Master Gardener advanced training seminar Feb. 25

It's time for our annual Putnam County Master Gardeners Advance Training Seminar, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 25.

Come and increase your gardening knowledge, shop vendors, meet fellow gardeners, win door prizes, and enjoy breakfast and lunch (included in registration fee of $35. The seminar is open to the public, so you don't have to be a master gardener. The knowledge gained will be a benefit whether you are an inexperienced or experienced gardener.

Register before Feb. 13 to avoid the fee increase of $5 per person.

Linda Lumsdon is the seminar chair for this presentation of the Putnam County Master Gardeners Association. She has worked very hard to find interesting speaker and topics this year.

Topics to be covered and presenters are as follows: Growing and caring for berry bushes, Emma Alkire; Bugs and insects--pests or beneficial, John Thieme; Herbs--growing, drying and uses, Constance Ferry; Mushrooms, molds and mycotoxins, Tom Creswell; and Hydroponics, Jeff Lancaster.

Call the Extension Office at 653-8411 for more info.

Congratulations to the fall Master Gardener class

This year's Master Gardener class has come to a close. Our Master Gardeners are all very excited to have made it through the class. The class was a 12-week class where the participants learned about soils, plant science, weeds, plant diseases, insects, vegetable gardening, trees, flower gardening, home lawns, animal pests, pesticide safety, composting and many other gardening subjects.

All that is left for the participants to become full-fledged Master Gardeners is for them to complete 35 volunteer hours. We truly believe that to become a Master Gardener is to "help others grow." These volunteer hours are designed to give the new Master Gardeners an opportunity to help educate and beautify the community in which they live.

There are many opportunities to help others grow. Some of these opportunities are staffing informational booths at gardening events, teaching public education classes, speaking to local clubs and organizations, and hands-on demonstrations.

I would like to congratulate this year's Master Gardener class. Congratulations to Meredith and Randall Bee, Kristi Nelson, Karen Hunter, Ruth Timm, James Knot, Brandy Hourihan, Carmen and Todd Branson, Aubrey, Laura and Charlie Campbell, Patty and William King and Tammie Earnest. Not only did this class learn more about gardening, they also formed new friendships.

I am very proud of this year's class for their commitment to gardening, and for hanging in there for the whole 12 weeks.

I would like to thank all of our wonderful speakers for giving us some of their precious time to teach the classes. I would like to especially thank the Master Gardener Association for their efforts to encourage the class to get involved and the many opportunities that they have made available to the class.

If you have question or comment please contact Ann Delchambre at 653-8411, Facebook Putnam County Agriculture, Twitter AgAgent.

Extension calendar of upcoming events:

Jan. 24 -- Master Grain Marketer 7-9 Clay Co. Fairgrounds

Jan. 25 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Jan. 26 -- Extension Homemaker Open House 3:30-5:30 p.m. Extension Office

Jan. 27 -- Registration Due to Extension Office for 2/18 4-H Judge/Leader Clinic

Jan. 28 -- Indiana Bee School Indianapolis

Jan. 31 -- Ext. Homemaker Open House 3:30-5:30 Extension Office

Jan. 31 -- Bi-state Horticulture program

Feb. 1 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Feb. 2 -- Ext. Homemaker Leader Lesson "Heart Health" 1 p.m. Extension Office

Feb. 7 -- Master Grain Marketer -- 7-9 Clay County Fairgrounds

Feb. 8 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Feb. 18 -- Bi-state 4-H Judges and Leaders Clinic, Ivy Tech, Terre Haute

Feb. 22 -- Winter Cover Cropping system meeting McCormicks Creek

Feb. 25 -- Putnam County Master Gardener Advanced Training 8-4 Putnam Fairgrounds

March 3 -- 4-H Beef Weigh-in and Tagging