The Branch and Bloom Society honors those who invest in the future of Alabama communities by supporting the Alabama Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Through their generosity, members help cultivate learning, stewardship, and service opportunities that empower volunteers to make a lasting difference across the state.

The society serves as a well-deserved recognition of individuals who contribute to the program’s endowed fund for excellence. Make a donation today to support the life-changing influence that Extension Master Gardener volunteers have in local communities.

Growing Knowledge, Growing Communities

For more than 40 years, Alabama Extension Master Gardeners have connected people to the research-based gardening resources they need to create healthier gardens, stronger communities, and more sustainable landscapes.

First formed through Washington State University Extension in 1973, the Extension Master Gardener Program came to Alabama in 1981, thanks to the efforts of Mary Lou McNabb. As a Cornell Extension Master Gardener volunteer, McNabb wanted to bring the program to Alabama when she and her husband moved from New York. She worked with former Madison County Extension Agent Gary Murray and Alabama A&M University to make that a reality—cementing her legacy as the mother of the Alabama Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

In 2025, Alabama Extension Master Gardener volunteers donated more than 19,000 pounds of fresh produce. Also, the value of their total volunteer service was $3.24 million.

Today, education remains at the heart of everything the program does. Through extensive training and continuing education, Master Gardener volunteers branch out into their communities to share trusted horticultural information at libraries, botanical gardens, farmers markets, civic events, demonstration gardens, and educational workshops. These dedicated volunteers help Alabamians bloom and prosper—teaching them about pollinator habitats, native plant conservation, composting, growing food, and other gardening practices that improve local communities and the environment. Many volunteers also maintain gardens that donate fresh fruits and vegetables to local charities—another example of the program’s community impact.

Join the Society

With only a $20 minimum, your donation automatically enrolls you as a member of the Branch and Bloom Society. Your contribution to the Alabama Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program Endowed Fund for Excellence helps sustain the program’s educational efforts today and builds a pathway for future expansion of the program’s reach across the state.

Managed by the Auburn University Foundation, you can donate to the endowment online at give.auburn.edu. All gifts are tax deductible. There are also opportunities to donate to this endowment through estate giving. More information on those types of donations is available at auburngiving.org/estate.

Donate at auburn.edu

Thank You!

As members of the society, you are ensuring that future generations of Master Gardeners will continue to share research-based knowledge, serve their communities, and cultivate positive change across Alabama. Together, we can grow more than gardens. We can grow stronger communities for years to come.

Thank you for your donation and becoming a member of the Branch and Bloom Society!