It’s that time again. If you’ve always enjoyed gardening but wanted to know more about plants and how to keep them happy and thriving in your yard, UGA Extension has just the program for you!

In just a few short weeks you can become a certified Master Gardener.

The Georgia Master Gardener Program in Georgia is a volunteer training program designed to help University of Georgia Cooperative Extension staff transfer research-based information about gardening and related subjects to the public by training home gardeners.

With your help UGA Extension is able to reach out and serve more citizens with educational programming and demonstrations. This is accomplished through volunteer service hours performed by Master Gardeners. In your first year after completing your course you will complete 50 hours of volunteer work and 25 hours per year thereafter to remain in active status with the program.

Classes for new Master Gardeners will be held Aug. 9–Oct. 20, 2016, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Center located on Vulcan Materials Road in LaGrange. Cost for the class including books and supplies is $150.

Deadline for applications is June 15, 2016, so what are you waiting for? Call Troup County Extension at 706-883-1675, email your request to uge2285@uga.edu, or stop by the Extension office located at 114 Church Street in downtown LaGrange.

You will learn a great deal about plants and gardening but one of the greatest benefits, and I speak from experience as a member of the class of 2011, is the new friendships you will forge. There is a comfort in finding those who share our interest and I’m sure you will find that many years after your training class you will still have those friendships that started on Aug. 9 when you introduced yourself at your first Master Gardener class.

What’s going on in Extension?

If you want to be a MGEV, please stop by or call the office for more information.

Georgia Master Cattleman Program starting Sept. 6. Call for more information.

Market on Main: Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting June 4. Come by and enjoy the pick of the day. Carmike Cinemas LaGrange 10 parking lot.

June 9: MGEV meeting, 7 p.m. at the Ag. Center.

July 13-17: Up Camp with 4-H, come get two thumbs Up by growing Up, dressing Up and acting Up with Troup County 4-H. Lots of fun activities. Ninth–12th graders; cost, $45.

June 20: Beekeepers, 7 p.m., Ag. Center.

June 21: Troup County Cattleman: Dan Wallace, NRCS guest speaker; topic: soil mapping; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Troup County Cattlemen. Program will start at 7:30 p.m. The $6 meal will be served at 7 p.m.. Ag. Center.

If you have any questions or concerns, stop by or call the office.