May 2-4 saw the Capital City Master Gardener Association and the Central Alabama Master Gardener Association welcome over three hundred Alabama Master Gardeners from around the state who descended upon Montgomery for the annual Master Gardener Conference held at the Embassy Suites.

The theme for the year was Behind the Garden Gate. Chairperson for the event was Janice Jackson. Her co-chairs were Margaret Cully, Sandra Rosamond, and Candy Jones. The conference opened with  hands-on workshops, Air-layering Camellias presented by Rhona Watson and Jane Mobley, and Herbal Beverages presented by Debbie Boutilier. Also, on Monday many guided tours of the area were opened to attendees. Among the tours were visits to the Old Cloverdale Community Gardens, Grace Episcopal Church Gardens, Downtown Wetumpka, Montgomery Botanical Gardens, ASU Research Gardens, Eat South, and Lilly’s Garden at Forest Ave. Magnet School. The second morning began with a greeting by Gov. Kay Ivey who welcomed the master gardeners and thanked them for their contribution to the beautification of the state and their work on educating property owners in good horticultural practices. The rest of the day was filled with educational presentations by experts in their fields including Erica Glasener, Beth Boles, Jack Rowe, David Brown, and keynote speaker, Dr. Gary Bachman. Breaks between speakers were filled with visits to the silent auction and to vendors of all things gardening. The conference closed out on Wednesday with a presentation on Small Space Gardening by Dr. Backman and the presentation of awards as well as announcements of silent auction winners. Patricia Farmer received the Mary Lou McNabb Master Gardener of the Year Award. Dani Carrol won the Top Extension Agent of the Year. The Alabama Master Gardener Associations consist of trained volunteers who work under the auspices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service headquartered at Auburn University.

Master Gardeners do many gardening projects in the communities in which they live, serve as speakers for community groups as well as answering homeowner questions through the Alabama Helpline, and donating food from their demonstration gardens through the Grow More Give More project.

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please contact your local county Extension Agency or email capcitymaga@gmail.com.