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, the North Fulton Master Gardeners are offering a series of gardening classes for all gardeners. The classes will be held on successive Tuesday evenings beginning February 25th and continuing on March 4th and March 11th. They are held at the Milton City Park and Preserve, located 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 7:00 p.m., when the classes start. Each session consists of one or two topics and concludes around 8:30 p.m. We hope you join us! Please RSVP here.
February 25
The Basics of Vegetable Gardening
Get a jump on vegetable gardening with Master Gardener George Scesney, who learned how to garden as a child. Whether you are new to growing vegetables or are interested in learning how to increase your garden’s bounty, there is much to learn from this lifelong gardener. George shares his expertise in sustainable (organic) gardening, mulching, weed control, fertilizing and pest control. He will also provide instruction on how to prepare your garden, select the best vegetables to grow in our area, and the optimal time to plant each type.
George has been a Master Gardener for over 15 years. He volunteers at community gardens and gardens that support local food banks. George is a highly sought-after speaker.
March 4
Hello Hostas! A Perfect Addition to Your Shade Garden
Master Gardener Carole MacMullan has a lifetime of experience with hostas. She will tell you that no shade garden should be without a hosta, which has been the mainstay of shade gardens for at least one hundred years. Even though their flowers are insignificant, the appeal is the diversity of their leaves. Thanks to hybridizers, the leaves of hostas come in a variety of sizes, colors and textures. Learn how to plant, care for, fertilize and prevent eradication from hosta enemy number one, deer.
Carole MacMullan taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners and the Milton Garden Club.
Goodbye Lawn: Alternatives for a Healthy Environment
Shrink your lawn: Save money and time while enhancing biodiversity! North Fulton Master Gardener Sandra Shave explains how you can and should reduce your lawn size by making your own native habitat. Join the effort to create a country-wide Homegrown National Park and reduce your lawn size. Use low-growing natives; plant a native wildflower meadow; establish a pollinator garden; embellish those shady spots with natives or even non-native ground covers; or just convert more of your lawn to native shrubs.
Sandy graduated from the Master Gardener program in early 2019. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, Georgia, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren!
March 11
Growing Berries, Figs and other Small Fruit
If you have picked berries on roadside bushes and found them to be bitter, hard and inhospitable, help is on its way. If you have ever tasted fig preserves and wish to have more, help is on its way. Lynn Nations will talk about how the home gardener can grow small fruits in the North Atlanta area. In addition to her experience as a gardener, she will provide selected informational handouts from UGA Extension.
Lynn Nations, a California native, followed her grandchildren to Georgia. Coming from California she had problems determining plants from weeds, which led her to become a Master Gardener. Lynn is a retired pharmacist, and a certified medical Qigong instructor.
There Must be a Tool for That
Every job is easier with the proper tool. Michael Snow will talk about his favorite tools and the benefits of having the proper tool to use. He will also provide insights into the favorite tools of other Master Gardeners. Michael wants to know: If you only had $100, what garden tools would you buy?
He may be the only person with an inventory of his garden tools, a list for what he wants to buy next and a desire to manufacture and sell garden tools.
Happy gardening!
Save the dates for NFMG’s 2025 signature events: Garden Faire on April 12 and Garden Tour on June 7. Learn more at www.nfmg.net
About the Author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Milton resident and North Fulton 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 almost as frequently as he gardens.
