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Horticulture Scholarship

One project of which we feel justifiably proud is our scholarship program. One thousand dollars financial assistance per semester is awarded to a student pursuing a degree in Horticulture Science at one of the four state universities (Texas A&M at College Station, Texas Tech, Tarleton State, and Stephen F. Austin University) offering this degree. Advisors from each university recommend potential recipients and oversee the scholarship payments. The Hill Country Master Gardeners Scholarship Committee interviews applicants and makes the final award. The 2008/2009 recipient is Allison Watkins of Granbury, Texas.

Going Postal — The Xeriscape Way, Kerrville, Texas

Master Gardener Marilyn Pease teamed up with co-worker and 2008 MG intern Keith Frantom to expand the landscaped area of the Kerrville, Texas US Post Office. The hot summer and Stage One water restrictions made xeriscape, or Earth Kind^TM, plants the obvious choice.

“We used plants that were donated by the employees and Keith and me. It was fun educating the employees who were interested in what we planted and why,” said Marilyn. Some of the plants used are  bunny ear prickly pear (Opuntia microdasys albaspina), Salvia greggii 'Pink', pencil opuntia (Opuntia ramoissima), tree cholla (Opuntia imbricata), as well as  several agaves. 

Medina Community Library, Medina, Texas

HCMG Carol Hagemeier (right) and friend Donna Anderson  joined members of the Medina Rose Club and other community volunteers for a fall clean-up of the grounds around the Medina Community Library. All workers brought their own garden tools and worked under the guidance of Ernesto Carino of Medina Gardens Nursery. When all the work was done, a new bird bath was in place and more than 30 bags of garden debris were removed.

The Good Samaritan Center in Fredericksburg, Texas

The Good Samaritan Center provides basic health needs to citizens who would otherwise be unable to afford health care.  The Master Gardener Project began almost 4 years ago when the Center first opened in a new building and needed landscaping.

It was thought that a water-wise landscape would be desired and plans were made to have the MG interns work on the project. This involved planting native and adaptive plants in a newly created landscape area, with no budget for plants or materials. Local businesses contributed plants and MG volunteers did the rest. Since that time MG interns and members have contributed many hours maintaining the grounds and working with youth to teach them about plants and their care. The Center has received a Backyard Habitat Certification so some of the work involves providing adequate needs for wildlife.