Become a Master Gardener

Butterflies, bees and wasps kept our Pollinator PLUS participants busy! Our morning and afternoon crews counted an impressive 2,437 pollinators while contributing valuable data to the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

For 12 years, Anne Coleman has shared her leadership, knowledge, and kindness throughout our Botanical Garden and Association. From envisioning the Celebration Garden to guiding the Rose Garden and mentoring fellow volunteers, Anne has created a lasting legacy of beauty, learning, and community.

Lori’s vision is transforming the Pollinator Garden into a thriving habitat for pollinators—and a wonderful example of what volunteers can accomplish together.

Some volunteers lend a hand. Wanda Maggart lends both, along with her heart, her wit, and more homemade goodies than any of us can count.

Whether tending the Live Oak and Edible Gardens, teaching interns, or keeping our Facebook community engaged, Chuck Gulas brings energy, creativity, and dedication to everything he does.

The plant sale was a “Bloomin’ Success!”   At pickup, we met grateful and kind customers happy to be getting their plants. We sold a record volume of plants at the Sale Table and gave lots of great growing advice.  

From trial garden inspiration to a close-up look at granulate ambrosia beetle damage, our Field Trip Friday to Johnson’s Nursery was packed with learning, laughter, and a great lunch to top it off.

From thoughtful design to hands-on mentorship, Gail’s contributions to the Edibles Garden have made a lasting impact. This month, we’re proud to recognize her with the Helping Hands Award.

Master Gardeners and community members gathered for a hands-on Herb Container Workshop, learning how to grow herbs in containers while creating their own take-home gardens and exploring propagation techniques.

Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener volunteers recently hosted a booth at the NC Rice Festival, sharing information about the Spring Online Plant Sale and introducing festival visitors to the Master Gardener program.

Welcome! Fifteen new Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener interns have completed their training and are beginning their volunteer service. Their first project: updating educational signs in the Brunswick County Botanical Gardens.

Known for her calm leadership and thoughtful guidance, Kate Boggess is honored as this month’s Helping Hands recipient for her many contributions to the Association.

A rainy day didn’t stop more than 20 Master Gardeners from heading back to school! For Field Trip Friday, we visited Brunswick Community College to learn about their Horticulture & Turfgrass program.

Cecily and Jean share their heartfelt thanks to all the Master Gardener℠ volunteers who supported plant sales and public workshops throughout 2025. It was a milestone year for the program, marked by a refreshed approach to plant sales and the successful launch of new community workshops. These achievements would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers.

The Holiday Porch Pot Workshop brought the beauty of the season to life. Creativity, fresh greenery, and community came together in festive style. After selling out in just 23 minutes, participants gathered in the hoop house to transform their containers into stunning winter displays using harvested magnolia, pine, holly, and other natural accents. With guidance from Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers, each porch pot became a unique expression of seasonal charm and hands-on learning.

Gayle’s friendly smile and steadfast service have touched nearly every corner of our Association. From Field Trip Fridays to the Reflection Garden, she brings heart, dedication, and a can-do spirit to everything she does.

Our latest Field Trip Friday led us to Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, where cutting-edge horticulture blends with Southern gardening tradition — all dressed up for Halloween 🎃. From the Fire Tower Gardens to the Mediterranean Garden, each space offered new inspiration and insight into what truly defines a Southern Garden.

Our first-ever “Grow Your Own Salad Bowl Workshop” was a resounding success! Participants learned how to combine lettuce varieties, specialty greens, herbs, and edible flowers to create beautiful, productive containers that thrive in fall and early spring. The sessions blended education and creativity, beginning with a short demonstration on container gardening and followed by hands-on planting. Master Gardener℠ Volunteers were on hand to answer questions, offer guidance, and share practical tips for keeping greens vibrant and healthy throughout the season.

After the October General Association Meeting, Mike and Michele Tullai led an informative and hands-on demonstration on how to make hypertufa containers—lightweight, durable, and perfect for garden use.

The finished pots are strong yet porous, making them ideal for plantings and drainage—and at about $4 each, they’re an affordable way to create custom planters. You can see examples of hypertufa containers in the Botanical Garden.

Dave is one of those invaluable, quiet Master Gardeners who works diligently behind the scenes, contributing greatly to our association's success. His computer skills have been instrumental since he joined the program. As an intern, he used his expertise to map our intern project at the Rourk Library and later mapped the Botanical Garden as Co-Lead. His mapping skills were also vital for detailing the landscapes of Habitat for Humanity houses.

Our Fall 2025 plant sale has officially ended and to all our amazing customers, thank you for making our plant sale a resounding success.  We raised over $8,100 which will go towards educational programming, Habitat for Humanity projects, school gardens, and the Brunswick County Botanical Education Garden, which is open for self-guided tours.

As part of Field Trip Fridays, 12 EMGs explored the extraordinary Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh. This 10-acre garden is home to more than 27,000 plants—native perennials, rare exotics, and one-of-a-kind specimens from around the world. Designed with the philosophy of “drifts of one,” it offers beauty and discovery in every corner. Juniper Level has become one of the largest ex-situ plant collections in the world, dedicated to preserving biodiversity and sharing it with gardeners everywhere.

Jean Klein has brought a renewed energy to this fall’s plant sale.  After learning the ropes from Vicki in the spring, she took charge of the fall plant sale and never looked back. Jean has brought a new energy to organizing and marketing the sale.  In doing so, she’s set a new precedent for the level of communication with the myriads of people involved. Jean ensures everyone is heard and feels appreciated, she is a calm and gentle soul; always open to new ideas and adapts well to new challenges.  Even though the sale is not 100% complete, it is for her tireless effort the past couple of months that she has earned the volunteer of the month for September.

The Brunswick County Botanical Garden buzzed with energy as more than 2,900 pollinators were counted during our Pollinator PLUS Workshop, held August 22–23. From carpenter bees to butterflies, attendees gained hands-on training, participated in the census, and even took home pollinator-friendly plants to support their own gardens.

For more than 15 years, Linda Swanson has been a dedicated and creative force in the Brunswick County Botanical Garden, and we’re proud to recognize her as our July 2025 Master Gardener of the Month. Energetic, thoughtful, and full of humor, Linda exemplifies the quiet strength that sustains our Master Gardener community.

Families gathered in July for a hands-on Bee Hotel Workshop that blended learning, creativity, and fun. Children worked alongside parents and grandparents to learn about native bees and why they matter, then painted and assembled their own bee hotels to take home.

With guidance from Master Gardener℠ Volunteers and Extension staff, participants explored simple ways to support pollinators—both in the classroom and out in the garden—making this workshop a meaningful and memorable summer experience.

Since joining the Master Gardener Program in 2023, Rex Wright has brought knowledge, patience, and quiet strength to the Curbside Garden and beyond. Known for reviving struggling plants in his “Private Plant Hospital” and generously sharing his expertise, Rex embodies the dedication and compassion that strengthen our Master Gardener community.

As part of our Field Trip Fridays program, 20 Extension Master Gardeners visited the world’s top public blueberry breeding station in Castle Hayne to learn about cultivar research and pest resistance—before ending the day with some blueberry picking of their own.

Kelly has brought bright energy and clear communication to her roles as Webmaster and Publicity Liaison, upgrading our website, streamlining outreach, and leading us into exciting new formats with her trademark positivity.