Daily Archives: September 29, 2023


Tuesdays, January 9 – April 30, 8:45 am – 12:00 noon – 2024 Massachusetts Master Gardener Certification Program

Beginning October 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association will be accepting applications for the 2024 Massachusetts Master Gardener Certification Program.The Master Gardener program grew out of extension education services offered through land grant universities in the United States. The first Master Gardener program was established in 1973, and today there are master gardener programs in all 50 states and in 8 provinces in Canada. The mission of the Master Gardener program is focused on urban and suburban gardens with emphasis on unbiased scientific horticultural practices. The Massachusetts Master Gardener organization (MMGA) became an independent organization in 2008 and has grown to have more than 500 active volunteers that work in more than 46 gardens throughout eastern and central Massachusetts. Our mission is to act as a resource for our communities through direct service in historic and food pantry gardens, by giving lectures, and supporting outreach projects in schools and non-profit organizations. To support this mission we train our volunteers in best practices horticultural methods through a lecture series, and an internship program that is supported by Certified Master Gardeners.If you are interested in becoming a Certified Master Gardener, please read below and apply on October 1st. Class size is limited.
STEP 1: Submit Application 
STEP 2: Attend Lecture Series. Successfully complete the Master Gardener course, a comprehensive 16-week lecture series held on Tuesdays, January 9 – April 30, 2024, 8:45 am-Noon ET. Lectures consist of 12 virtual and 4 in-person sessions covering 11 gardening/horticultural topics.
STEP 3: Complete Internship. Volunteer 60 hours as an intern, applying the concepts you learned in class in a variety of supervised roles from May 1 – November 30, 2024.
To learn more about the program requirements, please visit our website. If you have questions, contact mgcleader@massmastergardeners.org

Wednesday, October 11, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern – Head Gardeners at Historic Sites: Stephen Herrington at the Newt

The Gardens Trust will focus on head gardeners working at historic sites. Split into two 5-week series on Wednesdays, the season will kick off with an exploration of the head gardener role over the past two centuries, followed by talks exploring how individual head gardeners are balancing the heritage of their site, the wishes of its owner(s) and their own interests and experience. We’ll hear about the role from both seasoned head gardeners and those more recently appointed. Join us to learn about the challenges they face, including climate change, as well as the joys of horticulture and heritage.

At the end of the first series, we will also be offering a FREE roundtable discussion on the different career paths available to head gardeners, and ways of encouraging more people to enter or progress in the profession. Please register separately for this.

You may purchase a ticket for the entire course of 5 sessions at a cost of £20 via the link here. [Gardens Trust members may use their promo code for a discount.] Please register separately for the roundtable discussion, or for individual sessions by following the links HERE. Ticket sales close 4 hours before the talk. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards.

Stephen Herrington will discuss the joys and challenges of gardening at the Newt in Somerset on October 11. The Newt in Somerset is a working country estate with acres of farmland, woodland, orchards and gardens. The gardens are open daily for visitors to explore and enjoy the restaurants, farm shops, Cyder Cellar and The Story of Gardening experience. Nestled within the grounds lies Hadspen House – a Georgian family home, now a luxury hotel and spa offering guests a place to delight in country living.