UPDATE: Montgomery Botanical Gardens
Posted on August 31, 2015 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
A committed group from the Capital City Master Gardeners Association (CCMGA) and one from Elmore County Master Gardeners became the first volunteers to perform gardening/landscape tasks to develop the Montgomery Botanical Gardens (MBG) at Oak Park. While numerous volunteers will contribute over the years, this group will always be the first to contribute their gardening skills, time and effort to the development of the new botanical gardens.
On June 25, these vigorous, trained garden volunteers met at the site for Phase I of our botanical gardens to begin cleaning hedges and laying out pathways. With determination and diligence, they began removing weeds, vines, sprouting trees, dead limbs and overgrown bushes from the huge azalea hedge at the entrance to Oak Park, and laying edging for pathways. Later they worked on spreading stones for the pathway surface and soil to stabilize the edging. Care is being taken to ensure that future visitors with disabilities will be able to use these pathways to maneuver within and enjoy the gardens.
These first Master Gardeners to work on the community dream of botanical gardens are Cathy Maddox (Volunteer Coordinator for MBG), Carolyn Love-Dorsey, Karin Carmichael, Shou-Lih Chuang, Ann Oldham, Amanda Borden, Katie McLean, Betsy Coley, CCMGA President Margaret Cully, Maggie Stringer, and Janice and Andy Jackson. On Thursday, June 26, Master Gardeners Cary and Lynne Kuhlmann and Daphne Nations also joined in to contribute to the effort. CCMGA membership adopted the MBG as a major project for their organization and provide some funding and volunteers to ensure that the gardens become a reality.
On Thursday, June 26, Mayor Todd Strange came to the gardens to publicize the progress made over the last year toward creating the Montgomery Botanical Gardens. He also acknowledged the volunteers at work on Phase I and those who volunteer on the MBG Board of Directors. The media helped share the news of progress and inform all interested parties that their volunteer time and effort can be put to good use at MBG. Mayor Strange also expressed pride that even though the land is leased from the City, the Montgomery Botanical Gardens is a private, non-profit organization that can utilize private donations, grants and endowments and he encouraged generous contributions from everyone.
Others who have already contributed their time, knowledge and/or equipment to enable the work to begin are: Doug Woodruff, Zeb King, and Dick Madison. City Parks and Recreation staff have been supportive and helpful as plans have developed over the last three years.
You do not have to be an experienced or trained gardener to be a useful volunteer. To learn about future volunteer opportunities at MBG, how to become a member and/or how to make financial donations to MBG, you can follow Montgomery Botanical Gardens on Facebook, on their Web Page or email them at montgomerybotanicalgardens@gmail.com. The current officers of the MBG are Ethel Boykin, President; Heather Coleman Davis, Vice President; Cathy Maddox, Secretary; and Scott Williams, Treasurer.
Cathy Maddox, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association since 2000, lives in Montgomery, AL. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the web-site, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com.
(See Sept. To-Do section for the Sept. Free program)