Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial Dedication in Clarksville

From In the Garden

As promised, Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial marker was installed at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Monday, November 7, 2009. The day could not have been better and there was a great showing of dignitaries, garden club members, veterans, and the general public.

Here are some faces in the crowd. All were enjoying the day and marveling over the dedication of the garden clubs in Clarksville in order to bring this much needed and overdue marker to Clarksville. Clarksville (along with Oak Grove and Hopkinsville Kentucky) is the home of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Fort Campbell is the home of the elite 101st Air Assault Division. Fort Campbell was also my very first duty station in the Army so it holds a special place in my heart. Not only did I start my 20 year career here at Fort Campbell in 1985, but I finished my Army career here too. Fort Campbell is most special to us in the Ramsey household and due to the great weather, land, and cost of living we made the decision to retire here and put down roots way back in 2001. Mr. Fix-it and I have never regretted that decision and days like this help to reinforce the reason why we settled here-the great concentration of veterans and supporters.

From In the Garden

There are three distinct areas of Tennessee called 'Grand Divisions'. There is East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. Clarksville is located in northern Middle Tennessee right on the border of Kentucky. The above picture is taken from downtown Clarksville looking toward the Red River. We are fortunate to have at least two major rivers run through our town. We are also lucky to be able to enjoy the many benefits of Kentucky and Tennessee all rolled into one. Recently Clarkville was voted the 4th best place in the country to start a business as ranked by CNN Money. Clarksville has also made the list of Best Places to Live several times over the past few years. If that weren't enough to sell you on Clarksville, Reuters reports Clarksville leads the way in the recovery of the recession and in fact, it is reputed the recession has barely touched us here in Clarksville. A big reason for that buffer (in my humble opinion) is the military. It is only fitting Clarksville come together to honor the military not only for their many contributions during this month of Veteran's Day, but also for their support of the city and surrounding communities.
As a veteran of 20 years and having been to three separate wars, a member of a family who has long served the military, a wife of a soldier who is slated to deploy and himself a veteran of two wars, a mother of two daughters (one a veteran and the other currently serving in Iraq), and finally, as a gardener, I am most honored to have been a part of the movement to bring a Blue Star Memorial Marker to the heart of Clarksville. It is a fitting tribute; a reminder to all who visit Clarksville, and it so intimately ties gardening with my former career that I couldn't be more overjoyed the Blue Star Memorial marker came to fruition after two years of work. Way to go everyone who worked on bringing it here, especially Annette and Helene who spearheaded the movement and brought in the other two garden clubs. Beachaven, Clarksville, and Les Candides Garden clubs rock! A special thanks to the mayors of both the city of Clarksville and Montgomery County for jumping on board and supporting the effort. The marker looks great downtown....

in the garden....

P.S. This should count as a post about where I hail from as requested by Janie at An Obsessive Compulsive Plant Collector. Though I do not live in Clarksville, it is the biggest thing around here and generally where I count as being from.

Update: According to our local newspaper Business Week has just named Clarksville as Tennessee's best place to raise kids. Another feather in the hat for Clarksville.

Vinca Fills the Gaps

By Skeeter
Recently I talked about Vinca and Periwinkle and getting the two confused. Now that I have finally decided how to handle the name calling in my Georgia Garden, I will show you the one I call Vinca.
Vinca has a beautiful Periwinkle bloom which I adore in the spring time.
My parents have a ton of this stuff growing in their Tennessee garden and I asked dad for a pluck of the pretty. Well, a pluck I got as he passed along 3 springs of the plant in a pot for me to add to my garden.

I tested the Saints temper by having him help me pick up this stump I spotted along the roadside. Obviously it had fallen off a truck while on the way to the landfill near our home. I planted the Vinca sprigs by the stump along with a Spider Plant that returned after I had tossed it into the woods from what I thought was a winter death. I learned that Spider plants will return in our mild climate. To the back of the stump are what materialized of the sprigs when planted in 2005. By March of 2006, I could see sprouts coming up from the vining of the previous year along with the returning Spider plant.
By June of 2006, I knew I would have lots of Vinca in time as it was really starting to spread.
May of 2007 and the Vinca continues to spread.
The Spider plants have had babies and they are spreading as well.
I failed to snap any progress pictures for the year 2008 but here is the same area now in 2009. A blanket of fallen leaves make a nice mulch on top of pine straw.
We also added a few Ostrich Fern this year but they did not fair too well and I don't expect to see them next year.
OJ kitty loves to creep around in the Vinca and stalk birds. Unfortunately, he catches one on occasion. Bad kitty!

I have heard many bad words where Vinca is concerned with its taking over. So far, I am happy with the Vinca and seem to be keeping it at bay from the Patio areas. I believe the trick to planting invasive plants is to know they can be invasive and give them plenty of room to roam.

I am so happy with my Vinca that I plan to take sprigs and move them to where we have erosion around the run-off creek to keep the soil in place. The deer do not seem to eat it at all and I do enjoy their spring flowers and little to no care from me.

Now forgive me dad for the unkind things I was thinking of you when only passing along 3 little measly sprigs of your Vinca! I now believe you about how quickly VINCA FILLS THE GAPS, In the Garden...