by Michael Snow, Fulton County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer
This article is part of Garden Buzz, a series from Appen Media and the North Fulton Master Gardeners, where rotating columnists explore horticulture topics like herbs, insects, and wildlife conservation. Find all Garden Buzz articles here.
In collaboration with the City of Milton and its Plant! Milton Initiative, the North Fulton Master Gardeners are offering a series of gardening classes for all gardeners to be held on Tuesday evenings. The first meeting, Oct. 1, will be at the Milton Council Chambers at 2006 Heritage Walk in Milton. The Oct. 8 and 15 meetings will be at the Milton City Park and Preserve at 1785 Dinsmore Road.
These classes are free and open to the public. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. We entertain questions and garden topics until 7 p.m., when the classes start. Each session consists of two topics and concludes around 8:30 p.m. Questions and comments from the audience are encouraged. We hope you join us!
October 1st
Fabulous Fall Fairy Gardens
The mythical world of fairies is found throughout folklore. A fairy garden is itself a story-telling scene that can include small plants, tiny structures, miniature furniture, rocks, fairies and gnomes. It can be in a container or in a small, cultivated space in your yard. Use your imagination and creativity to create your own fairy garden. Presenter Marty Thomas has been a Master Gardener since 2018 and a former elementary school teacher who has also taught children’s art classes including fairy garden camps. Marty is a board member of the Johns Creek Beautification Committee.
Pruning Here and Now
Pruning Guru, Rick Smith, will discuss the critical factors in pruning and fertilizing your shrubs. Rick will also address the benefits and necessity of selecting the proper time of year to prune your plants, shrubs, and trees.
Rick was featured on PBS “Growing a Greener World.” He was also a contributor to WSB 95.5 Ashley Frasca – “Green and Growing.”
October 8th
Keeping the Tree in the Ground
City of Milton Arborist Sandra Dewitt will talk about species choice, placement of trees in your yard and general tree maintenance. If you want trees in your garden and are unsure of what to plant, this is the talk for you. She will also be available to discuss any problem issues you may have with trees in your garden.
Wild About Wildflowers
Judy Peacock, a Master Gardener, will join another Master Gardener and Milton resident Carole MacMullan to talk about wildflowers. March is one of the best months to enjoy spring wildflowers by taking a hike in the Georgia woods. As soon as the air temperatures increase and soil temperatures warm up, the spring wildflowers emerge from the ground and burst into color. The spring wildflowers take advantage of the available sunlight before the trees leaf out to complete their life cycle, flower and create seeds to ensure their survival for the next year. This presentation will focus the amazing array of spring wildflowers that bloom every March through April on the Shirley Miller Wildflower Walk near Lafayette, Georgia.
October 15th
What I Wish I Knew
Kelly Mogelgaard, Master Gardener, will speak on her 30 years’ experience in gardening and operating a landscaping company. Some of her topics are what to do first, how to select plants and how to enjoy the work and the results of the work. Some of her specific interests include cut flowers and landscape design.
Gardens of Charm
North Fulton Master Gardener Sandra Shave will provide glimpses of spectacular local gardens. Sandy will showcase unique landscaping from Master Gardeners’ gardens, with the goal of providing gardeners with ideas and inspiration that they can bring to their own home garden. The class provides an overview of what might be possible and elements of garden design. The class will demonstrate that gardening is as varied as your individual creativity and the fun is in the discovery, the failures and the success.
Sandy graduated from the Master Gardener program in early 2019, having completed the coursework in the spring of 2018. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren!
Happy gardening!
About the Author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Milton resident and Master Gardener since 2021. Michael had always been active in “yard work” and growing plants and shrubs. Upon retiring from a career in real property finance, he sought to benefit from an organized source of garden information and became a Master Gardener. He plays golf as often as possible.