Join Learn and Grow with Extension Master Gardeners

By Scout Nelson

The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are a dedicated group of gardening enthusiasts who enjoy learning, growing, and sharing gardening knowledge with the community. They work in partnership with K-State Research and Extension to offer education, support conservation, and beautify their local area.

Each month from January to November, EMG hosts free educational presentations open to the public. These sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. and are held in the North Room of the Dreher 4-H Family Building at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, Kansas. Topics vary each month and include timely subjects such as perennial food plants, monarch conservation, local landscape design, and moon gardens. Attendees can also join these sessions online by registering through the provided links.

For those who want to deepen their commitment, EMG offers a training program. The 2025 session runs from September 4 to December 4, with classes held every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. via Zoom and in-person activities at the fairgrounds. Registration requires agreement to volunteer guidelines.

To further support gardening efforts, EMG offers micro-grants for local garden projects. These grants must align with EMG’s mission to share research-based horticultural knowledge within Douglas County.

The EMG also has a Speakers Bureau, where trained volunteers are available to speak to community groups, churches, and clubs on a variety of horticultural topics. Presentations are adaptable in length and offered free of charge.

Residents seeking gardening help can contact the Master Gardener Hotline from April to October, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 1 to 4 p.m. Help is available by phone, email, or walk-in at their Harper Street office in Lawrence.

Recorded educational sessions and more can be found on the EMG YouTube channel. Everyone is invited to subscribe and stay connected to gardening wisdom year-round.

Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman