Friday, May 9, 2003

Garden volunteers at CCSU grow

After working on some days that would make you wish for a crackling fire and a cozy wool lap blanket, the Garden Volunteers at Clayton College & State University had a wonderful day on which to work April 15. In spite of being Tax Day, it was a sunny, but cool and comfortable spring day.

Karen Isaacson, a Master Gardener and volunteer usher at Spivey Hall, Cathy Harden, a full-fledged Master Gardener as well as the wife of Dr. Thomas K. Harden, president of Clayton State, Shelia Sane Duncan and Caesar Allen, both "interns" - which means that they have completed the Master Gardener training, (through the University System of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service) but not the time requirements, and the ubiquitous Dave Wall, who besides being a Master Gardener, is the fire chief for the City of Morrow, all pitched in to make Spivey Hall a nicer place.

The dead tops of the Lantana were cut back to reveal the new growth emerging from the bottom and the pansy beds, both front and back, got a good weeding, along with the masses of Liriope Spicata planted in areas adjoining the music education building. Some new shrubs and perennials are planned for the next workday, and they will be planting the new Abelia, "Rose Creek" and Ice Plant (Mesembryanthemum) at the music education building.

Russ Camp, grounds manager for Clayton State, teacher of the University's Continuing Education course in landscape design and management, and a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, is planning to replace the pansies with summer annuals on the first workday in May and is looking to add more volunteers to the Garden Volunteers program. Wall says there is enough interest to create a Monday group and Camp is trying to utilize both groups on consecutive days in order to help with the workflow. Indeed, the April 15 workday was followed by workdays on Monday and Tuesday, April 28-29.

"It's exciting to see our little program growing," said Camp.

If you're interested in becoming a Garden Volunteer or a Master Gardener, you can contact Camp at 770-961-3671 or russellcamp@mail.clayton.edu, or your local County Extension Service.