SUBURBAN GARDENING

Cultivating Creativity via Community and Culture

Story by Katrina Berban

The warm Texas weather and humid air make for the perfect gardening atmosphere for the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners. Within the county lines lies a passionate group of men and women whose goal is to grow their flora and to flourish the community with horticultural knowledge.

Master Gardeners are individuals who have completed 50 hours of volunteer service while practicing the art and science of gardening. They must also maintain a certain amount of service hours per year to withhold the accredited title of Master Gardener. Guadalupe County is home to 138 certified Master Gardeners who all contribute to the county in many ways. This dedicated group is composed of spirited people from various backgrounds who have come together to impact the growing community they now share.

Past President Kay McElveen practices her craft in the small confinement of her suburban backyard, but that doesn’t stop her garden from thriving. When you step into McElveen’s backyard, you’re met with a comfortable seating space accompanied by two raised gardening beds filled with a variety of roses, lavender, various small flowers, and vines.

Moving from Northern Arkansas to Central Texas in 2014, McElveen embraced the shift in culture, community, and climate. Just three weeks into living in the Lonestar State, sister and fellow Master Gardener Patricia Watkins handed Kay the application. From that moment on, she began to branch out and become involved in the Master Gardeners organization.

“I get satisfaction from watching things grow and bloom,” McElveen said. “Whether it’s people or plants, it’s rewarding to me; it’s my psychological relief valve. The people here are great. I love living in Seguin... the people are really friendly. I’ve lived in several places in my life, and they all have their pluses and minuses. If you’re unhappy someplace, you need to look internally and see what’s wrong, and I like Seguin.”

Not only does McElveen embrace the strong sense of community, but also the suitable weather that Texas provides for gardening.

“One of the things I love about it here is that we have three good growing seasons that do not include July and August, and there’s no winter in this part of Texas,” she said. “From a gardening perspective, that’s my favorite thing, and you can grow a wide variety of things.”

The Master Gardeners run six different community gardens in Guadalupe County, aid in surrounding communities, and help bring beauty and knowledge to an expanding city. Current President Jerry McNulty, helps the organization capitalize on its mission by sharing his passion through presentations, Lunch-n- Learns, and hands-on projects.

“I’ve always been someone who’s been involved in the community, and sharing my love for gardening has come naturally,” McNulty said. “I get a lot of my [service] time from doing presentations for the community and sharing the mission of the Master Gardener program, which is education for the community.”

Seguin’s culmination of culture and community creates a hotspot for creativity. Many think gardening is just digging in the dirt, but there’s much more to gardening than just planting vegetables and ornamental plants.

“We’ve got a good art scene in Seguin as well,” McNulty said. “It’s the combination of gardening and art together creating beauty with plants that is a good melting pot here in Seguin. We have a diverse crowd, and it’s a fun place to share a passion.”