A microbiologist from Switzerland, a Hawaiian flower farmer, a New York advertising executive, a registered nurse from Ohio, a computer programmer, a confection broker from Pennsylvania, a computer systems designer, a domestic engineer, a French scientist. Women, men, retired and actively working.

What can this eclectic group have in common? A desire to become Master Gardeners.

In October 2008 this unlikely melange of people met for the first time in Hillsborough at the Orange County Extension office. There we began our joint journey into the world of gardening.

After the initial introductions, my inner voice (and maybe some others') said: "Wow, this may turn out to be very interesting, but do I belong with this mix of folks? Do I have enough background in gardening to be a part of this group?"

The prerequisite is not what you already know about gardening going in, but whether you have the desire and determination to learn more. The common thread is gardening passion!

That passion is spelled out not only in the learning that takes place in class about subjects such as botany, propagation, soil science, landscape design and maintenance, entomology, integrated pest management, fertilizers, weeds, vegetable gardening, flowers, woody ornamentals, small fruits and fruit trees and much more. Guest lecturers and our Cooperative Extension agent and leader, Carl Matyac, feed the passion with fascinating and accessible lectures and class activities.

But the real beginning follows our training sessions. Next, the 17 of us will put the passion into practice for the betterment of our community. Each of us will volunteer a minimum of 40 hours this year in a variety of ways. We will answer homeowners' gardening questions; staff phone lines and sit at tables at local farmer's markets and events. Many of us are also interested in using our new knowledge to reach out to others in the field of Horticultural Therapy; using our gardening skills to aid the disabled, motivate children in peril and to reduce stress at the Women's Rape Crisis Center. There is also volunteer work to be done in the schools and for 4H clubs. Many of us too, are fascinated with the rise of the Victory Garden; helping communities develop community gardens for growing food as our grandparents and parents did during World War II.

We hope during this year you will run into some us and catch a glimpse of the passion in practice. We hope too that you catch the fever and join the Master Gardening program so you too can build on your love of gardening and share the passion with all of our communities in Orange County.

Contact the Orange County Cooperative Extension Service for more information: 919-733-8181 or online at http://orange.ces.ncsu.edu.

Master Gardeners can be reached for information about gardening or an application at 919 245 2061. You can also find them in the office at 306 Revere Road in Hillsborough, weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Call or stop in.