Rose Rustlers book

This new book written by Greg Grant and William C. Welch, will be available at the Smith Co. “From Bulbs to Blooms” conference on October 14th at Harvey Convention Center, Tyler. For more information about the book go to Rose Rustlers.

Smith Co. Ag Newsletter

To download the Smith Co. Extension Newsletter go to: Smith County September 2017 AgNews

Young Love in the IDEA Garden

This young man had an IDEA when he came to the garden. He and his girlfriend, accompanied by his mother, visited the garden where he surprised his girlfriend with an engagement ring and his proposal while his mother took pictures. We suppose he was inspired by the garden’s beauty. Perhaps he didn’t know, but IDEA stands for Innovate, Demonstrate, Educate and Apply. We can only wish them a long and happy marriage.

Master Gardener Becky Wilson observed this happy event and kindly passed it on to us.

Fall Gardening time is here.

See the chart below for the planting time for a variety of vegetables.

Smith County Master Gardeners receive service recognition

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Master Gardener Program awarded “Certificate’s of Appreciation” to several Smith County Master Gardeners for their service to the program. Seen here are Anne Brown and Martin Davis, both of whom have been involved for 20 years, as of the end of 2016.

Others receiving certificates included: Linda Scoggin – 20 years, Jack Quisenberry and Kathy Wright – 15 years.

Smith County horticulture agent receives statewide recognition

Published on Thursday, 25 May 2017 11:31 – Written by CASEY MURPHY, Special to the Tyler Morning Telegraph

Smith County Horticulture Agent Greg Grant received the statewide Lone Star Land Steward Award for his life’s work on his family

farm.Grant, who became the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Smith County Extension agent in horticulture in October, was honored with the award given by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation during a banquet in Austin on May 18.

He was one of seven award recipients representing six ecologically diverse regions of the state. Started in 1996 by the TPWD Private Lands Advisory Committee, the Lone Star Land Steward Awards recognize the important role private landowners play in the future of Texas’ natural resources by honoring them for their accomplishments in habitat management and wildlife conservation.

“It was humbling and inspiring,” Grant said of receiving the honor. “It is very much a labor of love.”

Grant lives on what was once his great-great-grandparent’s 50-acre farm in Arcadia, in Shelby County, where he restores parcels of native habitat for the benefit of wildlife and the education of others.

Grant was born in Tyler and raised in Longview. He earned a bachelor’s degree in floriculture and a master’s degree in horticulture from Texas A&M University.