How does your garden grow? Master Gardeners gather for annual symposium Saturday, March 2

For many years, Carol Remick had to put off her passion for growing plants.

Even as a little girl, she dreamed of one day earing the title 'master gardener.” She grew plants in her bedroom. As she got older, children and family required she put her hobby of nurturing plants on hold. About five years ago, all it took was her to see an ad in the newspaper regarding the Henry County master gardeners to spark the fire again. She quickly signed up to begin her training.

'I live on a farm,” she said. 'I don't have a big vegetable garden. I have a lot of perenital flowers that were originally on the farm. I'm very minimal on my gardens right now. I have a few raised beds.”

Today she is also the president of the Henry County Master Gardeners. On Saturday, March 2, the Henry County Master Gardeners held its 13th annual symposium. About 150 people gathered in the basement of the First United Methodist Church to hear keynote speaker Kelly Norris' discussion of HortEcology, as well as attend several breakout groups to discuss a variety of gardening related topics.

The master gardener program is sponsored through the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Office in Mt. Pleasant. To become a master gardener, each member has to attend a training program and serve a year as an interim. Volunteer hours are also required throughout the terms as a master gardener, as well as continuing education.

Remick said the joys of being a master gardener include sharing information and helping teach people. The group also gives mini-grants to help inspire young people to learn more about gardening.

'We do things as a group,” she said. 'We do greenhouse tours. We socialize. We reachout with other master gardeners in the area.”

She said the Henry County Master gardeners runs the gamut in terms of age and experience.

Even though the temperature and the snow outside still indicated winter, with celestial spring about a month away planting season is right around the corner.

Henry County agriculture and youth educator for the ISU Extension Darbee Wellman said the master gardeners organize the annual meeting, including bringing in people to help further education among the members.

'They are going to get a lot of great information,” she said. ‘We are hoping that spring arrives soon and they can take some of these tips and techniques that we are talking about today and take them back to their home gardens.”

People interested in learning more about the master gardening program can explore the group's Facebook page or contact the ISU extension office.