Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005

Master Gardener applications now being accepted

If you enjoy plants and community service, you may want to consider becoming a Master Gardener. South Metro Master Gardener classes will be held at the Henry County Administrative Complex Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-4:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 9, 2006, and continuing through March 22.

A $100 fee is charged for the handbook and other supplies. A limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need. Certification as a Master Gardener requires class attendance, passing exam grades and 50 hours of volunteer service to the University of Georgia Extension in Fayette County during the first year and 25 hours per year thereafter. Fayette County residents are given first priority. Classes include the following topics: annuals, perennials, trees, turf, plant physiology, entomology, landscape principles, pathology and more.

For more information on the Master Gardener Program or to obtain an application, visit the Fayette County Extension office at 140 Stonewall Avenue, Suite 209, Fayetteville, or call 770-460-5730, ext. 5412. The deadline for applications is Friday, Oct. 7. Interviews will be scheduled during the last full week of October.

Also, Fayette County Master Gardener volunteers will conduct classes for the Junior Master Gardener 4-H Program developed by Texas A&M. This program is open to young people in grades 3-5 and will meet from 4-6 p.m. two Thursdays each month, generally on the first and third Thursdays, from October through February. Classes will be held at the Fayette County Extension Service, Suite 209A, 140 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville. Registration by Sept. 15 is required because books and other materials must be ordered in advance.

Our staff members, assisted by Master Gardener Volunteers, will introduce your child to plant growth and development, soils, water, ecology, insects, plant diseases and more. Come join in the fun with interesting activities such as The Hamburger Plant, Coconut Float and Gas Gobbler, just to name a few. Regular attendance is required for certification. The cost is $40 for books and supplies. JMG T-shirts may be ordered but are not required.

For more information or to obtain an application, stop by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Fayette County at the Administrative Complex, Suite 209, 140 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville, or call 770-460-5730 ext. 5412.