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Master Gardeners: Garden Appreciation 

Hot pink Camellias and Grape Hyacinths are sure to perk up your spring gardens.  By Jodi Tooke How blessed we are as gardeners to witness the renewal of life each year! But how many pause to appreciate its beauty? My friend Diane brought this to my attention in her presentation on ’Perennials’ through our Know It to Grow It program at the Garland County Public Library. Describing beautiful photos of everything that

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Master Gardeners: The 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show “Gardens of Tomorrow” 

The Philadelphia Flower Show features a world-class roster of landscape architects, garden designers, horticulturists, and florists, captivating visitors while showcasing the latest gardening trends and innovations. Photos courtesy of the Philadelphia Flower Show.  By Julia MilanoThe annual Philadelphia Flower Show (PFS) is a wonderful highlight of the changing seasons. First held in 1829, the PFS has been a continuing source of inspiration and wonder for gardeners, bringing together the vision

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Master Gardeners: Irrigation for Integrated Pest Management 

Irrigation is a strategic tool for preventing pest problems before they start.  By Jessi Parker Irrigation plays a crucial role in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by influencing plant health, soil conditions, and pest populations. Here’s how proper irrigation practices contribute to IPM:  1. Reducing Plant Stress     •   Proper watering ensures plants remain healthy and resilient against pests.     •   Stressed plants (from drought or overwatering) are more susceptible to pests and diseases.  2. Managing

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Master Gardeners Lost and Found: Painswick, England’s last Rococo Garden 

Immortalized by artist Thomas Robins, Painswick Rococo Garden’s restoration began in 1988. Photo credit: Annie Blick. Visit the website atwww.rococogarden.org.uk  By Julia Milano Sometimes formal gardens disappear. Time is not kind to gardens that lack gardeners, water, weeding, and upkeep. The demise of historic landscapes is not only a loss of their plantings but of the people who planned, nurtured, and dreamed of them.  Sometimes it takes “garden detectives” to do the research

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Master Gardeners: Smart Irrigation Controllers: A Wise Choice for Homeowners  

A smart irrigation controller is a step toward sustainable gardening, saving water, time, and money.  By Jessi Parker Watering wisely is a cornerstone of a healthy, sustainable garden, and smart irrigation controllers are revolutionizing the way homeowners care for their landscapes. These advanced devices can help take the guesswork out of irrigation, offering convenience, efficiency, and potential water savings while ensuring your plants thrive.  Smart irrigation controllers adjust watering schedules based

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Master Gardeners: Fall Cleanup . . . Not So Fast! 

Leaves can be raked and piled around the base of trees and shrubs and raked into garden areas, providing native and diverse habitats for pollinators and invertebrates in the winter months.  By Susan Koenig Let’s think about fall cleanup for a minute. It is that time of year again. However, let’s not be too hasty. We spend all summer planning, planting, grooming, and growing native plants and other plants for pollinators,

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Master Gardeners: Elderberry  

Elderberries MUST BE COOKED before consuming.  By Ramona Slick Our local native Elder (Sambucus canadensis) is considered a subspecies of the European Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) now classified in the family Adoxaceae which includes several subspecies of Sambucus along with viburnums.  Elders are multi-stemmed woody shrubs growing 8-12 ft. tall and wide. Stems have large piths that become hollow as they mature. Stems live about 5 years., but new shoots arise from

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Master Gardeners: American Beautyberry 

Beautyberries have small, lavender-pink, lilac-like flowers in spring, followed by purple or white berries.  by Lin JohnsonThe most asked question at Garvan Woodland Gardens in the fall is, “What is that plant with the purple berries?” The answer is, of course, the American Beautyberry. It is a deciduous shrub noted for its brightly colored, tightly clustered berries that remain on the bush into winter. It is a fast-growing deciduous shrub. Growing

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Master Gardener Online Training 

by Arin Shaffer, Garland County Horticulture AgentHey everyone, I just wanted to write to give you some information on the online Master Gardener Training. We are now up to 11 applicants for the online Master Gardener training. That’s up from 3 applicants from 2023’s class. That’s almost a 400% increase!   The online Master Gardener training starts or is opened on October 2, and is an at-your-own-pace online training that anyone

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Master Gardeners: The Window Boxes of Charleston 

For those who have very limited yard space, window boxes can provide a great solution to space limitations.  By Julia Milano On a recent visit to Charleston, I was struck by the beauty of the many window boxes that are featured on homes in the historic area of the city. During a tour of these remarkable buildings and gardens, our guide told us the tradition of these window boxes, which are

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Master Gardeners: Troublesome Peonies 

  In our area, the peony season ranges over a five-week period. Peonies are worth having in your garden, but often, they do not bloom, for a variety of reasons. Master Gardener, Sharon Dent, explores some solutions here.   By Sharon Dent Peonies have such large, lush, incredible blooms. We see them in Hot Springs in late April – early May of each year. They are worth having in your garden but

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Artemisia: Yay or Nay? 

Artemisia’s varied characteristics have been known to cause division among gardeners.  By Leigh Ann HicksArtemisia is an aromatic plant with feathery silver-blue-gray foliage. It gives the eye a resting spot when surrounded by colorful blossoms and provides interesting contrast. Its soft leaves can be used in fresh herbal arrangements or wreaths.   There are many species of artemisia. Common names include mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush. Tarragon is a species of artemisia

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“Moku Playland”   Photo of Kate Zunick Courtesy of Hot Springs Sister City  Kate Zunick relaxes in one of the most beloved features of the Moku Playland exhibit — a giant wooden “hot springs” tub filled with hundreds of smooth wooden balls inspired by the bubbling thermal waters of Hot Springs.  Hidden somewhere among the

A One-of-a-Kind Wooden Play Experience Arrives in Downtown Hot Springs 

Moku Playland Pop-Up Opens June 1 with Interactive, Screen-Free Fun for Families  Families and visitors to downtown Hot Springs will have the opportunity to experience a unique style of hands-on play this summer as Moku Playland opens June 1 for a special month-long pop-up at 831 Central Avenue.  Open Thursday-Tuesday

World Championship Bathtub Races Set for June 6 

The Hot Springs Fire Department entry nears the finish line in the 2025 Running of the Tubs. — Courtesy Visit Hot Springs  The lineup is complete for the 2026 Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs bathtub races through historic downtown Hot Springs. The race starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday,

Yoga: Two Months at The Yoga Place 

Where are we?” Missy Conry and Melissa Stevens  By Missy Conry & Melissa StevensCan you spot where we took this picture? Take a selfie in front of the same mural and text to 501-651-0545 for a free drop-in class! You can also text us for hints if you need a clue.  As we reflect