Native gardening project blooms thanks to Master Gardeners green thumbs

May 17—A cadre of the county's most dedicated and trained gardeners was hard at work early this month, paving the way to expand the native garden area in front of the Haywood County Extension Office.

In the initial stage, the project was to clear out weeds and prepare the soil. The heavy lifting was to start after Mother's Day, a traditional, easy-to-remember date when the danger of frost has passed in these mountains.

The work was just a small part of the many projects and services offered through the Master Gardeners, a program under the Haywood County Extension Service.

In addition to staffing a plant clinic to help all solve prickly gardening questions, the group plants and maintains numerous public spaces in the county, from learning gardens at two elementary schools to the giving garden at the Canton library and work with other garden clubs across the county.

Rachel Douglas, the Haywood County extension agent for commercial and consumer horticulture, said there are 87 Master Gardeners in the county. Some have an emeritus status, some are interns working to become certified. All have contributed hundreds of hours toward helping beautify Haywood County.

The initial training is 40 education hours, then 40 volunteer hours, Douglas said. After becoming certified, Master Gardeners receive 10 education hours and contribute 20 volunteer hours each year, though Douglas said most put in far, far more hours volunteering than required.

Intern project

Linda Crawford is leading the native garden project at the extension office as part of her internship to become a Master Gardener.

Crawford recently moved to Haywood and was immediately drawn to the Master Gardener program.

When someone was needed to oversee the native plant project, Crawford immediately volunteered.

It was an ideal way to finish up her 40-hour internship, plus work with something that had become her passion.

"I took on the job of being the coordinator of the demonstration garden because of my love of native plants," Crawford said. "It was kind of a lot for an intern to take on, but my sponsor recommended that based on interests."

During winter, she helped prepare the master list of what would be planted and where it should go. Spring work kicked off in early May with weeding the area and preparing the soil for a May 17 planting.

"The demo garden will show the community what you can do with natives and how beautiful it can be," Crawford said.

She has plenty of help with the project simply by putting out a call for Master Gardener volunteers.

As a newcomer to the area, Crawford has found an instant group of individuals that share her interests through the program.

"We've had a nice group working on this project," she said. "Afterward we all go to lunch and talk horticulture. It's so fun. This is my community of people."

A helping hand

Enrollment in the Master Gardener program opens in the fall, with information sessions leading up to the classes, Douglas said. That gives plenty of time for the volunteers to get up to speed by spring, when the gardening season intensifies.

The Master Gardeners offer a plant clinic year-round, where those with gardening questions can get researched and informed answers.

Residents can email questions, along with photos of a plant, if applicable, to haywoodemgv@gmail.com, or drop by an onsite plant clinic.

The clinic is at the Extension Office, 589 Raccoon Road, Waynesville. Tuesday hours are from 9 a.m. to noon, while Thursday hours are from 1-4 p.m. The onsite clinic ends Sept. 19, though the email clinic offers its services year-round.