MT. CARROLL, Ill. — On November 13, 2018, the University of Illinois Extension in Carroll, Lee, and Whiteside Counties graduated six new Master Gardener Trainees Sheila Carey, Terry Durham, and Debbie Thormahlen of Whiteside County; Toby Green and Lana Soldat of Carroll County; and Darla Emmert of Lee County.
Master Gardener Training was held on Tuesdays in Dixon at the Lee-Ogle Transportation System (LOTS) from August 28th through November 13th. Each week was a different hands-on horticultural and gardening topic including botany, fruits and vegetables, entomology and plant pathology, annuals and perennials, turf and trees, landscape design, and integrated pest management. University of Illinois Extension Educators from Northern and Central Illinois taught these courses.
“I went home after fruit class and that night I told my husband, ‘over breakfast we are going to try and experiment,’” said Darla Emmert, a Master Gardener Intern. “We are going to count the apple seeds when we eat our morning apples.” One of the hands-on activities for fruits was about the connection between seed development and the flavors of the apples.
After completing their 60-hour volunteer internship over the next two years, the Master Gardeners Interns will become active Master Gardeners.
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners use their training and knowledge to improve the lives of the people in their communities by providing education to the community and youth, and expertise on a variety of projects, emerging horticulture, and garden-related topics.
“I could not be prouder of our Master Gardeners,” said Bruce J. Black, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator. “The passion, expert knowledge, and the willingness to share their love of gardening and nature with their communities is truly inspiring. The ability to collaborate with and learn from them is one of the best things about working in Extension.”
If you are interested in more information about becoming a Master Gardener, please contact your local Extension office.
Carroll County: (815) 244-9444
Lee County: (815) 857-3525
Whiteside County: (815) 632-3611
— Susan O’Connor, University of Illinois Extension
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