Community Garden of the Month

My choice for February's Community Garden of the Month is First Federal Savings Bank on the corner of Fort Campbell Boulevard and Hwy 374. When I stopped in there yesterday afternoon, the ladies at the bank were quite nice and were happy to let me take pictures. They referred me to Mr. Bill Harpel, a Vice President of the bank who works at their main office off from Madison Street.

I may have confused Mr. Harpel when I said I wanted to spotlight the bank's garden. My idea of a garden is not always the same as others. I feel landscaping around a business is a garden because there are growing living things in it. Most people and probably also Bill, think of the landscaping around a business as landscaping and not a garden. It is definitely that too.

While at the bank the ladies asked me what made me choose their bank's garden and how do I make my choices. It is usually quite easy for me. Each garden I chose is a garden which has a special structural feature or is a garden which spotlights the building it surrounds and in doing so, enhances the community. Up to this point it has been a garden I often see, so most of them have been limited to the north side of town, which is where I live and travel. I will try to discover some gardens in other parts of town that I can work in, but do not promise. I do try to vary my travels and am always looking so please, readers in other parts of town not highlighted, do not feel slighted.

I like the unique and I like low maintenance, and I especially like it that someone at some point had the foresight to think about the landscaping around a business. Landscaping is SO important to not only homes, but to businesses. I am sure some business owners may think that landscaping is an expense they can do without, but the bottomline would say no. The amount a business owner invests in his or her business is returned twofold in the goodwill it brings to the community. When a community feels good about a business, that business will be recognized through word of mouth and return business. Great curb appeal will also bring in new customers. It is then up to the business to keep them returning.

The community can also appreciate the business owner who cares enough about his or her community to actually take the time to fix up his or her business. It is the same about a homeowner. How you maintain your home says alot about how you feel about your community. Simple maintenance does not require a great amount of money so that is not an excuse not to spruce up a home or business. So many businesses in town are in need of sprucing up that the ones which are spruced up just seem to shine. And let me tell you, I NEVER enter banks so for me to go into this bank took a lot, but I felt strongly I should talk about it. That is all due to the landscaping, and in this case the hardscaping as well.

This particular bank is on a corner of two roads I traverse many, many times. I have always noticed the garden and especially the huge block wall in front of the bank. The huge block wall in front of the building is actually a wall for the retaining pond. Mr. Harpel told me the bank built this building in 1996, and I believe the bypass came through after it was built.

People sometimes don't realize just how much runoff is caused by roads, parking lots and buildings. The retaining pond area in front of the bank is used to contain some of that runoff from both the bank and the bypass. When runoff is contained, we all benefit in that erosion is reduced and there is less chance of pollutants flowing directly into the drinking water. I have a special concern for runoff water, but that is a subject for an entirely different post.


This wall is visible from Fort Campbell Blvd and looks absolutely great. There are cascading plants hanging down the blocks, and seasonal color during the growing season. Upon driving into the parking lot, something I had never did before, I was even more delighted to discover the landscaping continued all the way to the bank. Just look at their marquee sign, what is planted next to it? A great southern magnolia.

The second picture shows the wall with the cascading plant, which I believe is some type of juniper, though I did not check it closely. But if you look past the wall and the juniper, what else do you see? Even the lighting is quite attractive and is a step above traditional parking lot lighting.

The third and fourth pictures are along the parking lot. I did notice the crepe myrtles were pruned but I won't hold that against the business. Maybe they were pruned after the late freeze last year, let's hope so, but even so, it is their garden.

The next time you are in the area of Hwy 374 and Fort Campbell Blvd heading south, be sure to look over at First Federal Savings Bank. Maybe some of the features they have used in their landscaping can be used at your home or business. This garden is definitely a structurally sound garden; which highlights the business and enhances the community, that is why it is my choice for February's Community Garden of the Month.

in the garden....

Community Garden of the Month

My choice for January's Community Garden of the Month is Blanchfield Army Community Hospital's very own Memorial Garden. Anyone who has ever visited Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH), and entered through the front door has to pass by this garden. It is a garden hard to miss and is a bright spot in an otherwise big building with lots of hallways, doors, walls, people, no natural light, and clinics.

The garden is enclosed by four walls and is visible through windows. I have loved this little garden ever since I came back here in 2001. It was so simple and serene, though not often used. Initially the garden was nothing more than a few evergreen shrubs, a couple of crepe myrtles, and Liriope muscari, aka Lilyturf or Monkey Grass. The garden was mulched with ornamental rocks and that was all there was to it. I loved it as it was very low maintenance and looked great all through the year. I don't think it required any maintenance, and brought so much light and life to the hospital.

Then, the previous BACH Commander, Colonel Gallagher, had a vision. He wanted it to become more of a memorial garden honoring both soldier and civilian employees of the hospital. His vision was translated by a several people who spent some long hours reworking this garden last fall. The list of people who worked on the garden includes: SFC Robert Freeman, SFC Milan Puente, Dr. Dorothy Thompson, SGT Marc Deist, SPC Heath Heist, SPC Amanda Jacson, SPC Lois Lautenschlager, SPC Ahmad Maumne, SPC Angela Pitts, and PV2 Beth Kaufman. I hope I have everyone's names correct, and if I don't or I forgot someone, I apologize.

I want to thank Mrs. Laura Boyd, the Public Affairs Representative for BACH for tracking down some points of contact for information regarding the garden. I also want to thank SFC Milan Puente for finding out the names of all people involved in remaking the garden. The names are difficult and I know it can't have been too easy finding them all in an organization as big as BACH. Thanks to you both!

The team added a beautiful mural, some stepping stones and a seating bench. Dr. Thompson painted the mural. It really is a beautiful mural that would look good in any garden. They didn't change the garden too awfully much and I think what they did is actually an improvement. Now the garden doesn't look as forlorn as it did before. Anyone visiting Blanchfield can enjoy a peek at this lovely garden and it adds so much to the hospital. That is why it is my choice for January's Garden of the Month.

in the garden....

December Community Garden of the Month

Those of you from this area will not be surprised I chose the Riverwalk as my choice for December's Community Garden of the Month. The Riverwalk is a beautiful asset for Clarksville, Hopkinsville and all of the surrounding communities. We are fortunate to have a river run through our city, and the park makes the river extra nice.

If you have not yet made the trip down to the park, you still have some time to do so and I highly encourage you to take the whole family and a few friends too! Walking the Riverwalk at least once each season is a yearly Ramsey holiday event. We usually pack up the dogs and make it a whole family affair. We even bring out of town guests to enjoy the park as well. While there this year, Jimmy suggested I make a video of the park, actually he wanted me to videotape him shooting a piece of paper (hornet) into the air. But what else do you expect from a teenager?! He is on the video and says "Hi people". Just press the play button to look at some lights at the Riverwalk. It was freezing cold the night we went and we did not stay long. There were a lot of people out enjoying the lights even in the cold. We even saw a few friends from my Army time here (Alina and family).

The lights are wonderful and bring surprises around each turn. Jimmy always has a great time because of the play area and interesting displays. While our Riverwalk is not on the same grand scale as Nashville's Opryland presentation, it is quite a nice display and I know the Parks and Recreation Department spent a lot man hours preparing the park for the season. They are to be commended as it looks great and I think it is well appreciated by the whole community. That is why the Riverwalk is my choice for December's Community Garden of the Month.

Note: The winter weeds are in full swing. Stay on them to prevent blooming and seeding next year's crop. Also, now that most of the leaves have fallen, pull them away from shrubs and trees to prevent voles from having a hiding place from where they can nibble your landscape plants. I can tell you the voles are warm and happy in my garden as I found many of their resting places when I pulled my mulch away!

at the Riverwalk in the garden....

Prickly, Prickly, PRICKLY PEARS!

As you all know, I was out of town for Thanksgiving. I was in western North Carolina area for a visit with Mr. Fix-it's family. While there we all went out shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Not sure what you call this Friday. On the way to the big double decker mall I could not help but turn Mr. Fix-it's truck around practically in the middle of the highway to stop and take pictures of this very unique and (I think) beautiful community garden. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were a bit shocked I got out in the road to snap these pictures. (There were no cars around I promise)

You can tell from the two pictures it is all of what appears to be cactus. It is in fact cactus. The common name is Prickly Pear Cactus and the scientific name is Opuntia humifusa. My Southern Living Garden Book says this is a southern heritage plant and it is native from Canada south to Florida and eastern Texas.

This is a really, really cool plant. I was fortunate to visit a great gardener here on the south side of Clarksville (Lucy) who gave me the prickly pear. My garden club friend (Nancy) set up a visit to Lucy's wonderful garden for Geri, myself and another friend in early spring. It was a gorgeous garden and Lucy is so knowledgeable about so much.

Lucy was reworking some areas of her garden and happened to have just thinned out her prickly pear. She asked us all if we wanted some. Of course you know I had to have some. My friends kindly said,"No way. We will just see how it does for you in your garden Tina." A bit squeamishly I might add. I think the spikes scared them silly. You can see them in the first picture this cactus has some spikes.

I hurried over to where the pile of discarded leaves were and went to pick out some choice samples for my Wal-mart bag when Lucy screamed, "NO! Don't touch it!" Geri got quite a kick out of this and loves telling this story. I jumped about out of my skin because I was not expecting this. I though I had done something wrong. Come to find out Lucy was just protecting me and my bare hands. She approached the cactus with long gloves and an even longer skewer fork to pick up the leaves. She pierced the leaves mercilessly and threw them in triple Wal-mart bags. You see, it is not the big spikes that will get you but the little ones you can't see. Lesson learned. Jimmy has also learned about the little spikes you cannot see, the hard way. I don't know what it is about cactus that makes us want to touch it just to see if we will get pricked.

I had just the place for the cactus-right next to my prickly low maintenance yucca next to the road. Lucy told me to just throw it down and it will root. How right she was! It didn't take long either. I love this stuff.

When my mother came in August the one thing Dawn, my sister, requested was some prickly pear from the beaches in Florida since my mother was heading to Florida to see the other sister after she left my house. I told her don't bother, I would just cut a leaf off from mine and skewer it into a triple Wal-mart bag and she could take it to Dawn. Dawn kindly sent me a picture of her prickly pear and you can see it is doing just fine. She rooted hers differently than I did. I just literally threw mine down and the roots grew out of the side but this cactus is very adaptable and doesn't care how it roots-it just does. Dawn, I think you can safely plant out your prickly pear next spring. It should do fine in Maine.

I have seen this cactus all over town and in a lot of my travels but I am sure I have never seen its fruit. It flowers a lovely yellow flower but then the fruit comes out a dark purple as in the first picture. Isn't it cool? The entire garden in Hickory consisted of nothing but prickly, prickly, PRICKLY pear. If the garden had been next to the restaurant it fronted, a burglar would never stand a chance!

If you grow this cactus make sure it is in a location you and small children or pets will not accidentally run into. I would not plant it near my house that is for sure. It would work as a good deterrent for errant adjacent property owner's dogs and children if desired, along a border in a sunny area. It does do well in part shade as mine grows in mostly shade. I am thinking the pesky deer will not eat it either!

I have some bad news. I saw a dead fox on Dover Road not far from the bypass. I am wondering if it is the same one I almost hit over two weeks ago. Please be careful out there when driving as animals are out in full force looking for food and dashing across busy highways. It is heartbreaking to hit and kill an animal. I have done this only once and will never forget the thumps. So I feel bad for both the dead fox and the person who accidentally hit it.

in the garden....

Community Garden of the Month

My selection for the Community Garden of the Month is Joe Heitz Toyota of Clarksville on Wilma Rudolph Blvd. This is a landscape that reaches out to travelers on the blvd and catches their eye and says, "Look at me! My business cares about my community and customers and come in and shop here!" I do have a confession though, for the six years I have lived here I have always noticed the gardens but before I chose this garden, I could not have told you the name of the dealership. That may be because I have not been in the market for a new car or it may be because I was always so busy looking at the lovely rock wall and seasonal color in this landscape.

There are many automobile dealerships and businesses in Clarksville that have wonderful landscaping and my choosing Joe Heitz in no way diminishes their efforts. It is just that this landscape is meticulously maintained and it is clear the gardener or gardeners have taken measures to ensure functionality of the garden and the hardscaping. You see, like most businesses there is a big drainage ditch adjacent to the blvd in front of the dealership, and several culverts to carry away the water. Great pains have been taken to control the runoff and make the culverts attractive in the form of rock walls and a cement lining. The above picture shows a good choice of shrubs, variagated liriope (monkey grass) and a well planned area for seasonal color, which is changed frequently.

The two women I spoke to at the dealership (Debbie and Amanda-thanks for your help) were very proud of the garden and their dealership. Debbie told me Mr. Heitz has relayed to his employees that a customer's first impression is very important so he wants it to be good! This garden does not stop at the roadway. Up close to the building were several specimen Acer japonica var. Dissectum, aka weeping Japanese maples (pictured below) and other plantings.

I am told Hunter Lawn Care maintains the gardens with the guidance of Mr. Heitz. Mr. Heitz probably spends most of his time at the dealership and I know even if he does not get out and plant and dig in the soil this is truly his garden. Of note, Debbie told me several people have called the dealership asking who maintains these gardens so it is evident other Clarksville residents have also noticed the great effort made by this dealership to make their community a nice place and to attract customers!

I am working on getting pictures of a private garden. The problem I am finding is most people are not home during the day when I am out and about but will soon get it up on here. For now I am in the garden....reworking a garden and preparing for tonight's garden club meeting.

Community Garden of the Month

Since this blog is hosted by the community newspaper, I think it only fair to note some community gardens. Those of you who drive on Providence Blvd will easily recognize this garden at the top of the hill. I have been noticing this garden for about two or three years and have always been meaning to write a letter to the editor to say how much I enjoy it. One thing leads to another and I never did. Now I want to let the gardeners (not sure who they are but I think the New Providence Civitan Club maintains this garden) know how much I appreciate this garden. The color is always outstanding. I saw a group of gardeners planting it in the springtime and I have seen one other person out there as well and they are doing a good job. A lot of thought goes into developing and planting a community garden like this. Sometimes people don't take the time to say how much they appreciate it and so now is my time to say I appreciate it!

There are other community gardens around Clarksville and they do bring a special feeling to the community. I am not sure who started the "Adopt a Plot" program and I know it has been hard at times to get people to maintain the gardens regularly, but it was a super idea and one I hope continues. Kudos to all of the volunteers who maintain the community gardens and give freely of their precious time. It is one thing growing a garden for one's own pleasure, quite another doing it for a community and I say, "Hats off" to them!

in the garden....