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Heyward House Project
Town of Bluffton
For the month of February, MG volunteers will meet in the morning of Thursday (21st) rather than the afternoon.  So, we will start work at 9:00 am rather than 2:00 pm. 

Beaufort Buffer Garden Work Day
Our Buffer Garden workday is scheduled for Friday, February 22nd, from 9:30 until 12:30, at the Government Center at Ribaut Road and Highway 21 in Beaufort.

Lowcountry Master Gardener Program

Master Gardener Class Information

Have you ever wanted to learn more about growing plants? Are you interested in fruits, vegetables, ornamentals or lawns?  Do you enjoy helping others?  A horticulture program, called Master Gardener, is offered by the Beaufort County Extension Service and Colleton County Cooperative Extension Service to provide horticultural training for selected home gardeners in South Carolina.  For further information about the Master Gardener classes in your area, contact Laura Lee Rose at the Beaufort office at 843-470-3655 ext 177 or Shawn Jadrnicek at the Ridgeland office at 843.726.3461 ext. 0. 

Colleton County Area: Master Gardener Class

Dates: Thursday evenings - Junuary 10, 2008 through April 3, 2008

 Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, 321 Bailey Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936

Have you ever wanted to learn more about growing plants? Are you interested in fruits, vegetables, ornamentals or lawns?  Do you enjoy helping others?  A horticulture program, called Master Gardener, is being offered by the Jasper County Cooperative Extension Service to provide horticultural training for selected home gardeners in South Carolina.  The deadline for registration is January 4, 2008.

For more information, see Press Release or contact Shawn Jadrnicek at 549-2595 ext. 113, County Extension Horticulture Agent.

Beaufort Area: Master Gardener Class

Dates: Thursday evenings - begining January 24, 2008

Time: 9:30pm -1pm

Location: PSD # 1 behind Sam's and Bilo off Matthews Rd. Hilton Head

Winter/Spring 2008 Master Gardener Class Application.pdf

Winter/Spring 2008 Master Gardener Class Application.doc

MG Invitation letter-2008

MG TRAINING SCHEDULE-2008

LMGA Mission and Goals

The purpose of the association is to educate its members and to support and engage in projects and activities which promote and foster community enrichment, knowledge and enhancement in the areas of horticulture and ecology.  The Association shall be organized and operated for the benefit of its members and shall operate on a not for profit basis.

LMGA Membership

Four types of LMGA memberships are available:

  • 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.

  • Honorary membership may be extended to any other individual recommended by a majority of the Executive Committee and who has paid dues.

To apply for membership in the Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association fill out and submit an LMGA Application. Applications may be obtained by clicking on the Application Form button.

 Application Form

Clemson Master Gardener Volunteers

Master Gardeners receive a minimum of 40 hours of instruction. Along with an orientation, volunteers are given core training in soils and plant nutrition, basic botany, entomology, plant pathology, vegetable and fruit gardening, landscape design, and several other subjects. Altogether, they comprise 30 hours of training. The core section gives the Master Gardener trainee the basic horticultural knowledge necessary to assist Extension staff effectively. The remaining 10 hours of training may be a further elaboration of core curriculum topics or of specific gardening subjects deemed most relevant to local needs, such as meadow or wildflower gardening and plant propagation. This allows the Master Gardener to specialize in an area of particular personal interest.

After training is completed, the volunteers are ready for action. Each new Master Gardener provides the county Extension office with at least 40 hours of horticulture related volunteer work for the 40 hours of instruction. Clemson University Master Gardeners:

  •     answer gardening questions

  •     Assist County Extension office staff

  •     conduct garden tours

  •     conduct school gardening programs

  •     coordinate Master Gardener programs

  •     create and maintain demonstration gardens

  •     design and maintain community and school landscapes

  •     develop visual aids for presenting, Extension programs

  •     diagnose plant specimens

  •     garden with the elderly and handicapped

  •     make home gardening visits

  •     organize Master Gardener graduation picnics

  •     photograph Master Gardener activities

  •     plan and complete community beautification projects

  •     present lectures or demonstrations to groups interested in horticulture

  •     produce a newsletter

  •     staff county and state exhibits

  •     volunteer as 4-H leaders

  •     work at county fairs and plant clinics

  •     work in trial gardens at research stations

  •     work on special events.

After a trainee has satisfactorily completed the formal training, he or she is awarded a South Carolina Master Gardener certificate.