photos are missing from these posts—not in the media library
June and July, 2023 Little Lake Eureka
At Little Lake Eureka, June brought beautiful blossoms from blue larkspur and tall bellflower, white liatris, and pink cleome.
Our garden was part of the tour fundraiser in July. The native mullein got a lot of attention from the tourists! We saw our first torch Lily blooms this year after moving it to a sunnier area. The poppies have done well this year, and the tourists commented on how ornamental the seed pods were.
Now, the surprise lilies and blue salvia are looking great amongst the cleome, and the Master Gardeners are looking forward to cooler weather.
June 7, 2023 Green Forest Library
CC members in attendance were Jan Scheel, Tammy McCance, and her mother. They began with weeding, general pruning, cutting back tulip and daffodil foliage. Even though the perennials were blooming we added annuals to the bed. As the summer heat begins there will be a need for annual color They planted profusion zinnias, vinca, and sweet potato vines. This bed gets filtered sunlight in the morning and full afternoon/evening sun. The hosta portion of the bed is shaded in the afternoon/evening by the entrance into the library.
Pictures a few days later as the plants begin to settle into the bed are also included.
Early June, 2023 Berryville Library
Recent workday at the Berryville Public Library. Randy and Regina Hooten picked up an additional 40 bags of mulch to complete mulching of all the garden beds. Karen Reeves, Randy and Regina, and Anita Engert worked to spread the mulch. Kimberly Queen ferns were planted in containers at the back door. The container under the large oak has been planted with Dragon Wing Begonia, Bronze Leaf Begonia, and Pletranthus (Swedish Ivy). A few more Hostas and some Japanese Painted Ferns were planted in the shade areas. Two more Virginia Sweetspire ’Scentlandia’ were added to the large center bed under Paperbark Birch.
Overall things are looking good and all of the transplants are doing great!
With the hot weather approaching, we are in need of volunteers to water once or twice a week. This can be at member’s convenience, and would be counted as work hours.
June 4, 2023 Little Lake Eureka
Linda Rogers and Jennifer Boardman, Master Gardeners, along with community volunteer, Steph, volunteered to work at Little Lake Eureka Sunday, June 4 at 2pm. Linda trimmed the barberry, topiary, and boxwood shrubs. She also scattered pink zinnia seed. Jennifer thinned sedum and removed spent narcissus leaves. Steph thinned cleome and groundcover that grows abundantly. We are preparing the garden for the upcoming garden tour in July.
Spring 2023 Little Lake Eureka
March 30, 2023
Early Spring is upon us and we see larkspur and poppy seedlings among the Lenten Roses at Little Lake Eureka.
April 13, 2023
The garden is looking wonderful with the ajuga in blossom! Master Gardeners Linda Rogers, Linda Prince, and Jennifer Boardman tended to the garden by thinning sedum and pruning back woody perennials.
April 30, 2023
Anticipation is the best way to describe this photo! However, the buds are beautiful as well. Linda Rogers and Linda Prince along with Jennifer Boardman volunteered at this workday.
May 11, 2023 (opening peony buds & iris)
Linda Rogers and Jennifer Boardman attended this rainy workday. We met Jeremy Wilson from Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation to learn more about the watering system at the garden. We hope to automate the watering system there this year. The garden is really beautiful right now!
May 25, 2023
Poppies and pollinators are enjoying this beautiful day! Linda Rogers and Jennifer Boardman attended this workday. We planted small Gulf Coast Penstemon in the garden today and did some weeding.
May 13, 2023 Fundraiser
Carroll County Master Gardeners were allowed to man the CS Bank parking lot in downtown Eureka Springs as a fundraiser from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm this Saturday.
Those volunteering were Jennifer Boardman, Randy and Regina Hooten, Jan Scheel, Maryellen Griffith, Kevin and Jennifer Steger, Neta Stamps and Jennifer Huffman.
We thank CS Bank for this opportunity.
May 8, 2023 Berryville Library
A recent workday at the Berryville Library with Jan Scheel, Regina Hooten, Anita Engert, and Jennifer Hudspeth. This week we focused on transplanting and adding new plants to the garden. We added a few more ’Scentlandia’ sweetspire, several hostas, columbine seedlings, goldenrod, and native Solomon’s seal. We transplanted several iris and echinacea to other areas of the garden. Two of the containers were planted with full sun annuals (lantana and verbena). The peonies, drift roses, and iris are all blooming and beautiful. The best surprise was finding the robin eggs hatched and baby birds in the nest. Mama robin kept a close eye on us while we worked. We didn’t get the beds mulched and hope to do that on our next workday, Tuesday, May 23rd.
April 25, 2023 Berryville Library
Spring is in bloom at the Berryville Public Library. Regina and Randy Hooten, Anita Engert, and Jennifer Hudspeth worked to mulch and clean up garden beds in the back library garden. We found a Robin’s nest with beautiful eggs in the Blue Atlas Cedar. The mama Robin watched the activity from a distance and flew back to her nest when we finished. A big thanks to Randy and Regina for facilitating the donation of mulch from Berryville Walmart. We were able to mulch two beds and hope to finish mulching at our next workday on Tuesday, May 9th.
April 8, 2023 Berryville Library
Thanks to Regina and Randy Hooten, Anita Engert, and Jennifer Hudspeth for the recent workday at the Berryville Public Library garden. Some of the Daylilies and several hydrangeas were transplanted to a better location in the garden. The nandinas were pruned, the spent blooms on the spring bulbs were deadheaded, and all of the beds were weeded. The Blue Atlas Cedar, Emerald Spreader Japanese Yews, and the Emerald Colonnade Hollies were fertilized. Randy worked to dig out the diseased grape holly that was growing next to the AC unit. Plans are to mulch the beds and continue to add low maintenance shrubs and perennials.
Next library workday is Tuesday, April 25 at 9:00 am.
March 30, 2023 Little Lake Eureka
Spring gardening at Little Lake Eureka. Lamb’s Ear, Narcissus, and Lenten Roses are looking great! Master Gardeners attending: Linda Prince and Jennifer Boardman. Community volunteer, Steph Gordon-Glassford, was a great help! We plan to meet at 10am on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Come and see this beautiful garden!
April 2023 Green Forest Library
March 2023 Berryville Library
CC Master Gardener’s recent workday at the Berryville Public Library. Karen Reeves, Anita Engert, and Jennifer Hudspeth worked on weeding the garden beds and deadheading the spent daffodil blooms. The ‘Limelight’ hydrangea and liriope were pruned. The daffodil and tulip bulbs that were planted in the last few years by the CCMG are blooming and look beautiful. We have decided to go back to scheduled weekdays for 2023. Workdays will be the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The next workday will be Tuesday, April 11.
February 18, 2023
Berryville Library
Jan Scheel, Anita Engert, and Jennifer Hudspeth worked on a late winter clean-up in the back garden at the Berryville Public Library. The spirea, drift roses, and beautyberry, were all pruned. Perennial beds were cleaned out and dried foliage from dallies, peonies, russian sage, catmint, and crocosmia were all cut back to make room for the new growth. We still have more areas to clean up, and mulch is needed as spring weeds are beginning to sprout. We didn’t make it to the front garden beds. Spring bulbs are making their appearance with a few early daffodils and hellebores are in bloom. Crocus and tulips will be soon soon to follow.
January 15, 2023
Little Lake Eureka
We had a great workday at Little Lake Eureka January 15. New member, Jennifer Huffman and her daughter, Penny (pictured) were able to help, along with volunteers Steph Gordon-Glassford, Linda Rogers and Jennifer Boardman. We used Jerry Hembd’s broadfork to uplift and divide 2 large ornamental grasses. Plans are to meet again in February to move a rose bush at the Doggie Store. Stay tuned! ~ Jennifer Boardman
April 15, 2022
The Urban & Community Forestry Program of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division held a tree giveaway in honor of Arbor Day at the Berryville Square with the assistance of Carroll County Master Gardeners.
“Adding trees to your yard or to a community forest is beneficial to all Arkansans, and Spring is an excellent time to plant trees,” said Kristine Kimbro, Urban and community forestry coordinator for the Forestry division. “With these giveaways celebrating Arbor Day, we hope to provide all Arkansans with access to the many benefits trees provide.”
The cool rainy weather didn’t stop the distribution of over 500 trees, White Oaks and Baldcypress, in the new gazebo on the Square. Let’s dig some holes! ~Sam Davis
March 18, 2022
CCMG Monthly Meeting
The March meeting of the Carroll County Master Gardeners was held at the Eureka Springs Community Center. Seventeen members and local gardeners enjoyed our guest speaker Randy Forst, former Carroll County Extension Agent.
The title for his program was “Lettuce Turnip the Beet With Raised Bed Gardening.” We learned plenty of good tips for raised bed gardening. Check out his slideshow here.
March 5, 2022
Native Plant Collaborative Education
A group of local gardeners attended the next in of a series of classroom workshops on native plants at the Eureka Springs Community Center. The sessions are free and open to the public. The speakers this week were Carroll County master gardeners Jerry Hembd and Mariellen Griffith.
Jerry presented a program on Permaculture: a philosophy of working with, rather than against, nature. It is a systems approach that involves thoughtful observation, not thoughtless labor, looking at plants and animals in all their functions rather than treating many areas as a single product system. Permaculture gardening is based on the concept of designing your garden around your local environment. It focuses heavily on gradually building up soil quality with nutrients so that you’re constantly rejuvenating the earth as you strengthen the health of your plants. Take a deeper dive into his presentation here.
Mariellen’s presentation entitled “Developing Organic Gardens” detailed organic gardening methods in the broader context of holistic permaculture and sustainable practices in the home garden. See her presentation here.
~ Sam Davis
State Master Gardener Conference
Early Registration is Feb. 15 – March 17, 2022 with the addition of Sustainers, Leave of Absence, Other State MGs & Spouses/Guests. $135.00
Registration Form
About Your Registration
Garden Tours
Speakers
Agenda
February 19, 2022
Native Plant Collaborative Education
Forty local gardeners attended the first of a series of classroom workshops on native plants at the Eureka Springs Community Center. The sessions are free and open to the public. The speakers were Carroll County master gardener Mariellen Griffith and Scott Miskiel with the topic of “Sustainable Gardens Using Native Plants.”
There has been a growing interest in adding native plants to home landscapes here in Northwest Arkansas in recent years. The presentation focused on: the need to save our ecosystem and pollinators by adding native plants in the garden, ideas for developing your own garden using native plants, and Permaculture and Sustainability. ~Sam Davis
Slideshows:
Wildlife and Native Plant Gardens
Native Plants Year Round in Her Garden
What Each of Us Can Do and Resources
The next class is rescheduled to Saturday March 5th, due to winter weather, at the Community Center 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. Speakers will be Jerry Hembd and Mariellen Griffith and the topic is, “Permaculture and Organic Gardening Techniques. ~Sam Davis
Schedule and Contact Information for Native Plant Collaborative Events – Spring 2022.
For more information on native plants, check out our education area.
February 3, 2022
Native Plant Collaborative Kicks Off
A partnership between Eureka Springs Parks & Recreation, the Eureka Springs Community Center, the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists, the Carroll County Master Gardeners, and Wild Ones – Ozark Chapter has been formed to propagate native plants for use in Eureka Springs parks. Other members of the community are also invited to take part in this collaborative effort.
Free educational programs and workshops will be offered at the Eureka Springs Community Center to those who are interested in participating in this collaborative effort. Ten events are scheduled at this time. Native plant hikes and seed collection events will also begin this spring, with propagation of native plants in the community greenhouse beginning next fall. Those who participate in volunteer workdays will receive free native seeds and native plants to take home.
Schedule and Contact Information for Native Plant Collaborative Events – Spring 2022.
January 7, 2022
Berryville Library Garden
There are always gardening opportunities no matter the season. Anita Engert facilitated a late season bulb donation from the local Walmart garden center. Jennifer Hudspeth and Anita had an impromptu bulb planting (and winter weed pulling) session.
The’ Horstmann’ Blue Atlas cedar is looking happy and healthy with the cold temperatures. The ‘Jane’ Magnolia and Helleborus Lenten Rose are covered in buds. Looking forward to spring time but enjoying the beauty in the winter garden. ~Anita Engert and Jennifer Hudspeth, project co-chairs
November 13, 2021
CCMG Monthly Membership Meeting
This month’s speaker was Ashley Hill of Ozark Mountain Nibbly Organic Mushrooms. He is a local grower in Carroll County and vendor at the weekly Eureka Springs Farmers Market each Thursday.
He presented a fascinating program on mushroom propagation. We learned about various methods of growing them, stages of their life cycle, the different varieties, their importance to the food web and local ecology of the forest. Plus we enjoyed some mushroom soup made by Brita Revke, yummy. ~Sam Davis
MGs examine different types of mushrooms ready for the market. 
Ashley demonstrating innoculation of petri media to begin mushroom growth. 
Several types locally grown for the Eureka springs Farmers Market. 
Conversations after the program. 
Quite a variety of mushrooms. 
Q and A after the program. 
One of the stages of the mushroom growing process.
October 9, 2021
CCMG Monthly Membership Meeting
Penelope Sue Greenberg from Madison County shared her knowledge and experience as a Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and Certified Landscape and Nursery Professional as this month’s guest speaker.
The topic of her presentation was “Designing a Garden for You and the Environment.” The main points of the program were:
- Design a habitat that is good for nature and that you will love.
- The importance of gardens/habitats to both the environment and to you.
- Design fundamentals with this relationship in mind.
- Planning for four-season creature support and year around interest.
- How to balance garden color throughout the seasons.
Here is her presentation (PDF):
Designing a Garden for You and the Environment
September 11, 2021
CCMG Monthly Membership Meeting
Our own Mariellen Griffith presented an educational and impactful presentation at this month’s membership meeting of the Carroll County Master Gardeners. Her topic was “The Big Switch: Transitioning from Landscaping with Non Native Plants to Adding Native Plants in Theme Gardens.” Mariellen is also a Master Naturalist as well as an author and painter.
There has been a growing interest in adding native plants to home landscapes here in Northwest Arkansas in recent years. Her presentation focused on three goals: Realize the need to save our ecosystem and pollinators by adding native plants in the garden; Gain an understanding of the varieties of historic and contemporary garden themes; Plan ideas for developing your own garden using native plants.
What Each Of Us Can Do
In a time of climate change and the pressures of habitat destruction, gardeners can play an important role by pursuing a more sustainable landscape.
Check out Mariellen’s presentation (PDF) in it’s complete form or divided into specific topics you may be interested in:
- Complete Presentation
- Part 1 – Introduction
- Part 2 – Historic and Theme Gardens
- Part 3 – Wildlife and Native Plant Gardens
- Part 4 – How to Begin Building Your Own Garden
- Part 5 – Native Plants in My Garden
- Part 6 – What Each of Us Can Do
- Garden Plan Design Basics
“There is in fact no distinction between the fate of the land and the fate of the people. When one is abused, the other suffers.” – Wendell Berry, novelist and environmental activist.
For more information and resources on native plants check our web site here. You can also take a photo tour of her home garden here. It features many species of Ozark native plants. ~Sam Davis
Tending Native Plants
The Summer 2021 Journal of the Ozark Chapter of Wild Ones featured an article by Lissa Morrison, “Taming the Wild and Supporting Wildlife.” She describes her personal garden style as “natural and messy” and goes on to list Ten Suggestions to help native landscapes appear more intentional and tidier… and still support a healthy environment. Check it out.
She is the author of the “Well Behaved Natives” spreadsheet which shares her 20-year experience with tending native plants. It is a comprehensive list of Ozark plants categorized into native large trees, understory trees and large shrubs, shrubs, ferns and groundcover, perennials, grasses, vines and plant resources. Each plant is identified by common name, botanical name, average height, sun/shade and moisture requirements, and notes. It is available on our Native Plants resource page. (Menu>Education>Native Plants)
The Summer Journal also includes an abundance of information on native plants and natural landscapes. ~ Sam Davis
Want to learn more about Native Plants? Check out our new page of info and resources on going native. *Image by ANPS member Sid Vogelpohl
