What is a Master Gardener? A Master Gardener is an individual with a green thumb. People who love gardening, digging in the dirt, and don’t even mind the occasional weed. They are community-minded who volunteer to share their gardening knowledge, plant, and maintain public gardens. To become a Master Gardener I completed a college-level horticulture class and completed 40 plus hours of community service. Going through the program and being a member of the association is something that I throughly enjoy. It was great to get out of the house and rub shoulders with those individuals who have the same interests. I personally love being outside on a warm day (if it’s cold, forget it, I’m a wimp!) and digging in the dirt. I love taking something, changing it, and making it better. I love to watch things grow and to beautify the space around me.

In honor of receiving my certificate, I’d thought I’d list my favorite gardening books:

American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants by Christopher Brickell . The Bible of Gardening. A must have.
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Ortho’s Home Gardener’s Problem Solver by Ortho Books. Any title in the Ortho’s series is great! This one solves all your problems, thus the name of the title.
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All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. These are some great ideas that I have incorporated into my own garden. Square foot gardening is a great way to go.
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Sunset Western Garden Book by Kathleen Norris Brenzel. A must have for the western garden.
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Better Homes and Gardens New Garden Book by Better Homes and Gardens. A great comprehensive reference book.
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These are just a very, very, very small sampling of the many wonderful gardening books available, but give a good comprensive introduction to gardening. Check out my website for the American Horticultural Society’s Book Awards. They have chosen the best of the best. Although, it’s winter now, gardening books make the best Christmas gift for the gardener in your life. It will beat the winter blues!