The Master Gardeners of Smith County are specially trained volunteers who provide horticultural information and help to the citizens of Smith County, working through the Smith County Extension office. After 72 hours of instruction in botany, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, landscape, fruit and vegetable gardening, Master Gardener interns volunteer an equivalent amount of time within a year to further AgriLife Extension’s mission of delivering educational programs to the citizens of Smith County. 2023 is the 30th year of the Smith County program, which has been recognized by both the local community and peers in other Master Gardener programs for outstanding programs and community service. 

 Greg Grant is the Smith County horticulturist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and is co-author of Heirloom Gardening in the South, Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, and The Rose Rustlers. He also writes garden columns for Texas Gardener magazine and the Tyler Morning Telegraph newspaper and is a lifelong bulbophile.