Unleash your green thumb through educational and scientifically based horticultural programs
Discover Research-Based Horticulture Solutions
We offer a variety of community service programs
Smith County Master Gardeners offer a variety of programs that disseminate research-based horticultural information, supporting our community in important ways. These community-based programs vary from plant sales and garden tours to conferences and seminars on a variety of gardening topics. You will discover eco-friendly gardening techniques that will nourish your plants and the environment.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, our team will guide you towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Visit our demonstration gardens
Smith County Master Gardeners follow Earth-Kind® principles as they care for an impressive group of innovative research and demonstration gardens. These gardens serve as outdoor classrooms where our Master Gardeners provide Smith County residents and visitors with research-based information about sustainable horticultural practices and environmental stewardship.
Bulb Sale and Conference
This annual event offers a unique selection of heirloom, hard-to-find, and
regionally adapted bulbs.
-
Time Well Planted
Mother’s Day in East Texas doesn’t arrive quietly – it comes in full bloom. By mid-May, the soil has warmed, the azaleas have shown off, and just about every porch in town seems to have a pot or two bursting with color. It’s the perfect backdrop for celebrating the women who, much like a good…
-
Container Gardening for Small Spaces
Let’s face it—not all of us have space to plant a full-sized garden. Fortunately, the growing season—and a few good containers—can still turn a small patio into something productive. As an over-exuberant container gardener, I once learned this the hard way. I actually lost my homeowner’s insurance because I had too many containers on my…
-
Growing Southern Peas
When you say “pea” to most gardeners in the world, they think of “English” peas that thrive in cool, moist environments. But to most Southerners, a hot-weather legume from Africa, more related to beans, is the norm. Despite what others say about our peas being “cattle food,” many of our ancestors dined on them practically…
More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu.