The mission of the Lexington County Master Gardener Volunteers is to provide gardening support to its members and to the community through inspiration, education and leadership.
Our History
Lexington County Master Gardener Volunteers first began with classes in 1983-84. In 1987 the class of six eager members decided, with the help of Sam Cheatham, to gather for monthly “Update” meetings. Sam brought topics of interest such as various plants and how to reorganize and care of them. He also taught the ladies about numerous diseases and how to best eradicate.
The small but dedicated group of ladies known as “The Sweet Peas” birthed a two-page
newsletter in 1994 known as The Green Sheet. Today The Green Sheet provides information about plants – both heritage and newly cultivated, plant diseases and treatment, beautiful gardens – all in large part by members of the association.
On December 7, 2004 Lexington County Master Gardener Volunteers incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of South Carolina. As of July 31, 2023, there are 123 active members, 17 Interns, 19 Year One members, 3 Emeritus and 7 Guest members.. The organization continues to grow with Clemson conferring certification to graduates of the program.
Community Projects
Almanac
Flower & Garden Almanac and Calendar for the Midlands of SC, presented by LCMG
Volunteers Association, 3rd edition are available through LCMGV.org or Wingard’s
Nursery/Market, 1403 N. Lake Dr, Lexington, SC 29072
Clemson Carolina Yards
Carolina Yards is designed to help South Carolinians conserve water and make positive changes to the environmental quality of their yards, neighborhoods, and surrounding waterways. Learn more about how to achieve your desired landscape through actions that save money, increase success, and protect natural resources.
Lexington County Master Gardeners can present a Carolina Yards power point presentation, explain how yards are evaluated using a scorecard based on the 12 principles of the Carolina
Yards Program. Each action taken earns "inches" towards certification.
Garden Like a Master (GLaM)
Garden Like a Master is a collection of (48) PowerPoint presentations with a variety of garden topics that range from Adaptive Gardening to Woodland Gardening. These are research-based programs that are presented by Master Gardeners to the community at libraries, community centers, and local community settings. In addition to writing and presenting GLaM power point programs our volunteers also create displays at local libraries for visual education for library patrons. Dates, locations and GLaM programs can be viewed on the LCMGV.org website and through your local library.
Jamboree
For the past nine years Lexington County Master Gardeners have organized, planned and hosted a one-day Jamboree at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. Approximately 150 – 160 guests attend a one-day event to shop with local artists and plant vendors, attend interesting garden presentations and hands-on classes, enjoy lunch and fellowship, and enjoy excellent speakers. If you have not attended a LCMGV Jamboree please mark your calendars to attend the next one in the spring.
Annual Fall Plant Sale
Throughout the year Lexington County Master Gardeners work together on “plant digs”. Plants dug up and divided from their own gardens or gardens that have been identified from an owner are dug up, potted, identified and provided for sale at the Fall Flower sale at SC Farmers Market, 483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia, SC 29172.
Proceeds from the plant sale help support the Sam Cheatham Scholarship for students majoring in horticulture/agriculture field of study.
Lexington County Museum
Lexington County Master Gardeners provide workdays by our volunteers to keep the planter boxes looking healthy and attractive.
Speakers Bureau
Lexington County Master Gardeners present Garden programs at the Lexington and Columbia Shepherds Center in the Spring and Fall/Winter Semesters.