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By Kris Harrell

The Greenville Camellia Society is partnering with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) to bring a master gardener program back to Butler County. 

In the 1980s, master gardener programs were available in the area. However, due to lack of interest, the program faded out. 

Now after 40 years, the Greenville Camellia Society will be helping to bring it back with the master gardener classes. 

“Linda [Jarzyniecki] joined our society this year and I recognized her as a master gardener,’” said Jan Newton, president of the Greenville Camellia Society. “I was so excited she wanted to be a part of the society, and I said ‘Linda, Butler County doesn’t have master gardener classes anymore and I want to be a master gardener. I don’t want to go to another county; I want it here.’ 

“She got on it immediately. She is really good friends with Sharlean Briggs, our county extension [coordinator], and the two of them had been working together for a long time. Unbeknownst to me they’ve been wanting it too.”
“The three of us got that program back to Butler County, and we’re all so excited.” 

The class instructors will be regional extension agent Carmen Flammini with ACES, and Greenville Camellia Society member and master gardener Linda Jarzyniecki. 

In the class, students will learn about fertilization, organic and chemical insect control, annuals, trees and more. Students will meet once a week for face-to-face instruction with Flammini and other speakers. 

Additionally, students will have the opportunity to go on field trips to continue their education in these areas. 

“[For example] Auburn has an awesome horticulture department where they’re growing things on the rooftops,” Jarzyniecki said. “The restaurants in Auburn then get these plants to serve as vegetables to the clientele in Auburn.”

Upon completion of the course, participants will earn the Master Gardener certification. The certification requires more than 50 hours of community service, which can include working on the Camellia Show and serving the community through educating others about gardening. 

Additionally, Greenville Camellia Society members in the class will have the opportunity to become certified America Camellia Society (ACS) Camellia Show judges according to the Greenville Camellia Society’s website. 

“The Master Gardner course is just the beginning of a commitment of gardeners to improve the community by helping and assisting many different organizations and people within the system,” Jarzyniecki said.  “What we want to do is we want to make sure that people become master gardeners so they can have knowledge about what to do to grow plants properly and to assist.” 

The classes will run from August to late November or early December. Registration is $150 and will open in June. 

The enrollment fee pays for the online section of the course and for a binder of information for gardening. 

For anyone interested in becoming a master gardener through this course, the Greenville Camellia Society recommends attending their meeting on March 4, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m to learn more.