Free Gardening Programs Offered Across Cobb County This Winter and Spring

Cobb County residents interested in gardening, sustainability, and environmental stewardship will have multiple opportunities to learn from local experts this winter and spring through a series of free educational programs offered by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC).

These programs are part of MGVOCC’s ongoing mission to provide research-based horticultural education to the public in partnership with UGA Extension–Cobb County. All programs are free and open to the public, with options available both online and at community locations throughout the county.

MGVOCC is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that trains volunteers through the University of Georgia Extension and delivers unbiased, science-backed gardening education through lectures, workshops, and outreach initiatives.

Grow Virtually: Online Gardening Education Series

Grow Virtually is MGVOCC’s live, online lecture series presented via Zoom and designed for home gardeners of all experience levels. Sessions are held one evening each month from February through May and feature expert speakers addressing timely gardening and environmental topics.

Topics for the Winter/Spring 2026 season include:

• Rain gardens and managing stormwater runoff
• Cost-effective lawn care
• Incorporating native plants into home landscapes
• Using technology to garden more efficiently and sustainably

Each session runs from 7–8 p.m. and includes time for questions. Registration and full program descriptions are available at www.cobbmastergardeners.com. Flyer>.

Gardeners’ Night Out: Seed Starting at Cobb Libraries

Gardeners’ Night Out is a popular in-person program hosted at multiple Cobb County library locations. This winter, MGVOCC will present a hands-on seed starting series that teaches participants how to grow plants from seed using research-based techniques successfully.
Participants will take part in guided, hands-on activities, with all supplies provided. Programs are family-friendly and designed for beginner and intermediate gardeners.

Sessions will be held at several libraries, including East Cobb, North Cobb, South Cobb, West Cobb, Switzer, Gritters, and Mountain View Regional Libraries, with dates running from mid-January through early March. Flyer>.

Thyme to Read: Virtual Environmental Book Discussions

For those who enjoy reading and thoughtful discussion, MGVOCC also offers Thyme to Read, a virtual book discussion group focused on environmental, gardening, and nature-related themes.
Meetings are held via Zoom from 10:15–11:30 a.m. on select Fridays. The upcoming discussion on February 13 will feature The Serviceberry: Abundance & Reciprocity by Robin Wall Kimmerer, with additional titles scheduled through May. All selected books are available through the Cobb County Library System. Flyer>.

How to Participate

All MGVOCC programs are free and open to the public. Registration links, flyers, and a full calendar of events are available on the MGVOCC website and Facebook events page.

For gardening questions year-round, residents may also contact our Master Gardener Help Desk through UGA Extension–Cobb County at 770-528-4070 to reach UGA Certified Master Gardeners or UGA Extension Staff. We are available from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Or you can email your questions to cobbextensionanr@uga.edu.

More information is available at www.cobbmastergardeners.com.