History of the Comal Master Gardener Association

The Comal Master Gardener Association (CMG) was initiated in October of 1997 when the Comal County Horticulture Committee, under the leadership of County Extension Agent Marty Gibbs, met and brought up the idea of starting a Master Gardener Program.  The first organizational meeting was held in November 1997 and set a target of April 1998 for the start of the first class.

A small group of certified Master Gardeners (previously certified in Bexar, Guadalupe, and Harris counties) volunteered to assist in organizing the Comal Chapter and the class.  A 16-week course began in April 1998 with 36 trainees participating.

The framework of the volunteer program was developed in May and June 1998 with the establishment of a Master Gardener Executive Board and the formal organization—the Comal County Master Gardener Association.  In July 1998, the first class of 32 members graduated and provided a volunteer service that expanded the capabilities of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to disseminate horticultural information to the community.  CMG has graduated a class of Master Gardeners every year since and has grown to over 200 members.  Five members from the original class remain active in the association.

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CMG’s 25th Anniversary Celebration–August 18, 2023

Over 140 members and guests celebrated CMG’s 25th anniversary at a dinner and program on August 18, 2023, at the Garden Ridge Community Center.  Special guests included AgriLife agent Marty Gibbs (now a District Administrator in San Angelo, TX) who led the effort to create CMG; one of the founding members, Patty Godfrey, who became a Master Gardener in Harris County prior to moving to Comal County; and the five members from the first class still active in the organization.  You can see them talk about the founding and first class HERE.   

On August 17, the Commissioners Court of Comal County recognized CMG’s 25 years of service to the county by issuing a proclamation recognizing August 18 as Master Gardener Day and the 25th anniversary.