Seeking information on plants recommended for the East Texas area? Follow the links below:
The Master Gardeners of Smith County are specially trained volunteers who provide horticultural information and help to the citizens of Smith County, working through the Smith County Extension office. After 72 hours of instruction in botany, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, lan
dscape, fruit and vegetable gardening, Master Gardener interns volunteer an equivalent amount of time within a year to further AgriLife Extension’s mission of delivering educational programs to the citizens of Smith County. 2012 is the 19th year of the Smith County program, which has been recognized by both the local community and peers in other Master Gardener programs for outstanding programs and community service.
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Smith County - 1517 West Front St., Suite 116, Tyler, TX 75702. Telephone 903-590-2980.
Who are Texas Master Gardeners?
Texas Master Gardeners is a volunteer program designed to grow horticultural information throughout the state, town by town. To become a Texas Master Gardener in Smith County, a participant attends 72 hours of instruction, conducted by the local Extension county agent, then shares this knowledge by donating 72 hours of volunteer service back to the community during the 1st year.
The touch of Texas Master Gardeners’ green thumbs can be found across the state -- in school garden projects, horticultural therapy projects, community gardens and demonstration gardens; by volunteers who also conduct gardening programs and answer gardening questions. Anything anyone wants to know about gardening, a Master Gardener can help. That includes young wannabe gardeners too – Master Gardeners help set up 4-H gardening clubs and Junior Master Gardener groups.
In fact, when it comes to green and growing things, Master Gardeners dig into their service in all kinds of ways: teaching, giving presentations, writing newsletters and articles, providing clerical help, and designing and maintaining Web pages.
Want to Know More?
In 2008, more than 6,400 volunteers were Texas Master Gardeners, according to the organization’s annual report.
That year Texas Master Gardeners gave 2,200 presentations for a combined audience of 68,087 of their neighbors, and provided research-based horticulture information to 18,000 others.
Volunteers contributed 454,036 hours to horticulture-based educational projects in 2008, a benefit to the state that was worth $9 million.
