A common quotation in the gardening community is “The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.” And that is right on target. As soon as you think you have a good handle on how to grow vegetables and ornamentals, someone comes along with a plant you’ve never heard of or a problem you have never encountered. 

I just continue to try to learn as much as I can about each phase of gardening that piques my interest. There are so many options in plant material and design that no one could ever know it all. And it’s fun to constantly have a work in progress at home.  

I love to try new plants in my yard and learn firsthand how they perform. I have my favorites and those that I overwinter, and certain annuals that I purchase each year or grow from seed. 

Where to Find Gardening Information

Gardening information is all around: in books, radio and TV shows, magazines, newspapers, social media, gardening websites, nursery blogs, Cooperative Extension websites and local offices, and more. Fellow gardeners love to share information about their gardens and experiences, and we can learn a lot from them.  

While there is a lot of good information on gardening, there is a lot of misinformation, too. I would caution everyone to be careful what they are reading online. Make sure it is a reputable site like the university cooperative extension free publications. 

So, I would say, although no one can completely master the art of gardening since it is such an infinite, evolving hobby, as long as you’re comfortable with how your gardens are shaping up, and your extent of knowledge is enough to serve you well in selecting, growing, and troubleshooting your garden projects, then you have reached the epitome of a garden master.