“Remember Mom May 12, 2024”
www.shelbyinfo.com Our 41st Year • Issue No. 18 • May 2, 2024
704-484-1047
10th Annual Plant Sale Is May 11
Master Gardener program welcomes new members By Paula Vess The NC State Extension Master Gardener program has trained people to serve as volunteer educators of science-based horticultural knowledge since 1979. In 2012, the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension office began offering Master Gardener classes and formed the Extension Master GardenerSM Association of Cleveland County. “Being a part of the Extension Master Gardener of Cleveland County has been a rewarding experience for me for the past 11 years,” said Judy Hawkins, who currently serves as president of the local group. “The benefits of being part of our local group are many, and include being with others who share similar interests, having access to scientific resources through the NC State Extension and NC Cooperative Extension programs, and providing horticulture assistance to the citizens of Cleveland County.”
The Master Gardeners on a field trip at a Dahlia farm. (Photos provided) The name “master gardener” might be intimidating for those unfamiliar with thegroup. People
think that if a group has the word “master” in its name it must require extensive knowledge of the subject before you can join. In reality, the opposite is true. Member Tonie Turner said that was what she thought when she first learned about the group. “I thought they would all know so much more than me, but once I went through the class and got to know the other members, I realized that everyone is learning, and they help one another.” She also said that many members enjoy a particular topic and choose to become more knowledgeable about it so they can share that knowledge with others. For Turner, joining the group led to a new-found Master Gardener volunteers collecting plants for the 2023 passion for helping preplant sale. serve monarch butterflies,
Customers shop at the Master Gardeners annual plant sale in 2023. which are considered a vulnerable species. It is a project she’s been able to share with her greatgranddaughter. “She helped me plant milkweed. It’s the plant monarchs lay their eggs on, and
it feeds the larvae when they hatch. The first year, we found eggs on our plants. I was able to share with her the experience of watching the cycle monarchs go See MASTER, Page 8
9TH ANNUAL CAROLINA DERBY Saturday, May 11th • 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Strawberry Slam Demolition Derby Food Vendors SATURDAY, MAY 11TH Craft Vendors Commercial Vendors For info on Space for Rent Call 704-487-0651
1751 E. MARION STREET SHELBY, NC
DERBY PM BEGINS 6:00
ADULT DERBY ADMISSION $15 • KIDS 6-12, $8 KIDS 5 AND UNDER FREE