Pictured are Carol Hoffman of Lawrence, Marilyn Canterbury of Hamilton, Mercer County horticulturist Barbara J. Bromley, Jim Lodge of Ewing and May Papastephanou of Princeton. (Photo courtesy of the Mercer County Master Gardeners.)

Mercer County Master Gardeners received Awards of Excellence at the recent Master Gardeners Association of New Jersey 21st Annual Fall Conference. This award was established as a means of recognizing the contributions and service of volunteer members who trained and were certified under the Rutgers University Master Gardener Program and have provided a high degree of professional service throughout their community. Mercer County’s recipients this year were Jim Lodge and members of the Hours Committee.

Jim Lodge, a Ewing resident, is their “Master builder,” and “go-to guy” for event set up. He is the man behind many projects at the Mercer Educational Gardens including the planning and building of the arbor entrance and various compost bins. Lodge is an expert when it comes to tools and shares his knowledge with the public in talks about winterizing and caring for garden tools.

Carol Hoffman of Lawrence, May Papastephanou of Princeton and Marilyn Canterbury of Hamilton are a team of three who are responsible for recording, tracking, reporting and reviewing all volunteer Master Gardener hours.

Cooperating agencies are Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

The Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Master Gardeners participate in many volunteer programs throughout the county, as well as answer home horticulture questions through their Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, (609) 989-6853, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM until 2 PM. For more information on the Master Gardener program, the Mercer Education Gardens, or other Extension educational programs, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension at 609 989-6830 or visit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website at www.mgofmc.org.