Area residents recently became certified as Rutgers Master Gardeners at a graduation ceremony held at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County.
The graduates reside locally, have diverse backgrounds and bring with them skills and talents that benefit the Master Gardener program. They join a group of experienced volunteers who provide home horticultural and environmental information to residents.
The 2015 graduates are Andre W. Butts, Mary L. Caskey, Darlene M. Chamberlain, George T. DiFerdinando, Rosalynn Ericson, Linda S. Eyre, Bonnie Ferriolo, Georgia B. Gosnell, Geraldine C. Hertig, Chung-Wu Ho, Barbara M. Houze, Jessica Jones Irons, Eileen Kelly, Tara Miller, Tara A. Motto, Sonya S. Nagele, Linda Park, Kellen P. Peck, Mary M. Quigley, Daniel J. Reilly, Anna B. Roberts, Sudi A. Solomon, Mary P. Wagner and Diane M. Zompa.
The graduates completed 60 hours of instruction provided by Mercer County horticulturist Barbara J. Bromley, faculty from Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station and other horticultural experts in a variety of horticultural related subjects. They also completed at least 60 hours of volunteer service to Mercer County.
Special recognition awards were presented to those who volunteered over 100 hours in fulfilling their requirement for graduation. The recipients of this award are Linda Eyre, Bonnie Ferriolo, Darlene Chamberlain, Mary Wagner and Mary Quigley.
The Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 930 Spruce St., Lawrence. Master Gardeners participate in volunteer programs throughout the county, as well as answer home horticulture questions through on the Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline at 609-989-6853, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through February and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March through October.
For information, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension at 609-989-6830 or visit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website at www.mgofmc.org.
