Master Gardeners of Hamilton County

3rd Saturday Class: Worm Composting & Straw Bale Gardening
2022-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Video Meeting
Join Master Gardener & Certified Straw Bale instructor Robbie Summerour to learn about worm composting and straw bale gardening. She’ll discuss how to raise and feed worms, how to harvest and sift castings, and how to save cocoons. Next it’s on to straw bale gardening. You will learn how to condition a bale for planting and the proper planting procedure. Plus a quick visit to her own garden to see a straw bale garden in action.

Click HERE to register for our virtual class on Worm Composting & Straw Bale Gardening.

Native Plant Marketplace & Expo
2022-03-19 09:00 - 15:00 | First Tennessee Pavilion, 1801 Carter St, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37408, United States
The TN Valley Wild Ones Marketplace & Expo feature native plant nurseries and other vendors that will offer a wide variety of native plants . Food trucks will also be on site. For the safety of all, masks will be required.

Day of Gardening: Top Gardening Trends for 2022
2022-02-26 09:30 - 14:00 | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Avenue, East Ridge, 37412
Tennessee Garden Clubs, District III presents “Day of Gardening: Top Gardening Trends for 2022.” This year’s featured speaker is John Manion, Arboretum Curator at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga.

Class topics will be gardening for small spaces, gardens for indoor air quality, planting combinations for color using trending garden colors, and incorporating water features into the landscape for wildlife and wellbeing.

Ticket price includes a boxed lunch, with a dessert and a drink.

Download the registration form below.

Day of GardeningDownload

3rd Saturday Class: Benefits of Keeping Bees in Your Garden
2022-02-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Don’t miss our 3rd Saturday Zoom class February 19 at 10 am! Master Beekeeper and Master Gardener Kendra Ware will share beekeeping basics and benefits she has seen in her garden since she started keeping bees. She’ll discuss bee basics, including identifying different types of bees, the makeup of a honeybee colony and how honeybees are part of our food supply chain. She’ll address the sweetest subject of all—how bees produce honey.

Click HERE to register for our virtual class on beekeeping benefits.

3rd Saturday Class: Got Bluebirds?
2022-01-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Join Tri-State Bluebirds members and Master Gardeners, Lisa Lemza and Diane Shelly on Zoom to learn how to attract bluebirds to your yard! Lisa and Diane will discuss nest box basics, including design, construction, location and predator guards. These boxes are essential to the bluebird’s survival due to loss of habitat and competition from other species. Nest boxes also provide habitat for eight other native cavity-nesting birds.

The Tri-State Bluebird Society was formed in 2021 to encourage bluebird conservation by educating the public, constructing and monitoring bluebird nest box trails and developing healthy habitats where bluebirds can thrive. For information about this organization, email tristatebluebirds@gmail.com.

Register

Evening Master Gardener Training
2022-01-06 18:00 - 21:00 | UT Extension Office, 6183 Adamson Cir, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37416, United States
The Evening MGHC 2022 Master Gardener Training course will begin on Monday, January 31st at 6:00pm. The Master Gardener Training Program provides a comprehensive education in basic horticulture through a 15-week series of classes taught by highly qualified, trained instructors using the latest research-based information from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Click here for more information and to register.

Morning Master Gardener Training
2022-01-06 09:45 - 12:45 | UT Extension Office, 6183 Adamson Cir, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37419, United States
The Morning MGHC 2022 Master Gardener Training course will begin on Tuesday, January 25th at 9:45am. The Master Gardener Training Program provides a comprehensive education in basic horticulture through a 15-week series of classes taught by highly qualified, trained instructors using the latest research-based information from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Click here for more information and to register.

Third Saturday Class: Holiday Flower Arranging
2021-11-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
This month, learn how local floral design professional, Kakhi Wakefield, creates holiday arrangements for her home. Kakhi will show us how she envisions and then assembles the materials for her creations. She’ll also answer questions about the art of floral design—just in time for the holidays! Register

Third Saturday Class: All About Orchids!
2021-10-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Learn how you can grow and enjoy orchids in your own home with Charles Davidson. You will learn about different types of orchids, their cultural needs as well as tips and techniques for repotting and propagating orchids.

Fall Garden Festival
2021-09-25 10:00 - 18:00 | UT-TSU Extension Hamilton County / Bonny Oaks Arboretum, 6183 Adamson Circle, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37416, United States
Join the fun at the Bonny Oaks Arboretum as the Hamilton County Master Gardeners celebrate Fall! MGHC’s Fall Garden Festival will feature a variety of vendors with plants (trees, shrubs, perennials), hand-crafted foods, and yard art, along with Master Gardener demos and exhibits plus fun activities for children. People can learn about: Bees, Bluebirds, Composting, Fall Vegetables, Grow Buckets, Herbs, Mulching, Native Plants & Pollinators, Rain Barrels, Raised Beds, and Trees. People can purchase Rain Barrels and Grow Buckets to take home. There will also be a food truck and homemade baked goods for sale. Tickets are $5, children under 12 are free. Details & Tickets

Third Saturday Class: Shade Gardens
2021-09-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
A “too-shady” yard can be an opportunity to create a beautiful garden with plants that flourish with little light. Trees, succulents, flowers, you can have it all even under the shade of old established trees. Master Gardener Fran Gier will show you how to create your own Shade Garden.

Fran notes, “Gardeners are often unsure about what to plant under trees and how to make the shady areas around their yards look attractive. Challenges to shade gardening include: keeping plants under trees watered, creating areas for woodland plants, and dealing with a variety of pests. There are many ways to solve the mystery of planting your not-so-sunny spots. My presentation will cover different types of shade plants, plants that complement each other, and how to create both traditional and naturalized woodland gardens. You’ll come away understanding the elements of a beautiful shade garden and how to create a lovely respite in your backyard.”

Register

Third Saturday Class: Container Water Gardening
2021-08-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Do you love water gardens, but just don’t have the space for a pond? Join Master Gardener Christine Rymer to learn how to create a water feature that is perfect for small garden spaces, decks and patios.

MGHC Annual Garden Tour
2021-08-14 10:00 - 2021-08-15 11:00
We are delighted to present the 2021 Hamilton County Master Gardener Garden Tour! This year’s tour features four private gardens located in the Ooltewah/Collegedale area, and the Bonnie Oaks Arboretum. This diverse group of speciality gardens includes gardens focusing on edibles, container gardening, perennials and native plants. Master gardeners will be on had to answer questions. Tickets and more info

Third Saturday Class: What's This Buzz About Native Plants? Why do they matter?
2021-07-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
There’s a lot of news about how essential native plants are in supporting the North American insect, pollinator, and bird populations. What does the science say? How can ordinary gardeners use this information to build beautiful, cheap, and easily maintained gardens, while also providing essential habitat for urban wildlife?

Lisa Lemza is a lifetime master gardener whose home garden and gardening approach were featured in the March 2021 “Chatter” magazine. She is an active member and former president of the local native plant society, the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones. She co-chairs the community garden at Grace Episcopal Church with Kristina Shaneyfelt, and is in the process of establishing a Level Two certified Arboretum at the church. With Alison Hoffman, she co-manages the Tri-State Chapter of the Tennessee Bluebird Society.

Third Thursdays with Plants: Small Fruits for TN
2021-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
We will introduce the very BEST small fruits for TN home gardens and helpful insights on management.

This series of classes highlights a wide range horticulture topics and management practices specific to TN gardeners. Join us LIVE on Zoom each third Thursday at 10am Central/ 11 am Eastern. Register with the website link below.

Third Thursdays with Plants: What is a Sustainable Landscape?
2021-06-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
This series of classes highlights a wide range horticulture topics and management practices specific to TN gardeners. Join us LIVE on Zoom each third Thursday at 10am Central/ 11 am Eastern. Register with the website link below.

Third Saturday Class – Installing a Microjet Irrigation System in Your Garden
2021-06-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Planning to travel and you’re worried about watering your garden? Diane Shelly will share the step-by-step way to install a microjet irrigation system from your hose spigot. The system includes a battery powered clock and a variety of spray heads that you can customize for your specific needs.

Third Thursdays with Plants: Heirloom Vegetables for the TN Garden
2021-05-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
The UT Extension Institute of Agriculture new Third Thursday series highlights a wide range horticulture topics and management practices specific to TN gardeners. Join us as we kick off our 2021 horticulture education series with an introduction to Heritage Vegetables for TN.

Join us LIVE on Zoom each third Thursday at 10am Central/ 11 am Eastern. Register with the website link below.

Lunch & Learn: Cicadas!
2021-05-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
This is the year of the cicadas and there has been a lot of buzz about the topic! Join Hamilton County Extension Agent Tom Stebbins to learn more about this interesting phenomenon and all about the mysterious lives of cicadas. Register

Third Saturday Class - Rose Rustlers
2021-05-15 10:01 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
This presentation will explore the history of the rose and why it is the most loved of all flowers. Then we will look at the largest plant-hunting exploit of the 20th century by the “The Rose Rustlers” and their quest to save antique roses and return them to the trade.

Presentation by Ann Brown: Ann is a retired librarian and has been a Master Gardener for 10 years. She is an organic gardener who advocates for pollinators by encouraging organizations and individuals to plant native plants. This past year she has been involved in the creation of three new pollinator gardens on Lookout Mountain. She is also a member of the Wild Ones, North American Butterfly Association, Bee City USA, Xerces Society, Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club, and Tennessee Ornithology Society. She will return to volunteering at Reflection Riding in May. She loves roses and has several of the old roses discovered by the “Rose Rustlers” in her garden.

MGHC Spring Garden Festival
2021-05-15 10:00 - 18:00 | UT-TSU Extension Hamilton County / Bonny Oaks Arboretum, 6183 Adamson Circle, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37416, United States
Join the fun at the Bonny Oaks Arboretum as the Hamilton County Master Gardeners celebrate Spring! There will be ongoing gardening demonstrations, plants and garden items for sale and activities for the kids. Click Here for Details & Tickets

City Nature Challenge
2021-05-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Reflection Riding, 400 Garden Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37419, United States
Join Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center for the City Nature Challenge (CNC) on Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1st for two full days of outdoor fun. The full schedule of events includes night hikes, guided walks, volunteer projects, a campfire concert and much more.

Third Saturday Class – Native Shrubs
2021-04-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Master Gardener Ron McKitrick will discuss important role of native shrubs in enhancing both a landscape’s aesthetic appeal, as well as the health of its surrounding ecosystem.

TN Valley Wild Ones Plant Sale
2021-03-27 09:00 - 15:00 | First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37408
The Outdoor Native Plant Marketplace will be held at the spacious and covered First Horizon Pavilion (home of the Chattanooga Market) in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Food trucks and other vendors and exhibitors will add to the excitement of this special day that is free and open to the public. Masks will be required.

Third Saturday Class - African Violets
2021-03-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Master Gardener Sadaf Khan will give you tips and tricks for keeping your African violets colorful and healthy throughout the year. Native to East Africa, African violets are a popular house plant because of their color and resilience. African violets can live indefinitely with good care. Join us via Zoom for this informative presentation.

Lunch & Learn - Tool Time with Carlton
2021-03-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Join 10 year Master Gardener Carlton Mathes to learn how to properly prepare your tools for spring gardening. Register using the link below.

Virtual Beginner-Newcomer Gardening Class
2021-03-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Register now for the 2021 Virtual Beginner-Newcomer Gardening Class! This four class series is ideal for those who have recently relocated to the area and those who are novice gardeners. Details & Registration Form

Lunch & Learn - Pruning - Demystified
2021-02-24 00:30 - 01:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Join Celeste Scott, Madison County Extension Agent, as we remove the uncertainty and fear associated with pruning landscape plants. We will learn how to group plants depending on season of bloom or interest and use that to determine proper pruning time. We will also learn basic pruning techniques.

Third Saturday Class "Succulents 101"
2021-02-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Meeting
Master Gardener Juanita Wade will present a free Zoom class, “Succulents 101.” Juanita will define succulents, discuss the benefits of growing them, describe “how not to kill a succulent” and review the many different succulent families you can easily maintain at your home. Register

2021 Master Gardener Training - Mornings
2021-02-09 09:00 - 12:00
The 2021 Master Gardener Morning Training Course begins on February 9th. The 15 week course covers topics related to home gardens and landscapes, including vegetables, wildlife, basic landscaping, herbs, flowers, trees, lawns, insects, plant diseases, native plants, water quality, beekeeping basics and many others. For more information see https://mghc.org/become-a-master-gardener/
