Fourteen people participated in the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) training program this past spring in McDowell County. The students met one time a week for 13 weeks. Different horticultural topics were covered including: plant propagation, botany, landscape design, lawn care, woody ornamentals, and vegetables. The Extension Master Gardener graduates as pictured from left to right are: Betty Reaves, Laurie Gavle, Anna Flory, Donna Poteat, Beth Anderson, Janda Hefner, Amy Moomaw, Phyllis Howell, Teresa Carley, Sharon Morrison with County Extension Director and EMG program coordinator, Molly Sandfoss. Not pictured are Anne Allen, Cathy Pyatt, and Skip Queen.
The Extension Master Gardener program is an educational program designed to enhance public education in consumer horticulture. It provides educational assistance to the citizens of McDowell County concerning lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees, and ornamentals.
Participants in the program must complete the training program, pass an examination, and volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year (20 hours in subsequent years) through the McDowell County Center.
The Extension Master Gardener program allows the McDowell County Center to extend education to an ever increasing gardening audience. It also provides the local center with a highly visible way to meet the public demand for information and to develop a strong clientele support group.
Volunteer programs throughout the county include: community garden construction and demonstration garden, school beautification projects, school-age education, adopt-a-spot, and plant clinics. If you are interested in the Extension Master Gardener program, we are always accepting applications. Call the Extension office at 828-652-8104 to apply.
HOT Topics are topics that seem to generate a lot of interest/questions.
It's Spring and all is a buzz in our lawns and gardens, literally. Quite a few people have been inquiring about a swarm of bees in their lawn. These bees are known as Ground Dwelling Bees. These are a "solitary" bee as opposed to a "social" bee like the Honey Bee. Ground Dwelling Bees dig holes in the ground for their nest. They emerge in March and April and reproduce from March until May. The female will dig a burrow at night, and during the day, she will collect pollen and nectar. She sticks the pollen and nectar into her burrow. She then will lay an egg on the pollen and nectar where the larvae will feed until they emerge as adults next March or April. These bees are not aggressive.
The holes in your yard are unattractive, but on the positive side, it does help to aerate your lawns. The Ground Dwelling Bee likes to nest in bare dry spots. Water this area and plant some vegetation to reduce the likelihood that the bee will nest. If you have a spot that grass is difficult to grow, call the office 652-8104, and we can discuss different ground covers that might work better in that location.
Get ready to plant a productive garden by joining local Master Gardeners and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-McDowell County Center for a 2-hour workshop on basic gardening. The workshop is on Thursday, March 3 from 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm at the McDowell County Center Conference Room, 2nd Floor County Administration Building, 60 East Court Street, Marion. Soil testing, site preparation, and site selection are just some of the topics that will be discussed.
This workshop is free, but you must preregister by Monday, February 28. Please call the McDowell County Center at 652-8104 if you have any questions or to register.
