Specialist

News and Tid-Bits
County and State News Items
January 2008

Bell County Master Gardeners - Honor Members
Master Gardeners Honor Members One hundred and eight Bell County Master Gardeners celebrated Christmas and honored members with service awards at the Bell County Expo Center December 13.

Bell County Extension Agent Dirk Aaron and Bell County Master Gardener President Dr. Gyman Okeson presented service awards to sixty-one master gardeners.

• Dr. John Curtis, State Representative Dianne White Delisi, Ilene Miller and Lawrence Cox were honored with Life Membership for their contributions to the organization. This is the highest honor that the Bell County association can bestow on a member. These master gardeners were in the first Master Gardener class of 1997 and consistently contribute to the master garden program.
• Lawrence Cox of Killeen and Crystal Fisher of Temple earned recognition awards for more than one thousand service hours.
• Johnny Buck of Florence, Mary Ann Everett of Temple and Ursula Nanna of Harker Heights received certificates for more than 800 service hours.
• Awards were also given to fifty-six other master gardeners for 100-400 hours of service.
• Mary Ann Everett received the Golden Trowel Award. Other master gardeners choose the recipient of this award presented for outstanding accomplishments to the organization and to the community.
• Mary Lou Edmondson, Annette Ensing, Karla Tomaka, Ken Richey and Mary Lew Quesinberry received the Green Thumb Award. Recipients of this award are chosen by fellow master gardeners as well.
• Ten-year pins were presented to Dyna Bailey, Walter Daude, Vera Greenfield, Linda Hunter, Patricia Roy-Jolly, Lisa Sebek and Donness Shine.
• Five-year awards were presented to Rita Bielik, Neil Cochran, Marlene Gillman, Sandra Jones, Deborah Martin, Gladys Newsom, Marty Portman, Mary Lew Quesinberry, Jeanne Richard, Sandy Street, Mickey Sweeden and John Womack.
• Wlater Daude of Killeen received the Sharie Lanza Ambassador Award presented in appreciation for continued leadership and service to the Texas Master Gardener Association at the state convention in Kerrville last April. The Bell County Master Gardeners honored Mr. Daude with a certificate recognizing his award from the state association.
• Ilene Miller chaired the Silent Auction, which received over 150 donations from members and area businesses. The silent auction is an important fundraiser for the non-profit organization. The master gardener association is a volunteer development program offered by the Texas Cooperative Extension.

The next class of master gardeners begins January 2. These new interns will receive 75 hours of classroom training most of which is provided by Texas A&M professors. In addition they are required to perform 75 hours of volunteer service to become a certified master gardener. In exchange for their training, Master Gardeners work as volunteers to provide horticultural service and information to the community. Submitted by Mary Lew Quesinberry Bell County Master Gardener Association Corresponding Secretary 254-780-3625

Bell County Master Gardeners

Lawrence Cox receives Life Membership from Bell County President Dr. Gy Okeson. This honor is bestowed from the board of directors to individuals who consistantly work for the success of the goals of the organization. Mr. Cox is the Greenhouse Coordinator and a member of the class of 2000. He was also honored for over 1000 hours of volunteer service.

Bell County Master Gardeners

Ilene Miller, one of the organizers of the Bell County Master Gardener program started in 1997 was honored with Life Membership at the association's Christmas party held at the Bell County Expo in Belton December 13th.

Bell County Master Gardeners

Mary Ann Everett receives the Golden Trowel Award from Bell County Master Gardener President Dr. Gy Okeson. This award was presented at the master gardener Christmas party held at the Bell County Expo in Belton. Recipients of this award are chosen for their outstanding accomplishments to the association.

Lake Granbury Master Gardeners

2007 Master Gardener of the Year - Arnold Blaylock, pictured with wife Georgia, is a person who sincerely gives of himself to help others. With his leadership the construction and development of the new one acre Demonstration Educational Research Garden has become a reality in 2007. Arnold engineered features in the garden which provide a comprehensive educational venue for the community. Some of these features are: rainwater harvesting, composting, dual drip irrigation system for rainwater/city water, freeform and raised beds for 27 different types of garden, water features, garden for nationwide EarthKind ® Rose project and an open air activity/instructional center. As he worked in the garden, he acted as a mentor to other Master Gardeners and visitors from the community. In addition to the development of the garden, Arnold has made presentations on “Constructing Water Features for a Garden” and “Square Foot Gardening”. His contributions have helped the LGMG association continue its goal to support the Extension Office and serve our community.

MG License Plate

Disclaimer: The information given is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service or the Texas Master Gardener Association is implied.

Site maintained by Doug Richards , Texas Master Gardeners Association