The Master Gardener Program is offered by the University of Tennessee Extension. The purpose of the Master Gardener program is to train people as horticultural-educated volunteers. These volunteers work in partnership with their counties to expand the educational outreach, providing home ga​rdeners with researched-based information. Each volunteer has been trained with 40 hours of horticultural education, and keeps updated with continuing education events.

The Northeast Master Gardener Association (NETMGA) membership includes  volunteers from Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington, Carter and Unicoi Counties. Their many activities include information booths at various home and farm shows, answering Ask-a-Master Gardener phone calls, teaching classes in the community, and organizing new Master Gardener classes. Their presence can be seen in many local historic site gardens, demonstration gardens and community vegetable gardens.



NETMGA Membership Meetings 

Welcome to Summer 2021 NETMGA Master Gardeners!!

June is a busy and fruitful month in the garden, so we could do no less and

are offering two General Meetings for the month of June. Both of these meetings will be on Zoom and we will send out the links prior to each session.

Monday, June 7, 2021

6:30 pm via Zoom

Our speaker will be Ben Casteel. He will be hosting the meeting from the greenhouse at Virginia Highlands CC where he is an Instructor and the Director of their Horticultural Program.  Ben will be giving us a tour of the facility and then will be answering questions about commercial and personal home greenhouses. Ben is a native of Southwest Virginia and has Agricultural and Horticulture degrees from Virginia Highlands, Prescott College and Virginia Tech. 

Monday, June 28, 2021 

6:30 pm via Zoom

This program will feature a slide show of photographs of MG member's gardens. We did this last year and those who participated enjoyed the show and the impromptu question and answer period after the slides.  Please send any photos of your gardens to tarag8008@gmail.com, we will accept entries until Friday, June 18, 2021. 

CEU Opportunities

While social distancing requirements are in effect, Master Gardeners may earn CEU credits by watching or participating in online teaching sessions, particularly those offered through Extension. 

Friday Focus from UT Extension Master Gardeners for 2021

This series is for Tennessee Master Gardeners ONLY!

Our Friday Focus series continues this year (with some pretty cool surprises in store for you throughout the year). 
The dates are:
January 29th - Home Fruit in Murfreesboro
March 26th - Botanic Gardens in Nashville
May 7, 14, 21, 28 - TN State Park Spotlight Tours
July 23rd - Turf and Cut Flowers
September 24th - Arboretums
November 19th - Plants of the Season

Click to Register

Third Thursdays from UT Extension Master Gardeners

The state Tennessee Extension Master Gardener (TEMG), Fruit & Veggie, and Sustainable Landscape Teams are joining together to offer in-depth (one hour) gardening classes (open for both Master Gardeners AND the general public).  Join us on the following Thursdays:

May 20th - Home Fruit and Vegetables
June 24th - Ornamentals
July 15th - Home Fruit and Vegetables
August 19th - Ornamentals
October 21st - Live from Opryland Conservatory

Click to Register

Melody's Monday Musings for 2021

Melody Rose, County Extension Agent for Greene County, will be hosting a wide variety of horticultural information sessions during 2021.  Click on the link below to see the list of sessions (both Zoom and non-Zoom sessions).  Registration is required, but is free.

Link to Monday Musings.

Washington County Extension Gardening Webinars for Spring, 2021

Adam Watson, County Extension Agent for Washington County, will be hosting free gardening webinars during the Spring, 2021.  Click on the dates in the following listing to register for the webinar.  

4/12 Monday 6:30 pm-Berry Good Garden

Join Adam Watson & Elizabeth Renfro as they discuss growing your own berries and how to use them in recipes.

4/26 Monday 6:30 pm-Breakfast Garden

Join Adam Watson & Elizabeth Renfro as they discuss growing fruits and vegetables for you very own "Breakfast Garden" and how to use them in breakfast type recipes!

5/10 Monday May 6:30 pm-Stir Fry Garden

Join Adam Watson & Elizabeth Renfro as they discuss growing your own vegetables to create your own "Stir Fry Garden" and how to use them in recipes.

5/24 Monday 6:30 pm-Salsa Garden 

Join Adam Watson & Elizabeth Renfro as they discuss growing your own fruit and vegetables to create your own "Salsa Garden" and many fresh salsa recipes!

***** READ ALL ABOUT IT ****

4/5/21  The mystery of those small black spots: Are they tar or artillery fungus?  See Chris's Column for the answer.

3/14 March is Extension Promotion month in Tennessee. See Chris's Column for more information. 

2/22 See Chris' Column for timely advice on controlling crabgrass.