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MASTER GARDENER CLASSES NOW FORMING !!
 

LMGA Membership

Active membership is open to all Cooperative Extension trained Master Gardeners who have fulfilled volunteer obligations, received Master Gardener certificate, and have paid annual dues. Annual requirements to maintain active membership include twelve hours of volunteer and six hours of continuing education.
Intern membership is open to all Clemson Extension Master Gardener trainees. Intern membership expires twelve months from the completion date of formal master gardener training and is not renewable. An intern member is entitled to all of the privileges of the LGMA except those of making motions, voting, and of holding office (unless recommended by the executive committee).

An In-active membership is available for Cooperative Extension trained Master Gardeners who have fulfilled volunteer obligations, received Master Gardener certificate, and has paid annual dues. In-active members are not required to fulfill continuing volunteer and education hours.

Who Knows this Mystery Plant?
Will

President's Message
Will Balk
 

     Despite the painful difficulties brought on by the struggling economy, Master Gardeners in the Lowcounty continue to perform minor miracles and major contributions to the beauty and enjoyment of our wonderful area.
 
      LCMGA lost a dear friend and devoted colleague in the passing of Deb Orlosky early this summer.  However, through the loving generosity of her husband Ron and the supportive efforts of friends George Westerfield, Xavier and Mindy Pereira, and others, Deb's memory and her work will be carried on as her fabulous collection of fine orchids will be shared with other orchid collections.  In Deb's memory, Master Gardeners will place an inscribed stone in the garden at Hilton Head High School.
 
      An incredibly energetic group of Master Gardeners working with project coordinator Betty Manne are busily preparing a tour of Master Gardeners' Gardens in Bluffton and Hilton Head in October.  This may be one of the most spectacular garden tours ever held in the Lowcountry, and plans include making available CDs with photos and identification of garden plants from the tour gardens, and plant sales of many of those plants.  This is a huge project, and all kinds of assistance will be needed from us Master Gardeners from every part of the area.  Be sure to contact Betty Manne for information on how to volunteer.
 
      A city block in downtown Beaufort is well on the way to becoming a community garden project, through the generosity and community support of the property owners, city officials, and community leaders.  Laura Lee Rose, our Extension Agent, is extremely excited about this project; she's gotten contributions and assistance from horticulturists, designers, landscape architects, and especially Master Gardeners.  Help is needed at all phases and all areas of planning and execution of the project.
 
      As you've heard all too many times, Clemson Extension - whom we serve and who created the Master Gardener program - has suffered massive cutbacks in funding for all projects and services.  Our plea to Master Gardeners specifically to provide support for the Extension Office and its projects has been answered by several volunteers who have helped staff the Master Gardener Desks at both the Hilton Head and Beaufort offices. This has made a huge difference in both offices' ability to serve the community, especially since funding for the Hilton head office was cut entirely.  Sadly, I'm hearing rumors that more cuts may be in the works this year for all the Extension offices. This will require even more sacrifice and even more dedication from Master Gardeners.
 
      We have also learned that the Statewide coordinator of the Master Gardener program, Dr. Tim Davis, has been promoted.  His duties have been assigned to Dr. Karen Hall at Clemson.  Karen is already the state coordinator of the Master Naturalist program, which is nationally recognized for its excellence.  She is universally liked and admired, so our hopes are high for exciting, motivated leadership.  I hope we can bring Karen to Beaufort to address our membership and tell us about her plans and ideas for the Master Gardener program across the state.
 
      Oh! And, finally, don't forget that your annual dues are to be paid in August for the 2009-2010 year ahead.  Get those checkbooks out!
 
 Will

RECORD NUMBER OF MASTER GARDENER INTERNS
FOR 2009

A record number of Intern Master Gardeners have graduated from the intensive 16-week training program offered by Clemson Extension, reports Laura Lee Rose Consumer Horticulture Agent for Beaufort and Jasper counties.  The mission of the Master Gardener program is to train gardeners, using research-based information to become highly-knowledgeable resources for the community.  Each trained graduate is required to provide 40 hour of horticultural community service, using their newly-acquired expertise in soil science, disease and insect prevention, turf grass problems, and ornamental and vegetable gardening.

Upon completion of their 40 hours of community service, each graduate intern will become a Certified Master Gardener.  The Lowcountry Master Gardener Association members provide research and information for plant problem questions at clinics in the Extension Service offices, make home visits through the Rent-A-Master Gardener and Turf Love programs, Providing horticultural information at local Farmers Markets, and in organizing and designing community garden projects.

The next series of training classes will be held in January 2010.  Anyone interested in the program should visit our website or call 843 470-3655 extension 124.
 

The 2009 Master Gardener Training Course graduates are:

Beaufort/Bluffton (22 graduates)
Pat Ashley, Leonard Conapinski, Carla Dinkle, Barbara Fagan, Jane Fitz-Simons, Ava Franzolini, John Gatch, Lynda Gordon, Jessica Lehnert, Jenifer Lugar, Art & Bonnie Markle, Denise Moore, Kathy & Gordon Nichols, Evelyn & Jim Scott, Bill Smith, Tei Tober, Cindy & Denny Tomlin, and Bill Tremitiere.

Hilton Head/Bluffton (19 graduates)
Gary & Sally Baker, Sallie & Michael Bridgwater, Bubba & Vickie Edenfield (Hardeeville), Mim Jacob, Jan Miskin, Angela Moon, David Nusser, Pat Rapp, Marilyn Rego, Nat Shaffer (Varnville), Tony Talerico, Carolyn Trosdal, Debbie Whalen, Sherry Wojtulewicz, Louis & Pam Wozniak.

Jasper County (15 graduates)
David Arnold, Cyndi Barnier, Laura Bush, Karen Exley, William Frazier, Eric Green, Bill Hamel, Rita Labrot, Janet Martin, Cathy Young- Prichard, Kelly Payne, Marty, Mohar, Kerry Reid, Lynn Taylor, and Richard Lee Thomas.

MG Volunteers Urgently Needed

Member Information