Master Gardener class requires dedication

Earning the title of "master gardener" requires a major commitment of time, according to county extension agent Ricky Thompson.

He plans to offer the course in November and is taking sign-ups now.

"For it to be worthwhile, I need at least 12 and not more than 20 to sign up," Thompson said.

The course runs eight weeks, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays with lectures that begin in the morning and sometimes go to 3 p.m. in the afternoon.

Most courses are held in the extension office meeting room in the courthouse annex, but some sessions will travel Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches.

"They have the arboretum and are recognized nationally for their horticultural expertise," Thompson said.

He teaches most of the courses himself, but calls in specialists for some subjects.

Lectures cover lawns, trees, shrubs, nutrition, diseases and insects, soils and fertility, landscape design, fruits and vegetables, pruning, grafting and propagating.

At the end of the lecture, students must pass a 100- question test and then volunteer 50 hours with the extension service doing hands-on work.

In the past, this has included renovating the beds at the courthouse annex and chamber of commerce, the beds at the Buna subcourthouse, and working in the office on creating the newsletter or helping with scouts, garden clubs and other civic activities.

"They really have to be committed to cover all that- it consumes quite a bit of time- but we will be done prior to Christmas," Thompson said.

After that, a master gardener continues to keep up with hours and turn them in to Thompson to maintain their master gardener certificate.

The course costs $100 to cover the manual and any publications. No tools are required.

"This is for people who want to learn landscaping and gardening. It's a form of therapy for some people. Retired people like this course, and I do caution them to consider their health because this does requires outside physical work," Thompson said.

For more information, contact Thompson at the extension office, 271 E. Lamar, Suite 200, or call 384- 3721.