Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Goodbye Blogger - Hello WordPress

I have decided to switch the platform for my blog - Lavender... and so much more.

Please note all new posts will be created from www.gardenscentsations.com  The name of my blog will remain the same  Lavender... and so much more.

Thank you for your support and interest in my blog.  I hope you stop by and see the new and improved blog about all things gardening in Western Colorado and lavender in particular.

Kathy Kimbrough, owner
Garden Scentsations


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Garden Tour Highlights

 The 22nd annual Western Colorado Botanical Garden garden tour was this weekend and by my count, the wettest on record.  I have volunteered as a master gardener for the last 10+ years for the tour and have seen really hot days, really cold days, really windy days but never quite so wet.  The amazing thing was no one, not the homeowners, the volunteers or the brave souls who came out to see the gardens complained about the rain.  Everyone agreed that no matter what, we need the rain.  It didn't affect the beauty of the gardens either in my opinion.

For the first time in 22 years, the tour was offered in August instead of the first weekend in June.  I love the idea of seeing our late summer gardens for a change.  So many shrubs and  perennials are just getting started in June we never see their full glory on the tour. But  according to Jon Schler, who is on the garden tour committee, the tour will resume its  rightful place during the first weekend in June next year.  

Jon said because of the operational changes that occurred with the WCBG and Strive this year, planning for the garden tour was later than usual.  The hard working committee and volunteers struggled to find a date and homeowners willing to showcase their gardens with little notice and a unconventional time period.  When it is all said and done, I think the garden tour did a good job of presenting interesting gardens and continuing the tradition of one of the largest fund raisers for the WCBG.  Jon Schler was also quick to point out that the tour wouldn't have been as successful without the help and direction of Susan Rose and the Master Gardener volunteers with CSU Extension.   

So let's start the tour!

WCBG Western Heritage Garden
I brought along two neighbors to see the tour.  One is a garden junkie like myself, the other moved here recently from Michigan and wanted to see how we garden in the high desert of the Rockies.  We started at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and jumped right into the Plant Select gardens.  What a great program CSU Extension and The Denver Botanic Gardens put together to showcase all kinds of plants that thrive in our challenging climate.  The butterflies were flying in the Butterfly House and the outside gardens were awash in seasonal colors and textures.

Next up was the Arboretum at CSU Extension at the Mesa County Fairgrounds.  Because the BMX group was hosting a large event, we were not able to see most of the gardens that line the parking lot.  We did see the world renowned cactus garden and raised garden beds that surround the Extension building.
Loretta in the cactus garden
Gardens at the CSU Extension

The rain started coming into the Valley at this point in the morning but we were determined to see as many beautiful gardens as we could.  Upon arriving at the Loshbaugh residence, we were thrilled to see such an exuberant display in this suburban garden.  This garden was on the garden tour 10 years ago but it has matured into a rich tapestry of color, texture and interest that made it worth a repeat visit.
The front gardens at the Loshbaugh residence

Wandering through the gardens revealed a perfect pond complete with koi fish swimming in it and statues of herons looking in it.
Loshbaugh pond with herons

The variety of plants and the way they were combined really caught my designer's eye.  I loved the look of the ribbon grass and nasturtiums.  The bright colors of the zinnias and dahlias also made me smile.

Ribbon grass and nasturtiums

Zinnias, dahlias and butterfly bush

Next we moved onto a serene, quiet reflective garden.  Lenore Donovan has turned her childhood home into a peaceful park in honor of her parents.  While caring for her aging parents, she turned to garden therapy to help ease her stress and satisfy her soul.  The result is an oasis in the middle of the desert.
Primrose Park - an oasis in the desert

Being peaceful and serene doesn't mean you can't have a little whimsy in your garden.  Lenore installed this beautiful fountain complete with blue water a few years ago.  She then added a heron statue with a fish in his mouth!  Looks like he just caught it out of the fountain.
A little whimsy at Lenore's

In addition to being a park, you could also call it a cat sanctuary.  Lenore is known as the Cat Lady because she has a generous heart and takes in cats that need a home.  Some live inside, some outside, some temporary and some permanent.  I will always be thankful for the time she helped me with a lost cat in my neighborhood.  The ecosystem is in perfect balance as well.  Mosquitos that have an eye on her pond are promptly eaten by Mr. Jack the giant catfish in the pond  or the many varieties of birds that live in the surrounding trees. Toads by the gazillion hatch every summer and take care of any other insect that gets too much to handle.

When you think of an urban garden, what comes to mind?  A small patch of grass, a tree or two between the sidewalk and street?  The small backyard might have a patio with a few pots and more grass?   A visit to Judy Hilty's garden will change your mind forever.

Judy's Hell strip - a piece of shade heaven
With mature trees and seldom seen in this part of the world plants, this front yard and hell strip is colorful, lush and full of interest.  Jacobs ladder, hellebores and hostas thrive in the rich soil along side coral bells, begonias and angelonias.

Judy Hilty and her bathtub garden

One of the surprises in her backyard was the claw foot bathtub painted bright red.  Filled with tropical plants atop a raised bed, its a sight to see.

Her containers are filled to the brim with flowers of every color, size and shape.

 I love the fact that Judy has adapted her garden over the years to accommodate the ever growing shade from her trees and she uses containers and trellises to fill narrow spaces in her gardens.  We were also grateful those large shade trees offered some protection from the steady rain as well.

We missed the three gardens in the Redlands because the rain was coming down too hard to enjoy ourselves.  I hope I get to see the Golden and Murdock gardens someday because my tour booklet says they were designed and installed by Bill Richardson of Dragonfly Gardens.  I've known Bill for many years and have worked with him on several of my own garden designs.  He has a good eye for designing with plants and does creative work with rocks, fountains and other hardscapes.  I also want to stop by the fire station on Broadway to see more of their gardens designed by Ann Barrett.  Even whizzing by everyday at 45 mph, the front gardens always look good.

Now that the garden tour is over, the garden tour committee will be working hard to line up next June's gardens.  If you are interested in working on the committee or you would like to have your garden showcased on the garden tour, please contact the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens at  (970) 245-9030.  You can also visit their website for more information about the tour and events taking place at the lovely gardens throughout the year.  www.wcbotanic.org

Monday, August 19, 2013

My Crepe Myrtle Miracle


Back in the day, I lived in the super-large, super-humid, super-congested city of Houston, Texas.  I'm am so glad I live in Colorado now but I don't regret living in Houston as I met my wonderful husband of nearly 30 years in Houston and married him there.  We moved to Denver from Houston and then to Dallas before we moved back to Denver and then finally to Grand Junction.  I know its confusing but corporate transfers have a way of taking you places you wouldn't have thought about on your own.  And on a timetable that usually isn't of your choice.  We made the best of it and had beautiful homes everywhere we lived. Since I have always enjoyed gardening, I learned to garden in vastly different environments.  You can't get any more different than Houston and Grand Junction!
Kathy canoeing by crepe myrtles in front of our Houston house after Hurricane Alicia in 1983.

While living in Houston I fell in love again.  This time with the crepe myrtle or Lagerstroemia. Everywhere you went, there they were.  Lining the streets, adorning front yards, commercial spaces, everywhere.  The hot pink, bright red, soft pink and white blossoms stood proud and tall no matter how stinking hot and humid it was.  They bloomed when every other plant had call it quits for the season.  The exfoliating bark and seed pods just added more interest year round.

So, a few years back, much to my astonishment, I saw a crepe myrtle for sale at Meadowlark Gardens on the Redlands.  How could that be I wondered?  They would never survive our cold winters or would they? Turns out, a plant breeder created a crepe myrtle that would grow well in areas with winters as cold as -10 below zero degrees.  They have American Indian names like Zuni, Hopi, and Miami and come in a wide variety of colors.  Naturally, I bought the hot pink one - Zuni.
Crepe Myrtle 'Zuni' in July 2008
Growing against our house facing the scorching southwest sun, it bloomed its little head off for several years.  That is until that brutal winter of 2010-2011.  I can't begin to list how many established shrubs and perennials I lost that winter.  My beloved Zuni was one of them.  I tried to hold out hope for some sign of life in the following spring but nothing.  Then, in late summer, just a sprig or two came up.  I felt like it was never going to come back so I dug it out.  I dug about 2' deep and got out what I thought was all of the roots.  

A summer came and went with no signs of life from Zuni.  Then something amazing happened.  This spring, more than just a sprout came up.  Many sprouts with bright green leaves.  Could my Zuni have come back from the dead?  I had to know what was left of my beloved crepe myrtle so I watered a little extra, fertilized a little extra and talked to it every time I reached for the hose on the back of the house.  Sure enough, this tough plant came back.  I was very content to have the bright green leaves add some color and texture to the back of my herb garden.  But then, it developed flower buds!  OMG is all I could think!  
My crepe myrtle returned from the dead in August 2013
Look at those hot pink blossoms!

 
Bright green leaves and hot pink blossoms next to Bergartten sage
How on earth did this shrub survive after all of this time?  I have no idea.  But I have stopped doubting the power of plants. They perform miracles all the time.  I am just blessed it happened in my yard this summer.  Keep looking for miracles.  They are all around us.




Friday, August 9, 2013

May Night Salvia Reborn

This time of year many perennials start to look tired and shabby and overgrown.  But a few, like May Night Salvia, respond well to a severe pruning right about now.

May Night salvia on July 7th
This is a large clump of salvias has finished blooming and was looking awful.  So I cut them back to the basal rosette about 2" above the ground level.  Here is what they look like today.

May Night salvia on August 7th


They are refreshed and will likely bloom in a few weeks.  This is also a good time to transplant some of the salvia seedlings to other areas in my garden. While I'm at it, I will also divide and transplant my iris.




Wednesday, August 7, 2013

LAWC will host Essentials of Distilling Conference in Grand Junction



Through a specialty crop grant from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and generous support from Colorado State University Extension, the Lavender Association of Western Colorado (LAWC) is presenting an intense two day conference on all types of distilling methods for essential oils and hydrosols.  

Featured speakers include:
  
Ann Harmon - Morning Myst Botanicals
Northport, Washington
Dr. Cindy Jones, Sagescript Institute
Longmont, Colorado
Dr. Curtis Swift, Swift Horticultural Enterprises
Grand Junction, Colorado
Bob Lane, Dayspring Farm
Olathe, Colorado

Dr. Janet Scavarda, certified aromatherapist
Grand Junction, Colorado

Topics will include:
  • Workshops on creating products with essential oils and hydrosols
  • Live distillations using several types and sizes of distillers
  • Learn how to distill for commercial as well as medicinal products
  • Learn how to distill for hydrosols as the product, not the by-product of essential oil distillation
We will also talk about our latest research and testing results of our high altitude lavender essential oils. 

Registration is open.  Please visit our website at www.coloradolavender.org/fall-lavender-conference.html for more information.  

There will be substantial ticket discounts for members of LAWC and USLGA.  Lunch for both days is included in the ticket price.  

Look forward to seeing you at the conference.  




Monday, July 8, 2013

Colorado Lavender Festival is next week!



3rd Colorado Lavender Festival is a feast for the senses
July 12 – 14, 2013, Palisade Colorado
Immerse yourself in lavender at the 3rd annual Colorado Lavender Festival in western Colorado. Highlights of the 3-day event are:
·   Friday - All Day Guided Motorcoach Tour to blooming lavender farms.
·   Saturday – Festival in the Park in Palisade with vendors, seminars, food & wine.
·   Sunday – Self-guided Agri-tours & Events – 12 locations, each unique.


FRIDAY July 12: All-day Guided Motorcoach Tour, 8am - 5pm
A great start to a lavender-filled weekend! From Palisade to Paonia, experience lavender farms, learn about the latest lavender research, shop for high quality lavender related items, pick a fresh lavender bouquet, meet the growers, and see a lavender distillation. Relax along the Gunnison River with a lavender inspired picnic lunch. Finish the day with wine & nibbles – including Lavender wine - at Grande River Vineyards.


SAT. July 13: Colorado Lavender Festival, Palisade Memorial Park, 9am – 4pm. With an interesting variety of high quality lavender and artisan vendors, cooking demonstrations (including one with Chef Marcelo Marino of Wine Country Inn) spiked with lavender and entertainment - the scent, sight and tastes of lavender are everywhere. Admission to the Festival is free.
A signature element of the Festival is info-rich seminars. For those interested in growing lavender as a garden or farm crop, the morning consists of three seminars. First John Steuble of Grand Junction Pipe & Supply will discuss economic and effective methods of irrigation. Next, Dr. Curtis Swift and Kathy Kimbrough, founder of LAWC, present research findings on lavender growth and distillation. Then, CSU extension agent Rodney Sharp and lavender grower Paola Legarre focuses on the economics and considerations of starting a lavender farm.  
The afternoon session covers uses of lavender. Barbarba Lucks, RA, presents the benefits and cautions of essential oils and hydrosols used in the home. Then Rick Spelenka, certified Therapeutic Garden designer, B.S., B.S.N., explores the history of healing gardens and aroma therapy. Tickets for workshops and can be purchased in advance at http://coloradolavenderfestival.com. Morning session is $45; afternoon session is $30. Find complete speaker biographies online as well.
Fresh Lavender Wreath Making Workshops: Take home a fragrant souvenir when you make your own lavender wreath. Cost for materials & instruction $15. Morning and afternoon sessions limited to 20 participants. Fun for adults and kids (age 12 and over).
Spike it with Lavender – Recipes for Living cookbook author Lida Lafferty will present two cooking demonstrations showcasing recipes and easy tips for using culinary lavender in your home. Special guest, organic and local food afficianado, Chef Marcelo Marino of the Wine Country Inn in Palisade, will talk about hot infusions during the afternoon session.
New! “Celebrate Lavender” Art show at The Blue Pig Gallery in downtown Palisade. Follow the blue pig footprints from the Festival at Palisade Memorial Park to the gallery to vote for a favorite work of art. “Celebrate Lavender” runs June 18th - July 13th. Winner announced on July 14th.
SUNDAY July 14: Step into a Lavender World with Self-Guided Agri-tours. Twelve lavender locations from Palisade to Paonia are open and each is unique. Walk through blooming lavender fields, talk to growers, watch as lavender is distilled into hydrosol and essential oil; taste lavender cookies, lemonade, wine, cheese, chicken salad or pizza; try crafts, U-Pick; or choose from a variety of talks… the possibilities are endless. Set your own pace and enjoy lavender locations – some are open year ‘round and some open only once a year for this Festival. Maps available at the Saturday Festival.

SAVE THE DATE for these Upcoming Colorado Lavender Events
Essentials of Distilling: Oils, Hydrosols and Value Added Products
October 26 and 27, 2013; 9 am - 5 pm
Mesa County Fairgrounds, Community Building, Grand Junction, Colorado

Conference features experts in the field and these topics:
• Workshops on creating products with essential oils and hydrosols
• Live distillations using several types and sizes of distillers
• Learn how to distill for commercial as well as medicinal products
• Learn how to distill for hydrosols as the product, not the by-product of essential oil
• Hear the latest updates on the LAWC Specialty Crop Grant progress
Registration : www.coloradolavender.org

Lavender Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Two Rivers Convention Center, Downtown Grand Junction
Rich array of vendors and high quality, small batch, hand crafted items. All the more fun as the wonderful Parade of Lights follows at dusk.

Professional high resolution photography available.

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Sunday, July 7, 2013

The tale of the floppy catmint

This is a picture of my nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low' in the middle of pruning it back on June 11th.  The center of the plant completely flopped open and the stems were only blooming at the ends.  So I did what had to be done.  I cut the stems off to about 5 inches from the crown.  This is a 10 year old catmint so the crown is very dense.  

Catmint getting a haircut.
So here is that same catmint today, July 7th.  Full of fresh, shorter stems with lots of new flowers.  I do this every year around the beginning of June to rejuvenate this plant.  They can get so tired looking and I would hate to have it look this way throughout the rest of the season. 


Fresh and pretty catmint


I plan on doing the same thing to my Salvia 'Mainacht' or 'May Night'.  They will also rebloom after a bit of pruning back.  This clump of salvia started with three small plants.  There are probably 20 plants there now after 5 years or so.  If you want a few of these plants, email me.  I'd love to share! 

Large blob of  May Night salvias






Monday, June 24, 2013

Let's Get Dirty garden blog at The Daily Sentinel

Do you ever get tired of reading garden blogs or websites?  I don't. Especially if they are local and talk about things I can relate to.  Penny Stine, a writer for the Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction and a master gardener with the CSU Extension has a great blog about all things gardening in our area.  Its called Let's Get Dirty.  Stop by her blog and share her garden experiences.  She loves to grow veggies and is not afraid of trying new things like Malabar spinach.  Never heard of it but I'm sure its a good thing.

malabar-sprouts-finally - Blogs - GJSentinel.com"

Pockets of Greatness

I'm going to let you in on a secret of mine.  I have always wanted to have my yard showcased on a local garden tour.  Having loads of people come through and appreciate the endless hours of weeding, planting, pruning, deadheading in addition to my creative selection and placement of plants would be so gratifying and enjoyable.  I would be basking in the glory of this great accomplishment for years afterwards.  Ahhhhh....

Now, for a taste of reality.  As I walk through my garden, I tend to focus on the negative points like weeds, dead shrubs and perennials that I need to replace, weeds, tired looking mulch, cracked cement patio, and more weeds.  I think you get the picture.  However, I need to start appreciating what I call my "Pockets of Greatness".  There are times of the year in a certain light, and at a certain angle that my yard looks great.  If you visit my Garden Scentsations facebook page, you'll notice I use photos of these Pockets for my cover photos.   I usually change them to reflect my garden through the seasons.  Right now, my cover photo is Mojave sage in full bloom with a groundcover of the beautiful Prairie Zinnia shining its little heart out.  These are two of my favorite perennials because of their long bloom time and brilliant colors.


What you don't see is the bindweed working its way through the zinnias.  Or the pine scale on the nearby 'Arnold's Sentinel' scotch pine.

Other notable Pockets are this lovely shot in late May.  The California poppies put on quite a show with the 'Knock Out' rose, peonies and Jupiters Beard.  This was taken a few years ago.  Today's reality is the rose is 75% dead, the entire planting bed is filled with bermuda grass and the peonies are ravaged by black vine weevils.  I am currently in the process of removing everything in this bed except the honeylocust and Russian hawthorn trees so I can effectively get rid of the darn bermuda grass.  

I am learning to love my POG's because in the end, my yard is for my enjoyment and satisfaction only.  My world won't end if no one else sees it or appreciates it.  My husband sees the POG's and appreciates them and never mentions the weeds.  My rambunctious dog loves the soft green grass and shade of the ever-growing trees.  I have plenty of projects to do around my yard that will keep me busy for years to come and that is the best mental therapy I can think of.  

By the way, the Western Colorado Botanic Garden's garden tour has moved to August 24-25th instead of the usual first Saturday in June.  I am looking forward to seeing other people's lovely gardens and get ideas to inspire more POG's for my garden.    

Thursday, June 13, 2013

It's Lavender Festival Time!




This year's festival promises to be filled with high quality lavender products, music, food, educational workshops, guided bus tours, workshops, cooking demonstrations and so much more.   Look forward to seeing you there.  


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

CO-Horts: Roundup is Roundup…Right?

Here is another great article from the CO-Horts at CSU Extension.  Dr. Tony Koski is the grass guru in Colorado and has some food for thought on Round Up.


CO-Horts: Roundup is Roundup…Right?: Tony Koski, Extension Turf Specialist Which one do I use? They both say  Roundup! If you are reading this in hopes that the turf s...

Thursday, May 23, 2013

CO-Horts: The Weeds are Winning - Again...

I just found this fabulous garden blog by CSU Extension agents from across Colorado including our very own Susan Rose of the Tri-River Area office.  I will pass along their wisdom and be sure to check it out when you get a chance.


CO-Horts: The Weeds are Winning - Again...: Posted by: Susan Rose, Tri River Area Extension Grand Junction – It seems to happen every year about this time.  The Master Gardeners an...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Progress on my garden despite late freezes

This spring in Grand Junction has been one of the coldest in history.  Certainly the coldest spring since we moved to town in 1998.  Along with those cold temperatures came much needed precipitation in the form of snow and rain.
5" of snow on April 17th in my backyard
During this week, the temperatures dropped to the low and mid 20's.  Devastating to the local fruit growers and not especially kind to the early flowering trees and shrubs.   The cover picture on my facebook page shows my mature Eastern Redbud tree in it normal mid April glory.  A sight to behold for sure.  Here is what that same tree looks like today.
Eastern Redbud tree with little to no blossoms
Hardly any blossoms and large numbers of seedheads still present.  Not sure why I have so many more seedheads but the lack of blossoms is disappointing.  Its no consolation that every other redbud tree in town looks the same.  I think the late freezes are to blame.

Other areas of the garden are looking good and greening up nicely.
Ft. McNair red horsechestnut starting to leaf out.


Zauschneria greening up under Miss Kim lilac.

Hostas coming alive under the deck.















I'm looking forward to warmer temperatures sticking around for awhile.  It would be nice to have a good long Spring before the sizzling Summer comes to town!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Landscape ROI


I have always said that adding and maintaining an appealing landscape will add value to your home and can help sell your home faster.  Today, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) posted this information in their weekly tips:

Landscape Return on Investment - 

SculptureGdn_DesignscapesWith drought, water restrictions and conservation on everyone's mind this season, it's tempting to ask "Why should I bother?  Is the landscape really worth it?"

Here are a few things to think about that might help answer those questions:

Landscapes give curb appeal you can cash in.
Did you know that landscaping can add as much as 15% to the resale value of a building and speed up the sale as much as 6 weeks?  On the other side of the equation, homes with poor landscapes sell 8-10% below equivalent homes with good landscape curb appeal.

With spring officially here and the home selling and buying season gearing up, now is a good time to evaluate your landscape and curb appeal.  Please read my previous blog from March 31, 2012 to see all of the ways you can increase your curb appeal and increase the value of your home.  

Happy Spring!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

GardenSmarts in the Beacon Senior newspaper

I have been very lucky in recent years to channel my love for gardening and Master Gardener experience into my own garden design business.   I truly enjoy what I do and hope I can continue to empower homeowners to become better gardeners and create their own beautiful landscapes.  I have also enjoyed giving talks and presentations to people all over the Valley on landscaping with lavender and general garden advice.  So far this year, I have scheduled talks at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens in April and the Mesa County Public library in Grand Junction and Palisade in June.  

Now, I have another outlet to share my love of gardening and teach people how to create beautiful water-wise and sustainable gardens in Western Colorado.  Starting in April, I will be hosting the new garden column in the Beacon Senior newspaper called GardenSmarts.  

I will answer questions submitted by readers each month, give a checklist of things to do in the garden and feature plants that thrive in our Western Colorado high desert climate.  

If you would like to submit a garden question, please send it to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or you can submit questions in writing to The Beacon Senior Newspaper - PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO  81502. 

First crocus of the Spring!  
I look forward to hearing from you and answering those tough garden questions.  Would you care to guess what my April featured plant is?  Here are a few clues.  It blooms in April and May, its not a spring bulb but is a great companion plant for daffodils and tulips.  Good luck.

Happy Spring!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The Master Gardener Journey

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of interviewing several people who are interested in joining our local master gardener ranks.  The interview process is pretty quick and simple.  Review their application, ask a few questions about why they want to be master gardeners and how they heard of the program.  Do they understand the time commitment for the program etc.  What is really interesting is the enthusiasm, the excitement they show about starting this journey.

It reminds me of the start of my MG journey back in 2000.  I attended the local Landscapes West home and garden show in February.  I was relatively new to the Western Slope area and having very little luck with my personal garden.  I went there seeking knowledge and ideas.  I sat next to Sue Roberts during the lunch break.  She was very friendly and we started chatting about the speakers and topics.  She told me she was a master gardener and how much it helped her over the years with her garden and landscape.  She said the program was a great place to learn more about our challenging climate and how to garden successfully in it. But, more important, it was a great place to meet people who had the same goals as I did and wanted to share these ideas with the community.

I was so excited to hear about this group but quickly found out the winter classes had already started and I had to wait until next January.  :-(  So, I waited and waited and waited.  Finally the announcement came out in late Fall that CSU Extension would be accepting applications for the next master gardener classes.  I filled out my application, sent my check along with personal referrals to the Extension office and waited to hear from someone.  Susan Rose, the Master Gardener coordinator, called and set up a time for my interview.  Two lovely ladies talked to me about the program and my goals.  Did I understand the commitment, etc?  I nervously answered their questions and took the test (which sent me into a panic!).  I brought the ginormous MG handbook home to start my studies and eagerly awaited the first class.

When I arrived at the Masonic Center that cold, dreary morning in January I couldn't believe my eyes.  So many people were taking these classes, so many people were just as excited as I was about learning and sharing all of the wonderful garden research, techniques and ideas.  I felt right at home from the first day.  To make the experience even better, I sat at a table with a woman who would become my MG mentor and very dear friend.  Thirteen years later, Meredith Pratt and I still go out to lunch and talk about our gardens, the MG program and all of the people we have known through the years.

I am looking forward to attending the MG classes this year and feel the excitement and enthusiasm of the apprentices and seeing lots of my old friends who have gone through the program in previous years.   Our Master Gardener program is so much more than gardening.  Its a journey of education, community involvement and friendship.