CMGA Mission Statement

The purpose of CMGA shall be to provide means by which graduates of the Extension Master Gardener Program may:

* Extend their knowledge of, and interest in, gardening and related topics.

* Meet and associate with others who have similar interests.

* Share their knowledge and expertise, and offer help and assistance to the public through gardening and horticulture programs.

CMGA may not engage in any activity which is not in furtherance of one or more of the above purposes.

1978First Connecticut Master Gardener class graduated. The classes were held in Wallingford (New Haven County), Bethel (Fairfield County), and West Hartford (Hartford County). Some of the original attendees were Marie Dube, Dorothy Cheo, Roberta Levandowski, Shirley Mitsko, Joan Lehn.

1987  The Connecticut Master Gardener Association was established. Forty five people attended the first CMGA meeting which was held in the Haddam Extension Center office. Bob McNeil was elected the first CMGA President. The first CMGA newsletter was published with Jean Chasnow as the editor.

1987  The first National Master Gardener Conference was held in Washington DC with twenty Connecticut Master Gardeners in attendance.

1990  CMGA had 197 paid members and a checking/savings account balance of $1,225.

The first CMGA Symposium was held at the West Hartford campus of UConn.

2000  A formal program for Advanced Master Gardener certification begins. Informal AMG programs began in the 1980s.

2008  The CMGA 15th Annual Symposium, Making Gardens By Design, held on March 29, 2008, was a great success, with a capacity audience of 400 attendees.

  The 2008 semi-annual Membership Meeting, Summer Safari IV, was held at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford on Saturday, July 26, 2008. Over 75 CMGA members and their guests attended the event.

  The 2008 Annual Membership Meeting was held on December 6, 2008, and was attended by over 40 CMGA members and guests

2009  The CMGA 16th Annual Symposium, Gardeners Going Green, was held at Manchester Community College on Saturday, March 21, 2009. The near-capacity audience had high praise for the event, and attendees particularly enjoyed the 'green' theme of the presentations. The Symposium featured Jeff Lowenfels as the keynote speaker, and Claire Sawyers as the closing speaker. In addition, attendees could attend one of 5 morning session presentations and one of 5 afternoon presentations.

  The 2009 Summer Safari was held on Saturday, July 11 2009 and included a tour of two gardens in the Norwich area and a visit a local herb farm.

  The 2009 Annual Membership Meeting held on November 21, 2009 at The Pond House, Elizabeth Park, was attended by over 120 people. A new slate of officers was appointed at the meeting, and new By-Laws were adopted. Following the meeting, well-known garden writer and photographer Steve Silk presented a fascinating talk on "Flower and Garden Photography." 

  Membership for 2009 totals over 800. In addition, over 200 Master Gardener Interns were accorded associate membership.