Becoming a Master Gardener

A Gardeners Journey

By Stacie Latham

Coming from a rural area of a small town in Connecticut, gardening has always been a part of my life – well, at least for four warm months of the year, anyway. My southern gardening journey began during the craziness over the past few years, where spending more time in the sunshine was a healthy tonic! Luckily in Florida, I enjoy the outdoors every day, but I still have much to learn about gardening here. It is a different animal, for sure. I decided to go on a mission to meet local people interested in gardening that could help me.

After doing some online searching, I came across the Jensen Beach Garden Club’s website at the same time as the Martin County UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer Trainee program. I immediately joined the JBG Club and attended my first meeting last January, which by good luck, had a guest speaker talking on “Pollinators.” The speaker was Jennifer Pelham, County Extension Director for the University of Florida. Jennifer wears many hats, one of which is the Director of the Master Gardener Volunteer Trainee Program! Her pollinator presentation was informative & engaging, and the Jensen Beach Garden Club members were friendly and welcoming - I was hooked!

Since January, I have completed the Master Gardener Volunteer Trainee program, and it was a great experience! The resources provided by UF/IFAS are invaluable. The program is interactive and geared toward first learning about the most important and commonly asked questions regarding Florida landscapes and then volunteering your time to educate and provide answers to the public. The curriculum includes things like Florida friendly gardening, plant basics, soil testing, best practices for irrigation and fertilization, insect identification, weed identification & control, ornamentals, citrus, vegetables, several methods of hands-on plant propagation at the Martin County Shade House, and so much more. You will learn how to connect with the community through many guest speakers, including other UF Directors, Senior Master Gardeners, local food outreach program managers, and field trips. The list seems nearly endless.

Once completing the 3-month training, there are required annual volunteer and continuing education hours with many opportunities nicely presented through an online portal where you can sign up for both and record your hours. The MC Extension Office has a lending library for reference and invaluable homeowner information online. I highly recommend the volunteer program to anyone interested in learning more about everything in the landscape, no matter your age or sex, and maybe most importantly, for making new lasting friendships as I have.

The UF/IFAS MC Extension Office is next to the MC Fairgrounds. If you are inspired, please contact Jennifer Pelham at JenJen15@UFL.edu or 772.419.6964. The next class is tentatively scheduled for March 2024.

Images provided by JBGC member Stacie Latham. 2023 The Martin County UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer Trainee Class visits Unbelievable Acres Botanical Garden and Mounts Botanical Gardens both in West Palm Beach. Click green hyperlinks for more information about the beautiful gardens.

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Garden Tours

By Lisa Oster & Stacie Latham • January 6, 2025

Part 1 - Edible Gardener's Paradise

Spreading Wings: Butterfly Conservation in Jensen Beach

By Lisa Oster • December 10, 2024

Spreading Wings: Butterfly Conservation in Jensen Beach The Jensen Beach Garden Club proudly maintains four beautiful gardens in our area, along with the vibrant flower planters that brighten downtown Jensen Beach. These gardens are lovingly tended by our dedicated Garden Committee, co-chaired by Annie Ruffing and Dina D’Angelico-Elms. Every two weeks, rain or shine, committee members roll up their sleeves to plant, prune, and water, ensuring these spaces remain havens for butterflies and other pollinators and provide beautiful landscapes for everyone. Among our projects are two flourishing butterfly gardens—one at Hoke Library and another at Indian Riverside Park—designed to attract, nourish, and protect essential pollinators. Did you know that the Hoke Library Butterfly Garden was certified by the North American Butterfly Association in 2002? This distinction recognizes its role in providing vital resources for butterfly populations worldwide. And this year, we’re taking our conservation efforts to new heights by adding butterfly houses to both gardens! The Buzz on Butterfly Houses A butterfly house creates a safe and nurturing environment, mimicking the natural habitats butterflies need to thrive. These houses help protect against habitat loss by offering a space to rest, mate, and feed—all while supporting education, research, and conservation efforts. To bring this project to life, our club collaborated with a remarkable young leader: Sebastian Gonzalez, a senior at Jensen Beach High School and an aspiring Eagle Scout. Sebastian, no stranger to community service, has been a dedicated partner in our gardening efforts. You may have spotted him lending a hand at our February 25, 2023, Garden Expo or helping spread mulch at Indian Riverside Park. Built by Sebastian and beautifully painted by club members Linda Elliott and Kathryn Lerett, the houses were installed in the garden beds in October 2024. A Passion for the Atala Butterfly For his Eagle Scout project, Sebastian focused on supporting the recovery of the Atala butterfly, a small, brilliantly colored species native to Florida. Once considered extinct in the state, the Atala has made a remarkable comeback thanks to conservation initiatives like ours. Sebastian recommended we add more Coonti plants (Zamia integrifolia) to our gardens—the sole host plant for Atala butterfly larvae. Each house features a dedication placard, symbolizing our shared commitment to protecting butterflies and enhancing biodiversity in Jensen Beach. Sebastian will be studying the activities of our beloved butterflies and will keep us posted on his findings. Celebrate With Us We’re thrilled to see Sebastian’s butterfly houses in action and invite you to join us in celebrating his achievements. His dedication to conservation and our community has made a lasting impact, both on our gardens and the butterflies they support. Look for them during your next visit! Stay tuned for updates on this project and other exciting initiatives from the Jensen Beach Garden Club. Together, we’re growing a greener, more beautiful world—one garden at a time!