The Limestone County Master Gardeners Association is an active chapter of volunteers eager to share their horticultural knowledge and gardening skills. If you or your organization have a horticulture related project that you would like advice on, please contact us.
Many Limestone County Master Gardener Community Education and Beautification Projects are showcased below:
Yard of the Month
Limestone County Master Gardeners (LCMG) Yard of the Month program is an endeavor to honor Limestone County citizens for the effort put into beautification of their yards. The award is bestowed monthly during the growing season to non-Master Gardeners. If you know of an exceptional yard that deserves to be recognized please provide the address and resident’s name to:
lindacoons@bellsouth.net
If possible, provide a picture of the yard.
Ask A Master Gardener
“Ask A Master Gardener” is Limestone County Master Gardener Association’s signature public educational format. The public is invited to seek answers to horticultural questions during these public forums.
“Ask a Limestone County Master Gardener” – Athens Library
EVERY Tuesday and the FIRST Saturday of each month
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Ask a Limestone County Master Gardener” – Athens Farmers’ Market
EVERY Saturday the market is open (June – August)
8 a.m. – noon
Workshops / Presentations
“Gettin’ Dirty at the Library”
Education programs are provided at the Athens Limestone Public Library to share home horticultural information with our county and surrounding communities. A variety of topics are presented each month by gardening professionals and Limestone County Master Gardeners.
These presentations are free and no registration is required.
Come join us the 2nd Tuesday of each month 11am – 12 noon in the Community Room of the Athens Public Library. Want to know the topic for the month?
Athens Community Greenhouse Project
The Limestone County Master Gardeners (LCMG) Greenhouse Project is a joint venture with Athens City Schools to establish a community horticultural center. LCMG received permission to operate the greenhouse back in May 2018 and has repaired the greenhouse and put it back into operation not only as a working greenhouse, but also as a learning center for LCMG, children, the local community, and neighboring areas. Goals include:
1. Educating children and the general public via workshops
2. Providing hands-on learning experiences through bed and container gardening and greenhouse activities
3. Establish landscape around the greenhouse as demonstration of scientific based horticultural principles
Public Space Beautification
A hallmark of local Master Gardener Associations is community beautification. Members of the Limestone County Master Gardener association maintain several public spaces in the community for all to enjoy. Some of the public projects include:
Post Office Urns
Athens Visitor Center
Limestone Manor Flower Beds
Owens Senior Center Raised Flower Beds
Julian Newman Elementary
Limestone County Master Gardeners (LCMG) assist Julian Newman Elementary School with the upgrade and improvement of the school’s outdoor classroom. The outdoor classroom attained certification through the Alabama Wildlife Outdoor Classroom Program. The outdoor classroom includes a pollinator garden, sensory garden, butterfly garden, and woodland wildflower area. There are also blueberry bushes and native shrubs. The centerpiece of the outdoor classroom is a lovely pond so students can observe aquatic life.
Public Gardens
Limestone County Master Gardeners maintain two vegetable gardens during the summer growing season. The “Keyhole Gardens” on the grounds of the Athens Farmers Market serve as a demonstration garden for the public. The food harvested from this garden is donated to the Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI) for distribution to families in need.
Limestone County Master Gardeners also maintain a large vegetable garden on the property of a Master Gardener member during the summer and fall also for the purpose of food distribution by LCCI.
NORTH POLE STROLL
The North Pole Stroll is an annual community event spearheaded by the Athens Limestone Tourism office that raises money for various community organizations. Limestone County Master Gardener association purchases and decorates a Christmas tree annually at Big Spring Park, along with other participants, providing visitors with a festive holiday stroll throughout the month of December.
