Master Gardeners ready for monthly ‘Master Your Garden’ class series

Posted 18 December 2025 at 5:41 pm

Photos courtesy of Orleans County master Gardeners: Master Gardener Michael Klepp shows participants the components of a handheld pruner in his 2025 Purposeful Pruning class.

Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County Master Gardeners have set the schedule for 2026 for the “Master Your Garden” monthly educational classes. The classes are held on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. in the “Buzz” Hill Education Center at the Orleans CCE office in Albion.

The series kicks off on Jan. 3 with “Smart Garden Research” taught by Master Gardener Julia Bender. In the class, she will show participants how to navigate the overwhelming world of online gardening advice with confidence, how to identify trustworthy sources, spot red flags in gardening content, and build a toolkit of reliable websites and resources.

Other topics include hydroponic growing, nature journaling, flower arranging, composting, container gardening and more! Check out the full lineup with class dates and details on the Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Facebook page here.

“We developed the Master Your Garden series to share accessible, practical gardening knowledge with our Orleans County community,” said Julia Bender, Master Gardener volunteer and chairperson of this educational series. “Whether you’re looking to gain confidence or connect with fellow gardeners, we hope you’ll join us in making 2026 your best growing season yet!”

Classes are offered at an optional $5 donation fee and are held in the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Pre-registration is encouraged to properly prepare for seating and materials, however, walk-ins are always welcome, especially with the first class being so close to the holidays. To register, call (585) 798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu.

Master Gardener Julia Bender teaches a class on the Fall Garden for the 2025 Master Your Garden series.