The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners will be having their 2010 class starting in June. One may ask himself, “Why should I be a Master Gardener?”

Answer: The Master Gardeners are a volunteer driven, community service provider and a fun-loving group.

The group is completely driven by volunteers, with the members signing up on committees for different projects throughout the area. They meet on a monthly basis to have an educational program given by local speakers on topics such as pruning, irises, Louisiana Bears, and even a story teller.

During the meeting, members are presented with updates on past projects such as the Germantown Colony and Museum, where the group helps to refurbish the old flower bed. Also the group discusses new projects that may be in the works or even possible projects that need to be started.

Some of the current ongoing projects that the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners have that one may have seen but did not know are: Lake Bistineau State Park-perennial beds out front of the main office filled with daylilies, angel trumpets, cannas, lantana, irises, and a bed completely made up of variegated plants; Gibsland Jonquil Jubilee, where they provide educational activities and a plant sale to the public; Pine Hills Country Club, where landscape design for drought hardy plants was implemented; Fuller House Project,in which each new Fuller house has landscaping around the house and the Master Gardeners provide information to the new residents on how to keep their beds healthy and alive; 4-H, where the group helps every year with Fun Day and Discovering 4-H with hands-on educational activities for parish fourth through sixth graders.

Other projects that the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners have that are ongoing and upcoming are Buds and Blooms, which will be held Saturday, February 6, at First United Methodist Church in Minden from 9 a.m.  until noon. During this event, there will be presentations by area 4-H members on community gardening and Daylilies, area Master Gardener Glenda Collumns on “Water Features,” Pat Newman on azaleas and “Fun with Flowers” by James Balance.

Another upcoming event is the annual Trails and Trellises — a Garden Tour and Seminar. This event is in the planning mode, but as always they will have four beautiful area gardens to tour and a wonderful guest speaker, so save May 15, for this wonderful day.

Last year, the group started a scholarship program for seniors who live in Bossier, Webster, Claiborne and Bienville parishes who are 4-H members. This scholarship is a one time $1,000 award to one senior in each of those parishes. The committee looks at the senior’s volunteer work and what type of community service they have helped with during their 4-H career.

In addition, this year, with the passing of Bossier Parish agent Troy Menard, the group donated $500 to the fund set up by the Louisiana 4-H Foundation in memory of Troy.

If you think this is a volunteer organization you would like to become a member of, please contact the Webster Parish Extension office at 318-371-1371 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it You can also download an application at www.lsuagcenter.com under Piney Hills Master Gardener.

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