Cheatham County Master Gardeners
Ashland City Library/Health Department Complex Project
Planting and maintaining the eleven large flower beds, along with the rows of hedges and specialty trees has been our group’s largest project for several years; and we take much pleasure from the colorful result, appreciating the kind words of encouragement from the patrons of those buildings.
Currently the project is managed by Junior Morrow and Gerri Galloway, both graduates of the Master Gardener class of 2010. Previous managers include Gary Swinger and Sue Proctor. Junior has been gardening in Tennessee for many years, and contributes not only his understanding of the local growing conditions, but many interesting plants from his own yard. Gerri is a “transplant” from the Pacific Northwest (where flower gardening conditions are very different!), and is learning what works in middle Tennessee.
Local Extension Agent, Ronnie Barron, taught our class on soil conditions, and instructed that the official category for our local soil is “crappy”. Clay doesn’t drain well, and rocks flourish. So, we’re continually amending the soil as we work, and – with financial help from Friends of the Library - giving the beds a good mulching, at least every other year. In past years, the Cheatham County Maintenance Department has assisted with this
Humidity is not our friend, and we fight back with fungicide on the Red Tip Photinia hedges, Crepe Myrtle, and Zinnias. One of the beds is yellow Knock-Out Roses, which require annual pruning (February) and frequent dead-heading, dusting, fertilizing, and spraying. An area parallel to the entrance road was one where not even grass or weeds would grow; just bare clay. With much amending, we have developed an appealing Day Lily bed, which Junior tends with tender loving care. Also have reclaimed a bed in the parking lot that was once just weeds, planting Canna Lilies, Marigolds, Ornamental Grass, and Summer Poinsettias – among other things.
The “show offs” in front of the library building are vivid crimson Crepe Myrtle, which we keep cut back to a manageable size, and surround with annuals such as Zinnias, and there’s enough shade there for Impatiens, Hostas, and Coleus. These beds include a smattering of perennial herbs, as well, with Sage and Oregano in front of the building, and a large Rosemary by the side door.
The entrance bed includes several shrubs, as well as perennial color in the form of Pinks, Coneflowers, and Coreopsis. This spring we added an interesting perennial that is the bright spot in that bed this time of year, with elongated purple blooms. It came from the yard of a neighbor of my son, and no one has been able to identify it. But it was described as “aggressive” as well as drought-tolerant, so we’ll just enjoy it.
Our challenge for future seasons is finding ways to involve the public in our project, using the beds as teaching tools, and having interested individuals work beside our Master Gardener members to create colorful designs that will be appreciated and enjoyed by all who pass by.
~Authored by Gerri Galloway
