Tennessee Master Gardener Program Makes an Impact on Volunteers

In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Tennessee spans more than 440 miles from east to west, offering an extensive range of growing environments that vary by soil, elevation and rainfall. Determining the best types of plants for each condition can be challenging, making master gardeners a helpful resource. Offered by UT Extension, the Master Gardener Program’s mission is to provide research-based horticulture information to promote environmentally friendly garden, plant and soil practices.

It may come as a surprise that Davidson County, the second-most populous county in the state, has one of the largest Master Gardener associations in Tennessee. There are more than 200 master gardeners in Davidson County, and the members pride themselves on helping their communities while caring for five demonstration gardens.

“I am constantly amazed by the community of master gardeners we have in Davidson County,” says Amy Dunlap, Davidson County UT Extension agent. “They are always willing to help out where needed, and I love seeing the impact volunteers have in our community.”

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Master gardener Caroll Marrero has been in the program since 2009 and believes it offers something for everybody.

“It’s a great group of people,” Marrero says. “The first thing I love about the program is that it is fact-based, and second is volunteering with energetic people, as it provides lifelong friendships.”

Maintaining Garden Spaces

The five primary gardens maintained by Davidson County Master Gardeners are Nashville City Cemetery, the kitchen gardens at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, the heirloom garden at Belle Meade, the demonstration and educational gardens at Ellington Agricultural Center, and the heirloom garden at the Tennessee Agricultural Museum. These gardens benefit the community in many ways, from teaching citizens about plant care to demonstrating ways local plants can thrive.

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Shirley Lee has been a master gardener for 22 years and believes the program offers many benefits beyond horticulture.

“I have been a caregiver for family and friends, and the Master Gardener Program has been my therapy to stay energized,” Lee says.

Lee appreciates all the gardens maintained by the Master Gardener Program, but her main focus is on the University of Tennessee Demonstration Garden.

“Our demonstration garden does not try to compete with other gardens,” she says. “We specialize in ways to garden if you don’t have a large garden space of your own.”

Many master gardeners have also invested time and energy into the heirloom garden at the Tennessee Agricultural Museum.

The Tennessee Agricultural Museum showcases exhibits related to life in Tennessee before electricity and includes historic cabins and an heirloom garden.

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“The garden commemorates farming in Tennessee and highlights culturally significant heirloom species,” Dunlap says. “It’s a great way to preserve history and educate gardeners on what crops commonly grew here in the past.”

Arboretum and Education Programs

In 2021, a ferocious wind toppled nearly 60 trees at the Central Regional Office in Nashville, and Marrero and others worked on creating an arboretum in the space, now called the University of Tennessee Extension Arboretum at Ellington. 

“What I love about the arboretum is that it’s a destination of beauty for people who love to be around trees and is a very peaceful place to visit,” Marrero says.

A new education program developed by master gardeners is in the works for Davidson County. The program is split into three levels – kindergarten through third grade, fourth through seventh grades and eighth grade through adult.

“As we grow, develop and mature the education program, we can go to schools, communities and online, so people can learn about the ecosystem, why trees are important, and how to plant and care for trees,” Marrero says.

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With so many energetic volunteers, narrowing down key projects is hard.

“In the future, we hope to expand to new areas as our city and program continue to grow,” Dunlap says.