March certainly came in like a lion with the snow and ice storms, but we have finally made it to spring! Our county is already abloom with crocuses, daffodils, jonquils and all manner of spring blooming bulbs. Dogwoods and pear trees are treating us to fairy tale blossoms in the palest of spring hues. Our garden beds are on their way to being cleaned of debris (following February pruning) and we are seeing buds on many trees and bushes. Master Gardeners already have a blush of sun across their foreheads and noses! Again we encourage you to look at your garden and determine what needs to be moved or cut back. If you have a garden bed that is overgrown and needs to be divided or removed, the Master Gardeners will be happy to help divide and donate the excess plants to our Annual Plant Sale. We are looking for quality plants that are overgrown and require periodic dividing, such as peonies, hostas, ornamental grasses, variegated liatrope, nandina, Solomon’s seal, and quality lilies, to name a few. Your beds are revitalized and we repot the extra plants with fresh soil, fertilize and sell at the plant sale which is May 9, 2105 in conjunction with Fairfield Bay’s Bloomin’ in the Bay festival. You can contact Marylou Horvath at (501)884-6934 or Eleanor Hilsenrath at (501)253-7272 to discuss a “dig and divide” in your garden.
Many people have inquired about the garden bed under construction at Ed Leamon Park (around the Chimney Swift tower). This tower was constructed a couple of years ago by the local Audubon Society to attract the popular Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)birds which feast on insects caught mid-air. The Master Gardener class of 2014 has taken this garden on as their class project and you will want to be sure to follow their progress! For more information on the Master Gardener program, please contact Verna Hicks, President, VBC Master Gardeners at (501) 884-3164 or our VB County Extension Agent, Danny Griffin, at (501)745-7117.