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Going and Growing

Items of Note

2025 Washington County Master Gardeners Training Class 

Seated from left: Donna McDaniel, Calista Keck, Lulamae Wampler, Swathi Munagala, Terri Speer, Jody Hughes, Kelly Chaney, and James Harvey

Standing middle row from left: Becca Muenich, Teresa Sullivan, Mari Walters-Ford, Steve Shearman, Mary Sparks, Rhonda Lovell, Lynne Bell, Jessica Guillory, and Julie Torseth

Standing back row from left: Jeff McGuire, Calinda Green, Kim Coslett, Bill Speer, Roger Faulkner, and Caleb Israel


Photo by Kathy Launder.

Not pictured: Debra Broyles and Tim McGinn

Class of 2024 Washington County Master Gardeners

Seated from left: Rick Oliver, Ronda Marks, David Edwards, Sheri Bucciferro​

Standing second row from left: Thalita Santos, Laura Anne Watson, Carlie Willett, Peter Gavin, Laura Winburn.

Standing back row from left: Bruce Redinger, Stephanie McGuire, Gerry Harris, Haley Hausam, Patty Stith.

Not pictured: Robert Callier, Sharon Ferguson, Pam Salamo, Kara Wishon.

 

Monthly Busy Bee Awards

Each month we recognize Master Gardeners when they contribute 50 hours in sanctioned projects.

January – March 

Geraldine Alvis David Edwards Kathy Launder
Alfi Anderson Carrie Gamble Jan Lefler
Carole Ball Elizabeth Hale Patsy Louk
Linda Bennett-Smith Karen Hanna-Towne Julia Murray
Pam Butler Ruthanne Hill Jim Sposato
Kristi Campbell Laura Wilkins

Project Highlight – Washington County Fair

Washington County Master Gardeners serve the Washington County Fair by supervising all activities in the fair’s Agronomy Department. Exhibit categories (adult and youth) include vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, flower arrangements, potted plants, field crops, and outdoor art. There is also a youth category for entomology. The fair runs for five days in late August. WCMGs are involved before (building prep), during (receive entries, assist judges, visit with the public) and after (building cleanup) the fair. During the fair the WCMGs also run a “Gardeners Store,” with all proceeds going to fund fair premiums for youth.

The Washington County Fair is WCMG’s largest sanctioned project, both in public outreach and in Master Gardener volunteer participation. As project co-chair Doris Cassidy says, “It takes a village to staff the Horticulture Building!”

Shiloh Museum Free Seed Library

Under the leadership of Marty Powers, a seed giveaway program was developed to encourage the planting of more seeds which benefit butterflies and other pollinators. The project was begun in 2022 when a total of 7,700 seed packets were picked up from the seed box. During the 2023 season, that number increased to 8,072. An additional 2,000 milkweed packets were donated to schools and were handed out during the milkweed giveaway and the monarch festival.