Welcome to our new "Spotlight On" series for 2023! Have you ever wondered: what exactly is a Master Gardener and what do they do? Let us lead you on a journey around Collin County as we shine a monthly spotlight on many of our community outreach gardens and projects right here in your own backyard. 

Since moving to North Texas three years ago, harsh winters, with sub-zero temperatures, have become a thing of the past. Nevertheless, when it comes to having house plants, the winter months can prove to be challenging. 

January 2023 Question of the Month:

I hear a lot about planting companion plants in my vegetable garden. Would you tell me more about this topic?

Erin shares, “In 2000, I trained as State of Texas Master Composter to help me learn how to deal with Texas soil. That helped some but I was still failing at gardening in Texas - even though I had been a successful gardener in other states and countries. A friend in Oregon was a Master Gardener and suggested trying that. Once I found out that the primary role of a Master Gardener was educational outreach, I was definitely interested and joined the Fall 2002 training class.”

The Japanese maple near my front door was flaunting its brilliant scarlet leaves last fall when a neighbor stopped to admire it and to tell a tale of woe: She had lost a Japanese maple — one for which she had paid more than $1,000.

There is a saying that a gardener grows patient and learns to appreciate and forgive the ever-changing season Mother Nature brings us. Master Gardener Leona Kwait grins, “I became a Master Gardener in 2015 because I loved gardening, but was new to it and kept killing more plants then I kept alive. Since the Master Gardener program offers such great training I decided to join. I also wanted to have a community of other gardeners to be able to discuss gardening.” 

My latest Guest Rant is dedicated to America’s green anole lizards, the Rodney Dangerfield of beneficial predators.

They’re cute. They eat bugs. They don’t bite people. And yet, compared to ladybugs and lacewings, they get virtually no respect/press coverage from mainstream gardening media.

A graduate of the Master Gardener training class of 2020, Jennifer Rauschmayer is a busy gardener with endless energy, talent and interests.

Without regular care a tree can change from a valuable resource to a costly burden. That is why the skills of a professional arborist are required for many tree issues.

Gardening can be described as both an art and a science; a heart and a mind. Retired nurse, Tina Bargmann brings the qualities she learned as a nurse to CCMGA.

With temperatures hovering at around a gazillion degrees, it seems strange to Rant about a small spot of freeze damage, a spot which is not on my plants, but on the side of my neck.  

August Question of the Month

In the Spring I plant annuals that are beautiful for a while but they never make it through the Summer. Can you recommend annuals that survive the hot Texas Summer?