Jackson County Master Gardener Association

05/27/2026

For our May general membership meeting we had one of our newer members, Jill Vowels, present on the subject of creating a certified monarch waystation. Later this summer one of our meetings will be a visit to her garden.
If you would like to create a waystation, you may visit the Monarch Watch website and see how easy it is to qualify.

Monarch Tagging Program • Monarch Calendar Project • Monarch Watch Tag Recoveries • Report a Tagged Monarch Sighting • 2022 Monarch Watch Symposium • Monarch Population Status • Monarch Conservation Specialists • Bring Back The Monarchs • Monarchs in Space Project • Monarch Butterf...

05/27/2026

One of our favorite projects is at the Crouch Senior Center. Once a month our MGE’s host a gardening activity. This month they assisted 30 seniors in planting tomatoes in buckets with hopes that they will provide food on patios, apartment decks or in the backyard. This is always a crowd favorite at Crouch!

05/17/2026

Thank you to all who supported our main fundraiser of the year . . .. the Jackson Community Spring Garden Event. We had a steady stream of shopper regardless of the scattered rain and running power from a massive generator! Our Smart Gardeners had many visitors who were interested in becoming Master Gardeners themselves! If that sounds like something you would be interested in doing . . . Google Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Program and you can learn all about it. Scholarship application window for our next class opens up on May 20th. Registration will follow in the summer with the online course beginning in September.
Hope to see everyone back for next year’s big plant event!

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

On April 11th, we held our annual Spring Conference at Jackson College with 65 attendees! John Metzler shared his wonderful photos of spring ephemeral and gave many suggestions of area sites for good viewing. Jan Shaw shared her many uses of herbs for teas. Dr. David Karowe from Western Michigan University taught us about the effects of climate change on our native plants. Each table had a specially decorated gourd highlighting the centerpiece. It was a wonderful day to usher in all of our spring gardening thoughts!

04/28/2026

Put this on your calendars! It’s a good time for gardeners! July 30th

🌸 RRTG 2026 Is Almost Here! 🌸

The countdown has begun! RRTG 2026 opens July 15 and leads up to The Connection on July 30—a summer showcase you won’t want to miss.

Experience an inspiring event filled with beautiful floral displays, great food, live music, and industry innovation. Discover the latest plant varieties, trends, and new introductions from experts across the industry.

Stroll through stunning sponsored gardens, landscaped beds, full rows, oversized containers, and vibrant hanging baskets. Don’t forget to check out the updated comparison areas for a closer look at performance and standout varieties.

Save the date and plan to join us for this exciting summer event. We can’t wait to see you there! ✨🌿

04/28/2026

On Sunday we participated at the Jackson County Earth Day! The weather was warm and sunny and that brought out many, many people. We enjoyed the interaction while distributing seed packets and potting pansies. This is always one of our favorite events!

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

Saturday was the first of two Earth Days that our members participate in. This one was the third annual at McCourtie Park in Somerset Center, Hillsdale County. Five JCMGA members hosted a Smart Gardening table, distributed pansies, and white pine seedlings! Participation keeps increasing with information tables and guests! Look for us next year!