Master Gardeners of Blanco County will be offering a 2009 Master Gardener Course after the first of the New Year. Our organization is very active in providing horticultural information to residents of Blanco County with education being our primary goal. Master Gardeners are volunteers that work with the AgriLife Extension Service and its agent, Todd Swift. If you have a passion for gardening and have a commitment to your community, you will find being a Master Gardener very rewarding.

The course involves approximately 50 hours of instruction on all aspects of horticulture. Topics will include plant growth and development, soils and fertilizers, diagnosing and managing plant problems, fruit and nut production, vegetable and herb gardening and landscape horticulture. Instruction is provided by specialists in each field of study. Dr. Barron Rector, an extension range specialist from Texas A & M, will return as a guest presenter. Rector captivated his audience at our recent Native Grass Celebration with his stories and knowledge of native grasses.

Classes will be held every Tuesday, and possibly a Thursday, beginning on January 13, 2009. Most classes will be held at the Johnson City Fire Station in Johnson City at 300 Live Oak from 1 to 5pm. Refreshments will be offered each session at the midpoint of the afternoon. Once you finish your coursework, you will have 1 year to complete 50 hours of volunteer service to the community. Several projects will be available for your selection.

A one-time fee of $95.00 is required to register for the course, plus a $25.00 refundable deposit once you have completed your 50 hours of volunteer service. The fee covers the cost of a comprehensive handbook (prepared and compiled by a team from Texas A & M University System), plus lab, course supplies and speaker cost.

To register for the 2009 Course, please contact the Blanco County AgriLife Extension Service office at 830-868-7167 and request a registration form. You may also stop by the office which is located in the County Annex building in Johnson City. Please try to complete and return your registration form before the Christmas/New Year’s Holidays. It would be helpful to us to have a class count by then.