BATAVIA, NY -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will again be offering the popular Master Gardener Training series. The training allows interested community members to learn about a variety of horticulture topics and become a certified Master Gardener.

The training course will be offered on Wednesday evenings from 5:45pm to 9pm September 3rd to December 10th. Classes will be held at the Kennedy Building located on the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Rt. 5 in Batavia.

During the 15-week program, participants will learn about garden botany, pruning, annuals, perennials, insects, houseplants, organic gardening, soils, fertilizers, home fruits, vegetables, and pest management around the home. In order to become a certified Master Gardener graduates of the program are required to do volunteer work at their local Extension.

The fee for the series is $200 per person and includes a NYS Master Gardener Manual on a CD. A hard copy of the Master Gardener Manual is available for an additional cost of $50.00. Registration is required in advance, no walk-ins. The registration deadline is: August 28, 2008. Contact Consumer Horticulture Educator Gail Culver at (585) 343-3040, ext. 132 to request a brochure, stop by the Extension office located at 420 East Main Street in Batavia, or visit the Extension website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu .