Masters of the Garden

By Joanna Dunlap Kirby

Contributing gardening columnist,

Owner and operator of a cut flower farm in Garrard County

Here we are, on the brink of spring when Kentucky winds blow and early spring bulbs begin to appear. We can at last see the light at the end of such a long, bleak winter. We are anxious to get outside and go about our garden chores.

We can now begin the task of cutting back the dead foliage of perennials and grasses. I took it upon myself this year to take the battery-operated hedge trimmer and remove the tall grasses in one of my beds. It was an easy job and was finished in less than an hour, just before a storm appeared overhead. Now, I will move on to the rest of the gardens, one at a time, so I will not be completely overwhelmed and try to crawl back inside.

A few other chores that can be done now are to sharpen shears, look over garden tools, seed your lawn if you did not get this done in the fall and make a plan for your vegetable and flower gardens. A great place to get garden information is at your local county Extension office. They have excellent brochures and handouts available on many garden-related topics.

The Woodford County Extension Office also hosts a Master Gardener Course that is well worth the time and commitment to take. This program was started in 1972 by David Gibby, PhD, in Washington state. As a local Horticulture Extension Agent, he helped train volunteers “with a passion to learn more about gardening and to assist extension offices by helping others.” This program is now in over 49 states, the District of Columbia, several Canadian provinces and South Korea. It is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country with over 76,000 volunteers!

In Kentucky, we have over 60 counties offering a Master Gardener program. The 40 hours of classes include botany, soil health, plant pathology and entomology taught by university professors and Extension agents. A comprehensive exam is given at the end of the course, and students then enter an “intern” phase where they give back to their community. In order to earn their official title of Master Gardener, students must complete 40 hours of volunteer service within their first year (think, hands-on) and 20 hours of service the following years. I took this program many years ago in Garrard County and have referred to my “notes,” taken then, on many occasions.

This program has helped me as a gardener, speaker and volunteer many times over.

If you are interested in taking this course, just contact your local extension office to see if they are offering one this year or if they plan to. It is a “boots on the ground’ program.

The Woodford County Master Gardeners host an annual Spring Gardening Workshop, and this year promises to be great. It will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Woodford County Extension Office on Beasley Road. Pre-registration is required through Eventbrite or by calling the Extension office at 859-873-4601. The cost is $20 and includes breakfast and snacks throughout the day.

The program offers nine concurrent sessions, including: composting in small spaces, backyard ponds, gardening for butterflies, spring vegetable gardening, planting containers for summer color, eco-friendly gardening, identifying ticks, planting with native perennials, and establishing a mini-meadow.

As you can see, there is something for everyone!

The Capitol Area Master Gardeners of Frankfort will have its annual Plant Market on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakeview Park, 112 Park Avenue, Frankfort, KY. This market is a great way to purchase well-grown herbs, vegetables, perennials and more, and is just 30 minutes away.

There is a world of local information available for Kentucky gardeners at your county Extension office, helping to “Grow people, plants and partnerships.”

Happy gardening.