Mike Francis of Maple Ridge Nursery in Decatur presented a talk at the April 15th meeting spotlighting many of the wonderful cultivars of Japanese Maples available while emphasizing the diversity within the species. Mike Francis grew up in the nursery business and has a passion for growing plants, be they Maples, Conifers, Hostas, or water gardens. Mike, like many of us, is a plant collector at heart and he has over 200 varieties of Hosta and 350 cultivars of Maples. Mike and his wife Christy, started Maple Ridge Nursery in 1988 in Decatur and offers one of the largest collections of Japanese Maples in the Southeast. Mike provided information on specifically selected cultivars for our area, some of the newer introductions, and their many uses in the garden.
Author: Margaret Bergeron
2013 GCMGA Grants News Release
Issued by Jessica Miller, Publicity Chair Gwinnett citizens and visitors will be enjoying the volunteer efforts of Gwinnett County Master Gardeners in several landscape projects thanks to the Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association. The Association recently awarded eleven grants for horticultural projects that will beautify and improve the ecosystem within the County while providing educational opportunities in effective horticultural practices. Recipients of the grants include Lanier Community Garden, “Children’s Garden,” Buford; Lilburn Community Garden; Pinckneyville Middle School “Edible Garden;” Shiloh High School “Memory Garden,” Snellville; Sycamore Elementary School “Butterfly Garden;”Camp Creek Greenway Trail Garden, Phase II, Lilburn; Kistner Nature Center, Snellville; McDaniel Farm County Park, Duluth; Snellville Community Garden; Vines County Park, Loganville; and Norcross Community Garden.
Field Trip to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain – April 2, 2013
The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain in Walker County is considered to be among the finest areas for wildflowers in Georgia. It is part of the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area and is home to the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail. This area, part of the Cumberland Plateau, contains many species rare to our state: Virginia bluebells, celandine poppy, bent trillium, Ohio buckeye, twin leaf, and a wonderful variety of other wildflowers. The Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail boardwalk is designed to permit viewing many species of flowers up close with the least impact. We were extremely fortunate to have Jay Clark, a local expert and author, as our guide. His knowledge of the history of the area and native plants provided an outstanding opportunity to learn about this unique area. As we entered the trail, we were immediately struck by the awesome beauty of a preserved and unique ecosystem. The Virginia Bluebells…