About
The Ellis County Master Gardener Association (ECMGA) supports Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in the community through our annual Expo, numerous horticultural classes, speaking engagements, monthly newsletter, and our community and learning gardens.
Created in 1997 with only five members, our Master Gardeners volunteers average over 8,000 hours yearly, assisting the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in achieving its mission of disseminating horticultural information to the county. The intern training class is conducted yearly, cultivating new talent for the association. Our 94 volunteer members share their interests, specializations, and service to the community through various forums.
March usually marks the annual Ellis County Lawn and Garden Expo. This event is highly anticipated by all who attend, from Ellis County and other surrounding counties. Each year, over 2,500 attendees attend educational sessions, purchase plants, meet vendors, and have the opportunity to ask gardening questions.
Ellis County Master Gardeners are most proud of our ability to offer scholarships to graduating seniors in Ellis County. Our scholarship program is funded by our annual Lawn and Garden Expo. The Ellis County Master Gardeners are proud to have awarded $71,100 in scholarships, since beginning this program in 2003, to over 40 Ellis County seniors.
Each year the organization produces the annual gardening-focused calendar which is always eagerly awaited by both gardeners and local nurseries for its helpful gardening information and timely garden reminders. The Ellis County Master Gardeners give away over 5,000 copies of the calendar every year. To find these calendars, check the website or contact the Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at (972) 825-5175 for more information. The calendars are usually available in December.
ECMGA’s award-winning monthly e-gardening newsletter is distributed electronically to over 1,200 recipients. Each month’s upcoming events, educational opportunities, and articles written by our members are included to keep the public up-to-date and informed. You can read the latest edition by clicking HERE. Master Gardeners can be heard on both a daily and weekly segment on the local radio station, KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM, which reaches over 12,000 listeners in the surrounding area. Educational outreach is also achieved via a weekly newspaper article reaching over 33,000 readers. Monthly gardening and landscape information is published in a bi-monthly living magazine that has a print circulation of 30,000 readers and approximately 10,000 online readers.
Master Gardeners teach classes at Waxahachie Lighthouse for Learning, a cooperative effort between Waxahachie ISD, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Ellis County Master Gardeners, and other organizations and businesses in Ellis County.
Volunteers participate in numerous events as another way of interacting with and being of service to the community: Waxahachie Gingerbread Trail and Public Garden Tour, 4th of July Parade, Midlothian Quilt Show, Ennis Bluebonnet Festival, and Ferris Earth Day. Our dedicated members can be found weekly at the Waxahachie Farmers Market passing out information and answering questions (Click HERE to learn more about Waxahachie Downtown Farmers Market).
Ellis County Master Gardeners maintain several public gardens that are enjoyed by the community: Waxahachie’s Horticulture Learning Center and Butterfly Garden located on the Waxahachie Bike and Hike Trail, and also Ridgeview Park located in Midlothian. Please come out and enjoy one of our many gardens!
Click HERE to learn more about the Master Gardener training program!
Please visit our Ellis County Master Gardeners website for up-to-date information: Click Here
