As August approaches, our local Extension office will be gearing up to send out applications to all interested persons in our area who want to become master gardeners in 2013.

This is an exciting time for me because we will be adding another fine group of gardeners into our growing volunteer organization that encompasses around 150 enthusiastic gardeners.

What is a master gardener?

A master gardener is first and foremost a volunteer. In exchange for horticulture training, master gardeners volunteer a certain number of hours for our local extension office.

Hall County Master Gardeners share their talents, knowledge and creativity through support and education, whether digging in the dirt, teaching children’s gardening classes or speaking at a local library.

Their mission, as stated on the Hall County Master Gardener website, is to "educate the public on gardening techniques and knowledge. The new motto is "Beautification Through Education."

Their help at the county extension through phone support on garden-related topics and maintenance is a vital resource to our office. Hall County Master Gardener Extension volunteers have been the No. 1 master gardening group in the state for the past three years, totaling more than 18,000 volunteer hours in 2011.

Master gardeners are also involved in three community gardens — Gardens on Green, Wilshire Park and The Northeast Georgia History Center Victory Garden. There is the popular biannual Home Garden walk tour slated for 2013 and many Junior Master Gardener programs in our local elementary schools.

How do you become a master gardener?

To become a member, you must apply with our extension office and be accepted into the program. Once accepted, the master gardener intern receives more than 40 hours of UGA college curriculum, instructional classes taught by local county agents and horticulture specialists.

The 24 classes range from topics including basic botany and native plants to water-wise gardening and pest and disease management. These classes help equip the student to be able to assist with gardening questions when the need arises within the community.

When the classes are completed, the master gardener intern is required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours the first year and 25 hours each year afterwards to remain active in their master gardener certification.

The history of master gardeners here in this area began back in 1997 with close to 19 members and has grown to the present day number of more than 150 members.

They are also involved in the sponsoring of the popular Spring and Fall Plant Expos. The Spring Expo as been called "The greatest two-day plant sale in Georgia."

These events draw a huge gathering of plant lovers from around the area with more than 50 nursery and garden vendors participating in each one. The Fall Expo this year will be held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29, at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center.

If you are interested in becoming a master gardener, please contact me at the extension office. (wcannon@hallcounty.org or 770-535-8293). I will be happy to provide additional information about the program.

Applications will be mailed out in September and classes will start in early January and run through March. The classes are taught from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. You can also go the Hall County Master Gardener website at hcmgs.com for more information about the program.

Wanda Cannon serves as Master Gardener coordinator and horticulture assistant for the Hall County Extension office. Phone: 770-535-8293. Her column appears biweekly and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.