2005-2025

The Blount County Master Gardeners (BCMG) is a service organization dedicated to representing UT in the community. The 20th anniversary is the perfect time to thank the individuals and organizations the BCMG has partnered with to positively impact our community. Certified Extension Master Gardeners are trained by University of Tennessee Extension Service professionals to provide sound, practical, research based information in the areas of residential and consumer horticulture.

Our work in the community has given us the opportunity to teach future gardeners through partnerships with schools and youth programs and to promote environmental stewardship as we visit with new home owners and invite questions at the “Ask a Master Gardener” booth at the Maryville Farmers Market. The demonstration gardens around the Blount County Extension Office, at the Blount County Public Library, and elsewhere around the area showcase that a garden can be beautiful and friendly to birds and other pollinators while accommodating the area’s terrain, climate and environmental challenges. We have been fortunate to work with other community volunteers to plant and harvest produce for area food banks and with the Blount County Public Library to encourage seed saving. 

Blount County has been a wonderful place for the BCMG to call home for the past 20 years. Thank you for allowing the BCMG to be part of your “landscape”. We look forward to another 20 years in Blount County.

Award Winning Firewise Garden: In August, 2022, a Firewise garden was installed  at the Blount County Extension Office. Wildland fires can occur in residential development areas with disastrous loss of life, property and resources.  But, recognizing the problem and knowing how to protect your family, home, property and your neighborhood before a fire happens.  click on the link. 

Slope Garden: While working in the gardens, the BCMG noticed a grassy slope that was too steep to be easily maintained. An easily replicated plan was implemented, replacing the grass with a garden. Using plants well-suited to a slope and our local environment, we created a beautiful space while eliminating the need to mow, hand trim, or use herbicides to control weeds. click on the link.

Self-Watering Raised Beds: Recognizing that a garden may need more watering than Mother Nature provides, the BCMG designed, built and installed self-watering raised beds at the Blount County Recycling Center. Integrating a rain barrel concept with TN native plants that are well adapted to local growing conditions, the raised beds offer low maintenance beauty. The design considered the uneven terrain as well as the possible need to access underground utilities.

Attraction Gardens: The BCMG sought to bring pollinators and human attention to key spaces in the Extension Office's "front yard". Careful selection and placement of trees, shrubs and perennials provides garden spaces at the front entryways and the mailboxes that wow both the area's pollinators and visitors to the Extension Office. 

Soil and Mulch: Just as important as plant and placement is the selection of soil amendments and mulch to match the area and goal. Well beyond providing a healthy growing environment, proper soil preparation and mulch selection will affect the aesthetic and maintenance requirements for a garden.

Stop by the Blount County Public library and visit the Shakespeare Garden. Mediterranean plants and herbs are used to maximize survival in a hot summer environment. Come see some of the plants mentioned in William Shakespeare's works in full bloom during the growing season. Visitors to the garden include local pollinators.