2025 is a double celebration year for Master Gardeners as Colorado’s Master Gardener program celebrates its 50thanniversary, and the Routt County program celebrates its 25th!

The mission of Master Gardeners is to enhance Coloradan communities through outreach, education and environmental stewardship. In other words, answering questions about why a plant is dying, which is the best fertilizer, how to keep critters from eating your salad, and is it ok to use insecticides!

While there were some trained master gardeners in Routt County in the 1990s, the continuous program that exists today began in 2001. About 30 gardeners began the program initially, today it has grown to more than 40.

Surprisingly, extension leadership has not seen much change. In 2001 County Director CJ Mucklow headed up the program with current County Director and Agriculture Agent Todd Hagenbuch taking the reins in 2013. Mucklow recounts how rewarding it was to work with such passionate volunteers, “The incredible group of Master Gardeners have always been a huge part of the success of our program, shared Mucklow. “One of my favorite memories is loading up two or three Master Gardeners in my old Willys Jeep and bouncing out to do site visits in Steamboat II!”

Georgianne Nelson, one of the first Master Gardeners, remembers that the training began with a three-ring binder five inches thick chock full of information as the “textbook.” “The instructors were mainly professors from CSU and they would tour around the state teaching classes. We all drove to Craig a few times for the sessions,” recounts Nelson.

One of the biggest changes has been going from in-person all-day training, to offering online education that is available to everyone at any time, says Hagenbuch. “This change has made it much easier for more people and more types of people to become master gardeners.”

Another recent change is that more emphasis is being put on helping teach Master Gardeners how to educate others. “Master Gardeners are trained, first and foremost, in the science of gardening, but we also expect them to

educate others,” says Hagenbuch. “One of the strengths of Routt County Master Gardeners is their innate ability to translate the science into practical application.”

Barbara Walker, Master Gardener since 2000, takes that sentiment one step farther explaining that it’s all for naught if residents don’t know about the services available. “Most residents don’t know that they can call, email or come in person during our office hours to get gardening questions answered, Walker says. “Many are surprised to hear that we even offer site visits.”

In fact, a visit to the office with a question about black spots on Bee Balm is responsible for Cathy Valades-Flynn becoming a Master Gardener Apprentice this year. “I’m still a little worried that I don’t have all the answers memorized, but there are so many great resources available that it’s easy to find out!”

For more information about the Master Gardener program and to get your gardening questions answered, contact:

Routt County CSU Extension Master Gardeners
Serving Routt County since 2000
Office hours 10am – 1pm Thursdays
136 6th Street, Suite 101
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

970-879-0825 csumgprogram@co.routt.co.us

See what’s going on with Master Gardeners in Routt County on Instagram at routtcountymg.

Gwen Swenson-Hale is a Master Gardener since 2021 and invites everyone to cheer on the Master Gardener float debut at the Steamboat and Yampa 4th of July parades!