@funcountess I just realized I didn't answer about my training. I have been a gardener all my life - grew up helping both Mom & Grandma from a very early age. At age 9, I was responsible for taking our wagon, water & bag lunch & my younger sister, walking 5 blocks to my great uncle's house and tending Mom's vegetable patch there, under uncle's supervision, weeding and bringing home the bounty. She was at home with our 4 younger siblings. He was able to do the watering, which we would rather have done than weeding - what kid doesn't love to play with water? I bet nowadays that would be considered child abuse!

As an adult, I have had gardens at every home we have owned, no matter how inhospitable the conditions. I would study everything I could get my hands on about what/how to grow, and drive my husband crazy clearing space, amending soil, making raised beds... When my kids were about to leave high school, I needed to fill my time previously spent volunteering and took our University Master Gardener course. Master Gardener volunteers provide research and science based garden, lawn, soil & pest information to the public in exchange for continuing education from the U. I have been volunteering with my county for nearly 20 years now, picking up University horticulture training along the way. A few year ago, I added Texas Master Gardener training as well - so I spend a lot of time advising in my little park in Winter.

I spend 100 or more hours each year answering garden questions online and in person, teaching classes, demonstrating proper techniques, teaching 4H kids and school groups, supervising other volunteers at community plantings such as Habitat for Humanity... In Spring, I would normally be spending every Saturday and usually one other evening, at a garden center or farmers' market answering questions, looking at problem plants, making plant and tree suggestions, explaining pest control - so I feel a little lost right now. Our University has chosen to halt ALL in person volunteer activities at least through July 1st so we are scrambling to move online. We now Zoom our Ask A Master Gardener booth twice a week so people can ask their questions.

At home, I host "diggers" several times a year. Many are novice gardeners who spend as much time asking questions as getting plants, and besides helping me keep up my gardens, it allows me to spread my message of research based, environmentally sound gardening and pest control.

How did you come to your interest in gardens?
Sue

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