The crabapple trees at East Farm are getting a haircut this spring thanks to the efforts of (l-r) Hal Morpeth, Paul Petersen and Lucy Huggins. They and other Master Gardener volunteers already finished all the apple trees and now are tackling the 200-plus crabapple trees. Paul, who heads up the effort, says they can use more MG volunteers and he hopes members of the new class will come forward. Volunteers can bring their own pruning tools, such as loppers, hand pruners,and pruning saws but if they don't have them, there are tools available at the farm. Workers should wear appropriate clothing and boots. Deer tick precautions are taken.

"Lucy" Huggins, a trainee in this year's Master Gardener class, has been spending a lot of hours at East Farm pruning apple and crabapple trees. Her real first name is Lyudmila and she came to the U.S. from Russia 12 years ago. She says people can call her Lucy because it is easier to pronounce. In addition to working at East Farm, the Newport resident will also be working at Prescott Farm in Middletown this year.

LONG-TIME Master Gardener Anneliese Williams and Larry Blasbalg, a member of this year's Master Gardener class, check over some artichokes being raised in the large greenhouse at East Farm. Vegetable plant propagation is well under way there. Larry, who is in real estate, says he thoroughly enjoys working in the greenhouse and has also been pruning the apple and crabapple trees at East Farm.

URI MASTER GARDENERS on the Friday Crew in the Garcia Greenhouse at East Farm are all smiles as they plan the work assignments for the day. The first flower plugs have arrived and there is lots of work to be done in preparation of the big fund raising sale on May 10, the East Farm Spring Festival. The Master Gardener greenhouses have different work crews each day, including Saturdays and Sundays.