On October 8, 1996, Linda Corwine, Advanced Master Gardener ( Montrose) received Colorado's top Master Gardener award from Milan Rewerts, Director, Colorado Extension at a luncheon ceremony in Denver.

Linda devoted seven years and several thousand hours to Colorado's Master Gardener Program in Western Colorado. She coordinated and trained Master Gardeners in Montrose county, coordinated and taught at workshops for the county fair and home and garden show, taught classes as a Master Gardener at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, assisted at and coordinated vegetable trials and turf disease control plots in Montrose county and was actively involved in Montrose's fledgling Botanical Society. Linda writes a gardening column for the Montrose Daily Press and the summer of 1996 initiated and coordinated a collaborative effort between the Master Gardeners and the Montrose county weed committee that resulted in an educational booth at the Montrose county fair.

Linda's activities as an advanced Master Gardener resulted in an increase in the knowledge of gardeners, consultants and `Green Industry' professionals alike. Her work with the Montrose and Ouray County Master Gardeners resulted in an increase in the number of Master Gardeners returning to the program and an increase in the number of participants in the Master Gardener program from those counties.

Linda continues to attend workshops designed to increase her professionalism in horticulture. She typically attends 20 or more hours of advanced training each year in addition to the normal Apprentice and Advanced Master Gardener training curriculum. Linda's educational efforts are aptly reflected in her gardening column and increased ability to serve Extension's clientele.