Colorado Master Gardener℠ (CMG) volunteers are a dedicated group of individuals who are knowledgeable and passionate about sharing gardening, landscape, and horticulture education. This month we are highlighting Matt Huebschmann.

When did you join the Colorado Master Gardener program and why did you join?

After several years of being a professional artist, I realized that my landscape-inspired sculptures had inspired me to start landscaping. It seemed innocent at first, but I quickly learned that I would rather be working outside instead of in my studio. That year I participated in the Aurora Water Xeriscape Rebate Program and was hooked on gardening immediately. I tried to absorb every word in every garden book at the library, but that was not enough. In 2019 I joined the CMG program.

What is your favorite CMG activity and why?

My favorite CMG activity this year was working on producing giant paper maché models of insects for the 2020 Garden and Home Show with all my fellow crafters and committee members. It took months of planning, gallons of glue, and a whole lot of duct tape to pull it all together. I am still amazed by everyone’s hard work and dedication.

What is your favorite part of the CMG program and why?

My favorite part of being in the Master Gardener Program has been getting to know other gardeners. It’s not every day that you meet a fellow gardener unless you are a Master Gardener. Once the word gets out, you will meet gardeners everywhere. The teenager down the street just finished his first season in the vegetable garden. Another neighbor almost called in termite control before we determined that she had ant lions. And that ant lions are really cool!  And yet another neighbor, and fellow CMG, came to my rescue when I had an entire dump truck’s worth of soil delivered to my driveway.

In my garden, there are at least a dozen projects in various stages of completion or contemplation…and that’s just the backyard. I have another million or two ideas for the front yard, but for now they will have to wait until next year. Until then, I will keep hearing the same joke from another neighbor, “Oh yeah, looks like a Master Gardener’s house!”