By Karolyn Gephart
Three members of Heritage Junior Master Gardeners were recently certified by the state as Junior Master Gardeners after completing the program in Friendswood under the direction of Heritage Gardener and Galveston County Master Gardener Kaye Corey and her assistant Heritage Gardener Paula Matranga.
The children include Timmy Shelley, age 9, who has been in the program four years (Parents are Bryan and Bethany Shelley); Willow Killgore, age 11, who has been in the program four years (Parents are Sean and Ariel Killgore) and Sam Cannon, age 11, who has participated for three years (Parents are James and Pam Cannon).
The three were certified by Ginger Benson, County Extension Agent – Family & Community Health County Extension Office Administrator, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Benson attended the May meeting of Heritage Gardeners to participate in the JMG ceremony. The AgriLife Extension office is located in La Marque, Galveston County.
The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network. JMG engages children in “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.
Their activities also include helping others through service and leadership development. The students are rewarded with recognition and certification.
The Heritage JMGs maintain a garden area in the Heritage Gardeners’ Briscoe Gardens, a garden area in Friendswood’s Stevenson Park, and a raised bed at the Perry Home Museum. During the school year, they meet monthly at the Heritage Gardener clubhouse on Spreading Oaks.
