This past spring and summer have been extremely busy but incredibly fun keeping up with the enthusiasm for gardening that is alive and well in Greenville County! The Horticulture program team has offered many programs and opportunities for education that keep beginner and advanced gardeners both in mind.
Foodscaping was an online webinar series we launched in May that spanned over five days featuring a different speaker each day. Topics ranged from soil health to preserving and canning vegetables to choosing fruit trees and shrubs for your landscape.
Growing Health has been a successful program aimed at educating and equipping new gardeners with plants and information to get them growing and eating healthier! This has been a successful program collaboration with the horticulture and the health team (Melissa Bales, Greenville County Health Agent). So far, we have had two programs and are planning our next one for October 6.
Photography In the Garden was a very successful 2-day webinar series aimed at improving master gardeners’ photography skills taught by Dr. Madeline Dowling of Clemson University. The 2nd day was about botany basics and using taxonomic language and terminology to help aid in plant identification.
Upcoming events include Resisting Resistance, where participants will learn the importance of rotating pesticides with different modes of action. Wreath Making Workshop at Greenville State Farmers Market, Autumnfest, and a Dealing with Invasives workshop.
The Greenville County 2022 Master Gardner Volunteer Training Class wrapped up in May, where 16 of 17 students passed the class and are working towards their 40 hours of educational service; some of them have already finished their hours! The next course will be offered in the spring of 2023.
The Class of 2022 sponsored an arboretum revitalization project at Roper Mountain Science Center. The class has been working hard on removing invasive species, pruning shrubs and trees, and clearing pathways.
Master Gardeners have been an incredible educational resource this summer and will continue into the fall.
Answering the public gardening questions and sharing research-based information at Ask-A-Master-Gardener booths:
Simpsonville Farmers Market
Travelers Rest Farmers Market
Greenville State Farmers Market on Rutherford Road
Rent-A-Master Gardener:
From spring to fall, master gardeners have been visiting Greenville County residents’ homes, forming relationships with clients, walking around their landscapes, and making notes while listening to their needs/problems. Then the team compiles their messages into a detailed report for the homeowner to use as a reference guide/educational resource for the clients. Proceeds from Rent-A-Master-Gardener go into scholarship funds and community garden grants available to the public.
Mary Vargo, Horticulture Agent
Drew Jeffers is the new Horticulture agent in the Greenville County office. A native of the mountains of eastern Tennessee, […]
Mary Vargo Horticulture Agent Greenville County Throughout the summer, the Greater Greenville Master Gardener Speakers Bureau and Clemson Extension - […]
Drew Jeffers Horticulture and Natural Resource Agent The South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional Program (SCCLP) is an online, self-paced certification […]
