Dyersburg State Gazette: Local News: Master Gardeners review accomplishments, prepare for new year (01/26/12)

Hundreds of wildflowers, trees, bushes and more were available during the Dyer County Master Gardeners' annual plant sale in 2011. Here, Master Gardener Mary Beth Sheppard helps a visitor select the right plants for his yard. Master Gardeners plan to hold their third-annual plant sale this spring.

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Master Gardeners helped their communities blossom -- literally, inspirationally and educationally -- in 2011.

They plan to do it again this year, and new gardeners are encouraged to get their hands dirty.

A new Master Gardener training program is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., Feb. 7, at the Dyer County Extension Office, 151 Everett Ave. The 14-week educational program is taught by Extension specialists, agents and Master Gardeners. The $125 fee also covers the new 859-page Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook, a nametag and a light supper during each class. Call the Extension Office at 286-7821 for more information or to register.

Students may join the Dyer County Association of Tennessee Master Gardeners, which donated more than 2,000 hours of volunteer service last year.

"We had a great year (in 2011) and we look forward to the coming year," said association president Sherry Dunlap.

Dunlap and the association's executive committee met recently to plan projects for the new year. The list includes maintaining the Okeena Park Arboretum and flower beds in several towns, working with Habitat for Humanity, partnering with Dyer County High School's All-American Selections display gardens, providing educational presentations, hosting a Farmers Market booth and, hopefully, establishing a compost bin for their community gardens.

Dyer County Master Gardeners Kim Rhodes (foreground) and Mary Beth Sheppard plant pansies in an Okeena Park flowerbed. Master Gardeners maintain flowerbeds in Dyersburg, Newbern, Trenton and other communities.

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The executive committee also approved its annual report to the Tennessee Master Gardener program. The report included a three-page listing of accomplishments for 2011. These accomplishments included:

* Publishing an Okeena Park Arboretum tour-guide brochure. The association worked with the city of Dyersburg and the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce to design and print a map of each tree.

* Planted and watered new trees in the Okeena Park Arboretum.

* Maintained and supplemented flower beds at Okeena Park and Kiwanis Park in Dyersburg; Oakview Park in Newbern; and the covered bridge park in Trimble.

* Partnered with Dyer County High School to plant and maintain the All-American Selections display garden on school grounds. Members also helped the school's FFA program prepare for their annual plant sale.

* Constructed, planted and maintained planter boxes at street corners in the Lakewood subdivision.

Master Gardener Barbara Collier demonstrates how to compost kitchen scraps, leaves and other items. Compost may be used to enrich soil or mulch gardens. The demonstration was held last year at the local Farmers Market.

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* Landscaped a Habitat for Humanity house in Newbern. They also taught the homeowner how to maintain the plants and shrubs.

* Hosted a booth at the Farmers Market each Saturday, offering horticultural information and recipes for fresh vegetables. Members also held demonstrations for making compost and using rain barrels to conserve water.

* Provided programs on butterflies, gardening, propagating plants, composting and water conservation to various Dyer County groups.

* Invited nature photographer Glen Criswell to share his extensive collection of wildflower photographs. Dr. Peter Brown worked with Criswell to make the collection available through Dyersburg State Community College. The program was open to the public and about 60 persons attended.

* Invited Jimmy Williams, a self-taught gardener and landscaper, to share his Paris garden through a slide show. Williams' garden has been featured in "Fine Gardening" magazine and "The Garden Path," his weekly gardening column in the Paris Post-Intelligencer. The program was open to the public and about 50 persons attended.

Master Gardeners (standing) Robin Algee, James Stephenson and Lloyd Collier show Andy Seat (seated) and other visitors how to make a rain barrel. Barrels are used to collect rainwater falling off of roofs. The collected water may be used to water gardens during droughts. The demonstration was held during a Farmers Market last summer.

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* Hosted a visit by Martin nurseryman Guy Robbins, who shared his plant picks and care tips.

* Set up a booth at the Dyer County Fair and helped with the flower shows.

* Participated in the Sorghum Valley Christmas celebration by sponsoring and decorating a tree.

* Held its second-annual spring plant sale at Okeena Park. Proceeds were used in community beautification projects and educational efforts.

* Submitted monthly articles to the "State Gazette" on horticultural topics and occasional gardening events, such as the annual plant sale and programs open to the public.

* Rejuvenated flower beds around the Trenton court square.

* Began establishing an arboretum and wildlife habitat at the Shady Acres Park in Trenton.

* Installed flower beds at the Harlin Morris Retirement Home in Trenton and taught residents how to maintain the garden.

* Installed flower beds at the Trenton Healthcare Nursing Home.

* Held its annual awards banquet to acknowledge members' contributions. Members must volunteer at least 40 hours to become certified initially and at least 25 hours to re-certify each year thereafter. Seven members volunteered more than 100 hours in 2011.