Ellis County K-State Extension Master Gardeners

05/14/2026

Extension Master Gardener Pat Thibault appreciates the opportunity to discuss exhibiting flowers with Fair Superintendents and the public.

Learning about exhibiting in the floriculture department at the Rush County Fair. Thank you to Sunshine FCE and Bison Community Library for hosting this educational meeting.

05/14/2026

05/01/2026

The iris are showing their colors! 💜 Look for these and more at our July sale! 💜
Stop by our iris bed at Ag Research to view these lovelies.💜

04/28/2026

04/24/2026

04/17/2026

Before the freeze... WaterSmart Garden... 601 main, Hays.

04/17/2026

The Seed Library is open! Browse the packets of flowers, vegetables and herbs, and enjoy the fruits of your labor! The seed library accepts donated seeds, and we appreciate partnering with the K-State Extension - Cottonwood Extension District on this project.

04/16/2026

The K-State Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer program that turns a love of gardening into community impact. Supported and guided by K-State Extension, Master Gardener volunteers share research-based knowledge, care for community spaces, and inspire others to grow.

In 2025, Extension Master Gardeners had 1,684 volunteers, contributing 129,483 of service to the program.

The application period can vary, depending on the specific county K-State Extension office. Some accept Extension Master Gardener applications starting in early August, while others have deadlines in June or July. Enrollment may be limited, so submitting your application within the designated timeframe is crucial.

For more information on becoming a Master Gardener, visit https://extension.k-state.edu/master-gardener/get-involved/join.html

04/15/2026

Master Gardener Jeremy sharing some Kansas gardening history!

Today is National Gardening Day!

During the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the Kansas Emergency Relief Committee promoted gardening as a way for Kansans to sustain themselves. A garden supervisor was put in charge to coordinate with Kansas State College and the Farm Bureau to provide garden seed for allotments, as well as gardening classes to set families up for the best chance to succeed.

The program yielded varying results due to the prolonged drought, with better harvests in eastern Kansas. The photo below is of the Wiebe Family Farm in Meade County. Despite being in the heart of the Dust Bowl, they achieved some success thanks to the homemade windmill in the background. The family built it from an old car frame. The supplemental water helped keep a garden in the most brutal conditions.

Photo courtesy of: Kansas Memory, Kansas Historical Society.

04/14/2026

Dean's report on our iris bed at Ag Research...The iris bed is alive and well. I've watered everything several times, and they have really responded.
The foreground are the ones Pat and I planted last fall. Every one is alive and growing.
There are a few flowers already, and some buds. In a few weeks it should be beautiful.