Pontotoc County Master Gardeners

06/16/2026

Today's third post is about the Graphic Award for groups of 20 or fewer members. Master Gardener groups often use graphics to promote projects, fundraisers, or other MG activities.

Congratulations to the Pontotoc County Master Gardeners for their Plant Reference Guide!

06/15/2026

Congratulations Kerry Koehler for being selected as the Mississippi Master Gardener of the Year!

The Member of the Year award recognizes a Master Gardener who exhibits positive attributes, possesses teaching skills, and contributes in a way that benefits and strengthens the MG program. There were eight entries in this category this year, and they all deserve great recognition for what they do locally and for the MG program as a whole. We thankfully acknowledge the work, attitude, and volunteer spirit exhibited by all the nominees. Congratulations to Kerry Koehler of the Pontotoc County Master Gardeners for being selected as the Member of the Year!

06/15/2026

This will be the first of 19 posts to celebrate winners of various awards presented at the 2026 Mississippi Master Gardener State Conference. Yes! That's 19 reasons to celebrate YOU - the Master Gardeners of Mississippi!

We're so grateful for the work done by Master Gardeners in Mississippi! You amaze us with your creativity and dedication! Thank you for all that you do to promote the Master Gardener program and to serve your community!

First up are the three Master Gardeners that contributed the most service hours during 2025. These were the top producers in the state during 2025 and were recognized by Dr. Jeff Wilson during the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening.

06/02/2026

A great opportunity to learn gardening and help your community!

🌱🥕 Love Fresh Air, Gardening, and Giving Back? We Have an Opportunity for You! 🥕🌱
Our local non-profit Pontotoc Community Garden is looking for a SCSEP participant to join our team!
If you are:
✅ 55 years of age or older
✅ Currently unemployed
✅ Meet SCSEP income wage eligibility requirements
✅ Able to work outdoors
✅ Able to bend, stoop and lift
You could help grow fresh vegetables in our community garden and make a difference in your community!
💵 Pay: $10.00 per hour
⏰ Hours: 20–28 hours per week
This is a wonderful opportunity to stay active, learn new skills and support a great community program.
📞 Interested or know someone who might be? Contact:
Leslie Dean
Three Rivers Planning and Development
662-488-6970
Please share with friends and family who may qualify! 🌻🍅🌽

05/28/2026

🗞️ In the news! Read all about it! ✨
🏆Kerry Koehler, State Master Gardener of the Year! 🌿
Pontotoc Progress

05/18/2026

🌟 We Saved the Best for Last! 🌟

The Pontotoc County Master Gardeners are incredibly proud to announce that Kerry Koehler has been named the 2025 Mississippi Master Gardener Association Statewide Master Gardener of the Year! 🎉🌿

Yep, the Master Gardener of the Year lives right here in Pontotoc! Our local celebrity!

Kerry embodies everything the Master Gardener program stands for—leadership, service, education, and an unwavering commitment to community. In just a few short years, she has transformed projects, strengthened partnerships, elevated our plant sale to new heights, expanded educational outreach, and played a key role in establishing and optimizing the Community Garden high tunnel—now an impactful teaching and growing space dedicated to providing produce to those in need.

Her dependability, creativity, and passion for helping others learn have made her a cornerstone of our organization and a shining example across the state.

Please join us in celebrating Kerry for this well‑deserved honor! 💚🌱

05/18/2026

🌿 Big News for the Pontotoc County Master Gardeners! 🌿

We are thrilled to share that the Pontotoc County Master Gardeners have been awarded the 2025 MMGA Outstanding Organization Award for counties with 20 or fewer members! This statewide honor awarded by the Mississippi Master Gardener Association recognizes our group’s incredible volunteer service, community partnerships, educational programs, and the thousands of hours our members dedicated to improving Pontotoc County.

We’re also happy to announce that Master Gardener Julia McDowell earned 3rd place statewide for the most volunteer hours completed in 2025.

Thank you to our volunteers, partners, and supporters who make this work possible. We’re excited for all that’s ahead as we continue growing together and strengthening our community through gardening. 🌱💚

05/18/2026

🌿 We’re honored! 🌿
The Pontotoc County Master Gardeners are celebrating a big year — our chapter received five statewide awards, including the 2025 MMGA
State Award for Best Publication for our weekly Ask the Master Gardener column in the Pontotoc Progress!

This award recognizes the dedication of Master Gardeners Betty Crane and Lisa Lucius, who write weekly articles offering research‑based, practical gardening guidance tailored to North Mississippi. Their work helps educate, inspire, and support gardeners of all experience levels across our community.

Thank you to the Pontotoc Progress, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and our wonderful readers who submit questions, share feedback, and help make this column a true community resource.

We are honored to serve Pontotoc County and look forward to another year of helping your gardens grow! 💚

If you'd like to subscribe to the Pontotoc Progress, call 662-489-3511 or check out www.djournal com/pontotoc
Mississippi Master Gardener Association

05/18/2026

🌿 We’re honored! 🌿
The Pontotoc County Master Gardeners are celebrating a big year — our chapter received five statewide awards, including the 2025 MMGA Graphic Award for our Plant Reference Guide Microsite!

This microsite highlights plants that thrive here in the Mississippi Hill Country—plants we’ve propagated, tended, and trust. It also serves as a helpful tool during our annual Plant Sale, giving shoppers instant access to the plants available along with each plant’s growing needs.

This project is made possible through support from the Pontotoc Farmers Market and research backed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service. We’re thrilled to be recognized for creating a resource that helps our community garden with confidence. Check it out at:
pontotocfarmersmarket.com/pontotoc_master_gardeners/

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission of sharing knowledge and growing together! 🌱💚
Mississippi Master Gardener Association

05/13/2026

A beautiful spring day spent filling the planters at Pontotoc's Historic Post Office and Museum. Many of the plants were available at the Master Gardener's last plant sale!
Our banana shrubs, Magnolia figos, are looking good.