Showers bring flowers, new Master Gardener class, new columnist
Finally we have received some good, soaking spring rains, and any late freezes seem to be out of the forecast, so the spring gardening season is in full force.
If you are like me, you have a rampant case of spring fever and cannot wait to dig in the soil!
This is my first gardening column for The Oklahoman, so I want to introduce myself. I am the new Oklahoma County horticulture educator for the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service.
I have studied and been employed in the horticulture field almost all my life. I have a B.S. and M.S. in horticulture from Oklahoma State University and originally worked for the Extension Service during the first six years of my career.
I was then a horticulture faculty member at OSU-Oklahoma City for 24 years, including 19 years as the department head. During this time I helped start the OSUOKC Farmers Market and taught thousands of students in many different areas of horticulture.
After leaving OSUOKC, I managed a local vegetable farm called Prairie Earth Gardens. You also may have heard me as “Bella Julia” on the KTOK “Garden Party” talk radio show, which I hosted for several years.
I also have led educational garden and ecological study tours all over the world and enjoy nothing more than visiting a new garden!
Gardening is definitely my passion, and I also enjoy sharing horticulture information with others. I am so excited to be working for the Extension Service again and am looking forward to contributing educational and fun gardening information with you. I also will be happy to answer your gardening and landscape questions!
One of the most exciting things I will be doing as an extension horticulture educator will be working with a wonderful group of volunteers called the Extension Master Gardeners.
In Oklahoma County, we are taking applications for the 2018 Master Gardener training until May 11. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, you just need to love gardening and be willing to share that love with others.
You also must attend a series of classes that begins in early September and continues through November. The classes meet every Tuesday and offer instruction in vegetable gardening, lawn care, fruit production, landscaping, tree planting and care, pruning, insect and disease control, composting, soil improvement and a long list of other horticulture subjects.
After training, Master Gardeners donate back volunteer hours with hands-on projects at our partner sites like the OKC Zoo, Will Rogers Park and the Myriad Botanical Gardens. They also assist others in their community by helping answer gardening and landscaping questions of individuals that contact the Extension Service office.
Most Master Gardeners find that answering these requests becomes one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives because they learn so much and are able to help other gardeners. After completing the training and fulfilling their volunteer hours, students will qualify for the title of Certified Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.
In addition to volunteering their time to beautifying our state, Master Gardeners also meet once a month to extend their knowledge of gardening subjects. They also travel together to see gardens and gardening projects throughout our state and also in other states.
Becoming a Master Gardener is one of the most positive things you can do for your community. It is also one of the best ways to help increase your own knowledge of gardening.
If you would like more information about the Oklahoma County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program, give us a call at 713-1125 or download the application at http://oces. okstate.edu/oklahoma.