Welcome our new Master Gardeners-Class of 2025

On Thursday, December 4, the James City County Williamsburg Master Gardener Association celebrated the graduation of the 2025 Master Gardener class at the Williamsburg Regional Library auditorium. Trainees achieved this milestone through diligent class attendance and volunteering at least 50 hours in community gardens, totaling over 1,740 hours as a group. Association president Dave Kleppinger introduced the speaker, Jim Orband, a retired York County Cooperative Extension Agent.

After congratulating the graduates, Jim Orband shared the history and development of the Master Gardener training program on the peninsula, highlighting key events and challenges since its 1983 inception, including initial resistance from extension agents. Ed Olson, VCE Director of Master Gardeners, and Luke Gladden, our local VCE Extension Agent, joined the celebration to extend their congratulations. To engage attendees, a large screen displayed a crossword puzzle about the new master gardeners. After the ceremony, graduates, members, families, and friends gathered for a reception at the Stryker Center.