Enrollment being taken for Master Gardener classes

Have you ever wanted to earn designation as a Master Gardener? Now is your chance.

Comanche County OSU Extension Office will begin its Master Gardener classes Jan. 16. Enrollment is open now for the course, which will be held for 11 consecutive weeks from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Wichita Room of the Prairie Building at the Comanche County Fairgrounds, 920 S. Sheridan. A one-hour break will be provided for lunch.

Enrollment fee is $150, with materials provided. Allison Theis, ag educator, said students may enroll for the program through Jan. 9, so there is enough time to order the materials students will need when classes begin. The end result of the 11 weeks of class is designation as Certified Master Gardeners, Theis said.

“Whether you’re a novice gardener or an experienced horticulturist, the program offers opportunities for personal growth and community impact,” she said, about the wide-ranging benefits.

Those benefits include a comprehensive gardening education, with horticultural training on topics such as soil science, plant selection, pest management, landscaping and sustainable gardening practices. The program will offer access to experts (courses are taught by professionals and local horticulture experts), while also building on practical skills in gardening, troubleshooting and environmental stewardship, Theis said, adding those skills can be used in private or professional settings. There also is connection to community and volunteer opportunities, she said.

Classes will be taught by a variety of experts, including Theis, who will lead off the series Jan. 16 with a program that includes botany and plant physiology.

Other topics include:

Jan. 23: Soils

Jan. 30: Plant Pathology

Feb. 6: Vegetables

Feb. 13: Entomology

Feb. 20: Woody Ornamentals

Feb. 27: Turfgrass

March 6: Fruits and Nuts

March 13: Herbaceous Ornamentals

March 20: Pesticide Use and Safety/Integrated Pest Management

The final test will be March 27.