2004 Master Gardener Programs

Spring 2004

Master Gardener Training - Pam King

New Master Gardener trainees completed classes held during February and March at the LaPlata Cooperative Extension Office. Training topics included: basic horticulture; Chesapeake Bay pollution; lawn care; pond management; composting; native plants; gardening info on the WWW; landscaping; and an edible landscape. New graduating Master Gardeners will now begin completing additional volunteer Master Gardener training and volunteer hours requirements.

Grace Lutheran Church - Sherrie Zimmer

Landscape design for the church grounds. Many long hours were spent planting 40' x 55' area. Perennials, shrubs, and annuals enhanced the area. A swale area has been designed, extending the length of the garden. Participants included Sherie Zimmer, Diane Shisler and Erica Wilhelm along with her children, Dalton and Dakota.

Mudd Elementary School Project - Pam King

Seond graders grew salad gardens after receiving instruction from Pam King on edible plants. Pam was assisted by Deborah Carpenter, Mary McGarry, Anna Tominack and Patrick McGarry. The children were taught how to plant seeds and onion sets.

Christmas in April

April 24th 18 Master Gardeners split into teams and visited 22 house sites to prune, till, plant and mulch landscapes. Azaleas are the preferred "Christmas in April" donated plant material and Master Gardeners provided a handout for homeowners to refer to in caring for their new plants.

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House - Millie Head

Mary McGarry, Millie Head, Anita Adams, Mandy Edwards, Marge LaMar, and Patrick McGarry continued renovating landscape around the historic manor house, building on efforts completed in 2002. Herb gardens were increased and mulched. Lilies around the museum were transplanted at the house.

Summer 2004

Dee of St. Mary's educational cruise - Tom Lewis

A tour of the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab located on St. George's Island provided Master Gardeners with an educational opportunity. Participants included Roger Buchanan, Dianne Shisler, Tom and Sue Lewis, Anita Adams, Richard Lennon, Sherran Myers, Donna Robertson, Don and Pat Oberpriller, Jack and Bev Bailer, Bob and Serila Schneider, Kathleen Chenowith, Donna Bownes, Jan Spurlin, and Shirley and Walter Leyland.

J.C.Parks School Butterfly garden - Carol Xander

A butterfly garden project was installed at J.C. Parks Elementary School.

Archbishop Neale School Prayer Garden - Beth Bonifant

Mary Beth chandler, Patrick McGarry, and Beth Bonifant designed a landscape plan for a prayer garden. Botanicals chosen were put in place so no annual pruning would be required.

Westlake Median Strips - Jessica Milstead

Jessica Milstead led a group of Master Garders to continue landscape design for the median strips with planting expected to be completed this fall.

Home and Garden Show - Jessica Milstead

The Annual Home and Garden Show provided Master Gardeners with the opportunity to participate and offer attendees horticultural information.

St. Charles Garden Awards - Margery LaMar

The Charles County Master Gardeners served as judges for landscapes eligible for the St. Charles Garden Awards program spponsored by American Community Properties Trust, developer and planning entity of St. Charles, to recognize the best street-side yards.

Westlake Field Trip

Eight Master Gardeners viewed wetlands mitigation efforts in the Westlake community of St. Charles, Waldorf. Runoff from developed areas was channeled to sediment ponds with banks planted with filtering vegetation. Nutrients and sediment is absorbed in these vegetative buffer areas, helping to prevent flooding and water pollution of downstream areas.

Dee of St. Mary's Trip

On June 26, Charles County Master Gardeners boarded the "Dee of St. Mary's" for an educational cruise and a tour of the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab located on St. George's Island in St. Mary's County. Participants were Pam King, Roger Buchanan, Dianne Shisler, Tom and Sue Lewis, Anita Adams, Richard Lennon, Sherran Myers, Donna Robertson, Don and Pat Oberpriller, Jack Bailer, Bob Schneider, Kathleen Chenowith, Jay Spurlin, and Shirley Leyland.

Fall 2004

"Bug Day" - Carol Teets' home, Newburg MD

Cooperative Extension Agent Pam King instructed Master Gardeners "in the field" in the identification of insects and identified environmental damage due to excessive moisture. Master Gardeners attending the event were Tom Lewis, Jim Winters, Jessica Milstead, Elaine Miller, Anita Adams, Linda Lockhart, Diane Shisler, Carol Xander, Bob Menke, Beth Bonifant, Jacquelyn Hawkins-McGrail, and Cindi Barnhart.

Grace Lutheran Church Gardens

Master Gardeners Sherri Zimmer, Marge LaMar, Jessit Thibault and others from the Church helped to continue to upgrade the Grace Lutheran School Butterfly Garden. A swale running the length of the garden was converted to a dry creek bed, providing good delineation between lawn and the butterfly garden.

Samuel Mudd House Gardens

Master Gardeners continued work on herb and flower gardens at this historic site. Mille Head and others planted an old fashioned rose bush in keeping with the historical nature of the property and planted cat mint, lemon basil, lavender, tri-color sage, rosemary and chocolate mint to offer a profusion of summer scents and textures.

Archbishop Neale School Prayer Garden

Beth Bonifant, Mary Beth Chandler, and Patrick McGary met to complete the final design of the prayer garden. The design was deliberately configured to limit pruning, plant height considerations, and to prevent intrusion into other areas. Raised beds were mulched and planted with shrubs and evergreens around a focal sitting area in a courtyard.

Westlake Median Strips

Roadway median strips were designed for planting in the area of St. Patrick's Drive and Smallwood Drive in St. Charles, Waldorf. Master Gardener Jessica Milstead was the project lead for this continuing effort by Master Gardeners to respond to a request for beautification of the areas between roadways.

For more information, contact Carole Butler

Last updated: 06/27/2007

More news...

Upcoming events...