Education Station Chronological History:

1995 - The Brazoria County Master Gardener program began without a place to call home. Master Gardener groups usually start demonstration gardens around their County Extension Office. However, with the Brazoria Extension Office, the Pct2 Commissioner offices and county barns sharing a small space, this location would not work for the group. The Master Gardeners worked around the County Fairgrounds for several years, but that was not really a place to call home.

2000 - Agent Paula Craig found an unused greenhouse with attached head house sitting empty at the Angleton TAMU Research Station. After extensive talks between all involved parties, the Master Gardeners had a place to call home to build their gardens. First came cleaning, painting and general repairs to buildings that had not been used for ten years. Then programs were begun putting in test beds for TAMU to demonstrate "easy care" and "water smart" gardening.

2003 - In May, TAMU closed down the Angleton Research Station and, God Bless the Aggies, they let the MGs stay on the property. By this time, MGs had managed to have money available due to annual plant sales and other fund raisers to buy gardening equipment to improve the flower and vegetable beds. To meet the MGs purpose to educated the public about what grows well in Brazoria County with a minimum care and to use the learned techniques, we began holding seminars, giving garden tours and encouraging people to visit.

2004 - Gluttons for punishment, the MGs began two new major projects - installation of the Tropical and Herb Gardens. Both were completed just in time for the 2004 White Christmas. Either God loved the gardens or it was Aggie luck, but very few plants were lost.

2006 - The MGs held a contest to name their grounds - the winning entry was "Education Station".
Other new projects were began:
- The Native Garden was installed.
- The Tropical Garden was expanded with Phase Two (Phase One ran out of room).
- A very large Demonstration Vegetable Garden was planned for spring planting. However, bed preparation was delayed due to tractor mechanical problems and a very wet spring and summer. A few plants were planted by mid summer - just enough to get everyone excited for next spring.
- A Drainage Improvement Project was started by cutting drainage ditches and hauling in fill dirt to raise elevations.

2007 - The MGs continued working on making improvements to the gardens. The annual training class, Spring Plant Sale, speaking engagements and open houses were all well attended.
Other happenings:
- Although the Large Vegetable Garden drainage was improved in 2006, the garden remained too wet for tilling during the spring and early summer constant rain. Finally in late July the rains stopped and the garden dried enough for tilling. Plots were assigned and a section of watermelons planted. However, the rains soon returned and a great crop of nutgrass popped up.
- The Dow Chemical Company awarded a $5000 grant to install a Rain Water Harvesting System. Working with the A&M Extension Offices, the system was designed to collect water from the
- The nonprofit First Choice Power Fund awarded a $5000 grant to the BCMG Association for projects to benefit the youth education programs. In partnership with the Cradle of Texas Master Naturalists, the grant will install an outdoor classroom seating and a computerized weather station.

2008 - A 5000 gallon rainwater harvesting system was installed. Immediately after, the drought of 2008 began. Tanks had to be filled from the well in order to demonstrate the system for our Master Gardener Certified Rainwater Harvesting class.              -Later that year, Hurricane Ike took out trees, greenhouse glass and the potting shed.  Lots of debris and loose pots scattered the grounds. Herbicide overspray from the aerial spray of neighboring rice fields damaged the rose trials and many other plants.

2009 - The Master Gardeners received a grant from the Multiple Sclerosis Society for installation of an enabling garden.  The garden will feature beds of varying heights, an elevated bed for wheelchair access, vertical beds, pulley gardens, teaching and shade areas, espaliers, and adaptive tool display. More drought and record heat during the summer decimated lawns and withered gardens.

2010 - The first hard freeze in eleven years brought beautiful blooms to the peaches, pears, plums and hawthorns. The citrus wasn't so happy but most survived. Many tropicals were lost, others froze to the ground but slowly recovered. The Houston-Galveston Area Council awarded the Master Gardeners $73,845 on a solid waste education grant to install a new classroom building, compost demonstration, rainwater collection, recycling cemetery and ADA compliant walkways.