So you say you want to become a master gardener? What is a master gardener and what steps must be taken to achieve that goal? The tips and information found in this article will answer these questions

Learn how to become a Master Gardener. Explore certifications in accredited programs at local universities or extension offices in the USA.

Plant a climbing rose in an open, sunny area in moist, well-drained soil. They have an extensive root system and need lots of space to grow.

By Kathi Thistlethwaite, Colorado Master Gardener Design a what? A potager (pow·tuh·jay), is a kitchen garden, taken from the French “jardin potage” or soup garden. Potagers have been a part o…

An Illinois master gardener shares her advice for taming a difficult landscape.

I started out wanting to explore one of my passions more deeply. But I had no idea this program would completely change the way I think about gardening—even the way I look at dirt.

A master gardener is a trained volunteer who donates their time to their local extension. They do this because they are experienced, gardening enthusiasts and love all aspects of growing plants, flowers and vegetables. They are also knowledgeable about what plants do well in their zone as well as what pests and diseases are prevalent […]

Join us for Episode 8 of the Backyard Bouquet Podcast where we hear from master gardener Stacy Ling of Bricks 'N Blooms.

Enjoy blooms all season long with our best container garden ideas and plant suggestions. Find beautiful inspirations to adorn your porches and patios.

Question: I want to add mint to my garden, but I know from previous experience that it can be invasive. What precautions should I take?

The five requirements to become a successful garden consultant. You don't need to be a horticulturist/master gardener, but you do need these five things.

Free planting templatesPlanting Plans from Maryland's "Green Book for the Buffer"I often find getting started is the hardest part of many projects. I was recently reminded how true that is for gardening when a Master Gardener from Newport News wrote to me about a fantastic project she is working on with her fellow gardeners: a "Getting Started" kit tailored specifically to Virginia coastal gardens. This sounds like a terrific idea and I hope to be able to share it when it is ready for prime tim

Plant a climbing rose in an open, sunny area in moist, well-drained soil. They have an extensive root system and need lots of space to grow.

Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and more—here's our guide to what you should plant in the fall to have your garden blooming in autumn and spring.

Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and more—here's our guide to what you should plant in the fall to have your garden blooming in autumn and spring.

On the grounds of a former estate outside of Philadelphia, a cadre of master gardeners presides over an oasis of earthly delights. We've put together some ideas—paired with photos—from Chanticleer that any home gardener can use to design their own spaces.

Flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and more—here's our guide to what you should plant in the fall to have your garden blooming in autumn and spring.

I don't mean to rush things, but I have started to think about the coming shift in the seasons. There is still plenty of summer left...

Historic Breckenridge House, built in Old Fig Garden in 1933 (*For a self-guided tour of the Honeyman Garden, click here .*) ...

An Illinois master gardener shares her advice for taming a difficult landscape.

Orin Martin, who is celebrating his 40th anniversary with the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden this month, enjoys every minute, calling the students and apprentices he shares his days with "the light of the world."

Master gardeners won't tell you these gardening tips!

Whether you are a master gardener or novice, start an amazing container garden on your porch or patio with these awesome tips!

STEPHANIE ROSE: THE REGENERATIVE GARDEN ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Master Gardener and award-winning author Stephanie Rose discusses her new book, "The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for Creating a Self-sustaining Garden Ecosystem." Watch here in the YouTube player or listen/download the podcast on PodBean, and SoundCloud. “The Regenerative Garden” is a guide to working with nature, Master Gardener and award-winning author Stephanie Rose discusses her new book, "The Regenerative Garden: 80 Practical Projects for Creating a Self-sustaining Garden Ecosystem."

Above: One of eight paintings of topiary at Hartwell House gardens. Sir Thomas Lee (1687-1749) of Hartwell commissioned the paintings from...

Garden designer Angel Collins runs us through the basics of garden design, and what to bear in mind when planning a garden from scratch.

Beginner gardeners & master gardeners will equally devour this new garden design book, Garden Wonderland, by design pro Leslie Bennett. Must-read of 2024!

I don't mean to rush things, but I have started to think about the coming shift in the seasons. There is still plenty of summer left in the warm afternoons, but fall has already laid claim to the evening hours. In the middle of the night, I awoke shivering and reached out for a blanket for the first time in weeks. Perhaps because of all those early years in school classrooms, September seems like a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. I have begun to think about college classes and the directions in which I want to move my life. Should I take a class in small business accounting? It is bound to be terribly dull, but has practical purposes. I have no idea how to balance the books or manage the money my jewellery making and photography has begun to bring in. Maybe I should take a class in photography? That certainly sounds like way more fun. I do fine enough with my camera, but imagine what I could do if I really had a clue. And how is gardening going to fit into my future? Though a life-long passion, gardening has always taken the form of a hobby, not a vocation. But as the years have slipped by, I have begun to feel a bit restless. Is blogging about gardening enough? In the late spring, I investigated becoming a master gardener and I now must decide soon if I want to proceed. The challenge of mastering something I love to do seems very appealing to me. And even after years of practical experience, but there still are gaps in my knowledge. The only thing that gives me pause is the direction. If you look at what I like to write about most in this blog, it is garden design that seems to capture my imagination. Maybe it is actually landscape design I should study? Do you ever feel this conflicted about the direction your life should take? Tell me I am not alone! Anyway... it is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, the last such celebration of the summer and we should take a look at what is blooming in the garden. The recent rains have really refreshed the garden. My roses have begun to re-bloom. This one is an Austin rose: L.D. Braithwaite. The phlox along the white picket fence have been blooming now for a number of weeks. They are just starting to fade a bit and will need to be pruned back to coax a second round of flowers before fall frosts arrive. Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata 'Laura': Has purple flowers with a cream colored eye that have a very subtle fragrance. Height: 90-107 cm, Spread 60-75 cm, Care: Full sun and average soil. Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum': Has clear pink flowers with a maroon colored eye This phlox also has a very subtle fragrance. Height: 60-80 cm, Spread 60-75 cm Care: Full sun and average soil. My only issue with Eva Cullum is that the leaves are susceptible to brown spots. Both these phlox wilt if not watered during times of drought. Ballon Flower, Platycodon grandiflorus: This star-shaped flower is one of my last perennials to emerge in spring. The young shoots look almost asparagus-like and the plant's carrot-like roots mean it is difficult to move. If you like this tall, late bloomer, there is also a white and pink colored single, as well as double varieties. Height: 45-60 cm, Spread 30-45 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils. Best in full sun, but can take light shade. Daylily, 'Evening Gown' Brown-Eyed-Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstum': I actually have a couple different varieties of Rudbeckia and find one as good as the other. They like morning sun and a bit of afternoon shade best. Height: 60-75 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils. Dwarf Calamint, Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta is a close cousin to garden mint, but without the spreading habit. The plant forms a neat mound of mint-scented leaves and has been covered in pale blue flowers for several weeks now. Height: 20-30 cm, Spread: 30-45 cm, Care: This is a flexible plant that will tolerate average, dry to moist conditions and will grow in normal, sandy and clay soil. Calamint, Calamintha grandiflora variegata: I love this plant for the foliage, which is a beautiful variegated mix of cream and soft green. If trimmed, the plant will bloom with tiny mauve flowers for an extended time. Height: 30-45 cm, Spread: 45-60 cm, Care: This is a calamint will tolerate average to moist conditions and will grow in normal, sandy and even clay soil. Agastache 'Blue Fortune': After admiring this perennial on several blogs last summer, I finally added 'Blue Fortune' just recently. The bees go mad for it! The leaves have a slight licorice scent and the flowers and leaves are supposedly edible. Height: 60-75 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils. Dwarf Perennial Sunflower, Helianthus 'Happy Days' This plant is relatively new to the garden and is still very much on probation. Helianthus 'Happy Days' forms an upright mound of pointy dark green leaves and has daisy-like, yellow flowers on strong stems. Height 55-60 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Average to moist, well-drained soil. My plant is doing well in half-shade, but I imagine it would do fine in full sun. Sadly, I have discovered that Porcelain Vine is a favourite with Japanese Beetles. Annual: Lavatera Sedum 'Purple Emperor': Height: 40 cm, Spread: 30-40 cm, Care: Full sun for good foliage color. Happy GBBD everyone! I am going to link this post to May Dreams Gardens GBBD and Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time. To see some other beautiful gardens, please click the link.

Early sketch of proposed concept for a master gardeners demonstration garden divided into different themes and to be maintained by teams of master gardeners each team in charge of one theme garden.

Looking for a few landscaping ideas to add variety to your garden or color year-round? Get inspiration from these flower beds, fences, outdoor rooms, and courtyards.

One of my favorite things about blogging is the many special people who've come into my life because of this activity. Camille is one of those special gardeners and I got to tour her garden with another, my blogging pal Alison (Bonney Lassie.) Camille's garden reflects her ebullient spirit, eye for design, attention to detail, and above all, her love of plants. (Did I mention a lot of hard work?) I first had the pleasure of meeting Camille and seeing her garden and gorgeous home in October of last year. Come see what's happening this spring! Look, fresh mulch. (Does throwing the contents of my Monday vases out the back door at one of the beds count as mulch?) Everything looks so happy and healthy. So far this is just the view from the road out front. Camille places her plants thoughtfully and the contrasts she creates with foliage both deciduous and evergreen are fabulous; her collection of unusual conifers inspiring. This area was previously a front lawn. How can you not love someone who rips out grass in favor of such an interesting array of plants? The former front lawn facing away from the house. It's difficult to show this but the waterfall cascades down the back of of the hill as well. Very clever. I have a bit of a crush on Camellia Vestito Rosso 'MonBella' not only for the formal red late winter flowers but also for the stunning new burgundy foliage which contrasts so nicely with the older green growth. Here it was, in all it's glory, in Camille's garden. She sent me an update photo a couple of days ago and the foliage hasn't started fading to green yet. This area has been totally reworked since fall. The addition of this large Buddha head really ties the Asian garden together nicely. Notice the tree fern behind and the Cardiocrinum giganteum on the left getting ready to bloom. Perfect placement of the hosta! Which way to turn? Singing the blues. I can't explain my fascination with Victorian gazebos but they thrill me as much as the sight of the gorgeous Acer palmatum "Ukigumo" (Floating Clouds) on the right. From another angle. The larger pond in the back garden. What a clever hummingbird feeder! This is the "Island of Misfit Plants." Oh that my pot ghetto looked so handsome. Another new addition. Every inch of this garden is so well coiffed and tidy. The wisteria-filled stained glass windows in the kitchen (not visible here) overlook the real thing in bloom. The view of the Orting Valley and Mt. Rainier is breathtaking. From the deck overlooking what the Beverly Hillbillies call "The Cement Pond." Another delightful foliage contrast. Our garden host just wishes you'd pat her or go away! "I'm serious, put the camera down and play with me and nobody gets hurt." Sorry, no further pictures are available at this time. The camera will be returned "When I'm good and ready." Thanks, Camille and Dirk, for once again opening your garden for our enjoyment! Kitty, the catnip is in the mail per your instructions.

In episode 8 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Stacy Ling shares her journey from a novice gardener to a master gardener. She discusses motivations, from spreading joy and overcoming personal tragedy, to practical advice for beginners starting cut flower gardens with easy-to-grow seeds. Stacy emphasizes companion planting for a thriving garden and enjoys flower arranging. Her passion and expertise aim to inspire others to discover the pleasure of gardening and flower decorating.

by Paulette Greenberg, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

Follow these tips and you'll soon become the best grower in town!

An Illinois master gardener shares her advice for taming a difficult landscape.

Ever wonder how expert gardeners know how to layout their vegetable gardens? Here's your guide to companion planting, succession planting, taxonomy, and growing requirements for all your crops with quick references and helpful infographics. Get ready for the biggest harvests you've ever had!