One of my favorite experiences about being a UC CooperativeExtensionMaster Gardener is sharing what I am learning with my granddaughter,Cleary. Most people assume that when you have a Master Gardener title that you know everything. I quickly share that I am learning every day and that the beautiful thing about nature is that there is always something new to learn.
I am reaping the benefits of creating a pollinator garden in the backyard. We designed our yard to feel more like a park than a yard as my earliest memories was walking through English gardens with my Grandmother and now I can do the same with my grandchildren in my own back yard.
Cleary lives out of state so when she visits I soak up as much as I can. On her last visit, I taught her how to deadhead, propagate cuttings, how to properly water and send some sunflowers, green bean and marigold seeds to plant when she got home.
She amazed me with how much she remembered and her marigolds and sunflowers far exceeded mine! Facetime is the modern way for Grandma, where Cleary showed off all her new plants and she now has a mini nursery of propagated starters! Best of all, she started a Junior Master Gardeners program in Summerlin, Nevada.
If anyone is interested in how your children or grandchildren can become a junior master gardener, here is the link. Great for homeschooling or for volunteering at local schools as there are lessons ready to go from pre-K to Jr High. https://jmgkids.us/
Joining the master gardener program has been such a blessing to me and a double blessing to be able to share with my grandchildren.