Japanese Maples in July

Our monthly meeting for July was presented by Mr. David Doggett, a Jefferson County Advanced Master Gardener specializing in Japanese Maple Trees. At Aldridge Gardens David gives guided tours to adult groups. He also has created the Aldridge Gardens Japanese Maple Trail which consists of over 50 different cultivars of Japanese maples. He says they come in all shapes and sizes, all colors, and many different kinds of leaf formations. Some can reach 10 feet, some can grow in containers like the pygmy, and others scan the scale all in between. Japanese maples cannot be grown from seed or from cuttings, they have to be grafted, and this accounts for so many varieties. Thanks, Mr. Doggett, for a very informative program about Japanese maple trees!
Betsy Smith and Jacob Turner presented 7 of our interns with their Master Gardener Certificate and name badges. These interns were Callen Alred, Sam Blackmon, Diane Handley, Kimberly Hudson, Sonja Johnson. Donald Jones, and Becky Roper.
Amy Bakes presented Beverly Williamson with this month’s Peach Award for her being such a vivacious, enthusiastic, and hard working volunteer!
Diane Clapp, our Hospitality Team Leader, had the table decorated for 4th of July which included some Chilton County Peach dishes. Thanks to whomever prepared these dishes!
Our audience included 25 members, 2 Honorary members, and 5 guests!
Thank you to all that attended!