Briefs

Master gardeners to answer questions in Henderson

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension master gardeners will staff an Ask a Master Gardener table at Whole Foods Market in Henderson every Saturday in January.

Visit the market at 100 S. Green Valley Parkway each week between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. to ask your gardening questions.

Weekly topics are: Jan. 7, holiday plant care; Jan. 14, how to prune roses; Jan. 21, time to start tomato seeds, and Jan. 28, worm composting. Along with weekly topics, additional information will be available.

Master gardeners are university-trained community volunteers who share their knowledge and desert gardening skills via community projects. Master gardeners are experienced in successfully growing plants in the harsh hot, dry and windy climate of the Mojave Desert. This is an environment unfamiliar to many newcomers. By teaching what to plant and how to properly care for their landscapes or gardens, the master gardeners save people money on water, soil amendments, plant materials, etc.

Since 1992, more than 1,000 community members have taken the UNCE master gardener horticulture training course with the understanding that they are not to keep this information to themselves, that they will become the university's unpaid ambassadors and share the science of good desert gardening with others.

For more information on the master gardener program, contact Ann Edmunds at 702-257-5587 or email edmuncsa@unce.unr.edu.

Registration date set for master gardener training class

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will hold an information and registration session for the spring 2012 Master Gardener Training on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 8:30 a.m. at the Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. The master gardener volunteer program is open to all adults; individuals do not need a horticulture background, only an interest in gardening and a desire to share what they've learned with the community.

Spring classes will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. beginning March 12. There are 20 classes.

The program teaches sustainable desert gardening practices, including proper plant selection and care, disease and pest management and water-efficient gardening.

To become a master gardener, an individual must complete 80 hours of horticultural instruction and volunteer 50 hours on community projects each year .

At the information/registration session, staff will detail the training program requirements, volunteer commitment and community projects. A $150 cost-recovery fee covers all class materials including three textbooks, master gardeners badge, shirt, tote and some refreshments.

Completed registrations, applications with cash or check payable to the Board of Regents, will secure enrollment and will be accepted on a first-come basis at the information/ registration session.

Reservations may be made by calling Mary Bertsch, program assistant, at 702-257-5501 or email bertschm@unce.unr.edu.