The members of the Hays County Master Gardeners Association (HCMGA) are people from Dripping Springs to San Marcos and Wimberley to Buda who take an active interest in the unique challenges of creating thriving landscaping, trees, and gardens in our Central Texas conditions and who strive to teach our community about sound horticultural practices like using native plants and capturing rainwater. Members receive invaluable training and continuing opportunities for education, then share their horticultural expertise through a wide variety of projects benefiting Hays County residents and organizations.

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In a typical year, Hays County Master Gardeners log nearly 6000 hours of volunteer service to the community. We spend a lot of time getting our hands dirty planting and tending public and community garden sites. We log many hours answering horticulture questions from the public or presenting talks and gardening advice at schools, and working with community groups ranging from food pantries to women’s shelters. At our greenhouse, you’re likely to find us working on our propagation techniques and experimenting with water-efficient container gardening.  

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In 2020, the Texas Master Gardener Association gave us first prize in their annual awards for outstanding work at our Jacob’s Well Greenhouse and Demonstration Garden, which we developed with help from an innovation grant provided by the IBM Corporation. The Hays County Child Protective Board also recognized HCMGA for our work on the Remme Rainbow Room in San Marcos, a new facility where case workers can welcome and comfort children recently removed from dangerous situations. HCMGA volunteers designed and an installed landscaping featuring Texas native plants and a shaded outdoor seating area with colorful benches.