Our first 2013 GCMGA field trip was a held on January 23rd with a visit to the Johns Creek Environmental Campus (JCEC) located on the borders of Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fulton Counties adjacent to the Chattahoochee River. The field trip included members from all three county Master Gardener Associations. Over 1,000 new trees and shrubs, featuring plants native to our area, blend the facility into the public open areas. The JCEC is unique in that it combines aesthetic beauty with state-of-the-art technology to create a facility that performs a vital role while being a good neighbor. The landscape includes a series of walking trails, a pond and stream system complete with a covered bridge, and specially designed storm water bio retention facilities that help clean storm water runoff. Steve Sanchez, Landscape Architect, provided a presentation on “Using More Natives in the Landscape – the Challenges and Benefits.” We enjoyed a discussion…
Month: January 2013
2013 GRANTS
The Gwinnett County Master Gardener Association (GCMGA) will provide $5,000 in Grants in 2013 to GCMGA members for projects to support our mission to serve as stewards of the environment and to educate the public about horticultural practices that foster both beautiful gardens and a healthy environment. The information sheet and application form are available under the Docs and Forms tab. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2013, Related Images:
January 2013 GCMGA Meeting – “Grow Up! Using Vines and Climbers In Your Garden”
The GCMGA kicked off our 20th year as an organization at our January 14 meeting. Our guest speaker was Dan Long, owner of Brushwood Nursery, a mail order nursery specializing in vines and climber. Dan is also a past instructor at Longwood Gardens and has lectured and taught at seminars for over a decade. By focusing on vines and climbers, he has gained extensive knowledge and images on the subject which were shared in his presentations designed to inform and inspire creative use of vines in our gardens. Dan’s presentation titled “Grow Up! Using Vines and Climbers In Your Garden” highlighted an amazing array of vines both classic and new and suited to a wide variety of growing conditions in all colors of the rainbow. The use of vines and climbers in formal and natural garden settings was discussed. Whether you are planning an expansive suburban landscape or looking for that special patio plant,…