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Gardening enthusiasts will have the opportunity to cultivate their green thumbs at Clark Gardens (featured in the March 2009 Southern Living Magazine) in a 12-week course designed for novice and experienced gardeners alike beginning later this month. Each participant will be given a personal gardening space in which to plant and tend a crop of early spring and summer crops. The class begins Tuesday, March 23, 2010, and will meet each Tuesday evening through June 8, 6- 7:30 p.m. The registration fee of $140 includes access to one's own garden space, soil and water, professional gardening lectures, Clark Gardens "master gardening" instructor services and a bonus - one year's annual membership, normally $50, to Clark Gardens, located on Hwy 180 west, between Weatherford and Mineral Wells. The first classes will be held in the chapel on the garden's grounds. Later, the student gardeners will spend the class time in their own gardens. Students will provide their own gardening tools and gloves and are encouraged to wear a big sunbonnet or hat for protection from the sun. Clark Gardens will provide the education and sharing of information to help get started to successful gardening. Topics will include soil health, how to plant, when to plant, how to tend plants, pest identification and even suggestions on what to plant in the local environment. Heirloom seeds will be available for crop planting. This is the second spring in which the College and Clark Gardens has partnered for this course. Last year, 24 enrolled in the inaugural course and harvested bushels of garden vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, peas, cantaloupe, squash and more. A special treat and highlight of last year's course, (which is planned again this year), was the Harvest Cook-Out, where student gardeners shared the "fruits of their labor" and set a bountiful table with fresh vegetables straight from the garden. "This is a wonderful way to enjoy the spring and early summer evenings in a lovely setting, learn gardening skills from the professionals, and get to reap what you sow, too," said Julie Lundy, WC Continuing Education coordinator. "We are excited about working with Carol (Clark Montgomery) again and her family's beautiful garden and hope to develop further courses to bring the Gardens' resources to our students." Interested persons may register at the Continuing Education Office on the main campus in Weatherford or the WC Education Center at Mineral Wells. For more information, contact Lundy at 817-598-6387 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
