East Texas Quarterly Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 10

Master Gardeners and
Master Naturalists
Jasper Master Gardeners have many programs
that the public can participate in, including weekly
workouts
at
the
Arboretum
and
Library gardens in
Jasper. Friday and Saturday
mornings are work days in the
greenhouse and Butterfly Gardens, where you can
just show up and help. The
day starts early and is often
done before noon to avoid
summer heat.

open. The answer is: all hours. It’s part of the Jasper City
parks system and you can hike the trails and enjoy the
gardens any time.
Master gardeners maintain the formal gardens on the
north bank of Sandy Creek from Main Street to Hwy 96,

It’s not just about working for
the community, according
to the master gardeners
who train volunteers. “We’re
teaching people how to start
seeds, transplant seedlings,
and propagate new plants
from cuttings,” according to
instructor Hugh Pickle.
Sometimes
the
whole
morning is spent weeding,
but what you are learning is
how to identify weeds and
the best scientific means to
control weeds.
By the way, do you know
the definition of a “weed”? It
is anything growing where
it is not wanted. So that
little oak seedling that could
become a mighty tree is still
a weed if it is growing next
to the foundation of your
house. Pluck it