By Marilyn Miller
The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners sponsored their annual “Trails & Trellises” tour of gardens on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
The day started out breezy, balmy and comfortable, but as is normal in April, when the morning skies turned blue the temperatures climbed into the low 80s, making the weather for the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event warm, breezy, and still balmy.
Charlotte Jones’ sprawling yard on Broadway featured azaleas (past blooming), fountains, trellises in all sizes, and bloomers of all sorts. Fences and beds were lined with antique implements and handmade crafts in all sizes and shapes. An infrequent visit from a shy kitty or two was free of charge!
The hilly wildflower haven of Evelyn Dandridge was the first garden on Elm Street, where the master gardener grows and nurtures the next season’s bloomers amidst blue bottles twinkling in the sunlight. Wildflowers capture every view, making lawn pieces all the more interesting on top of the hill.
Meandering on to David and Donna Scheerer’s cottage home on Elm Street, onlookers feasted their eyes on a container heaven connected via pathways lined with white rock and pavers. Gray, pink, and white hues played up the “get-a-way” porch. The couple also opened their home for tours. Ticket-holders enjoyed the many antiques, as well as paintings by David.
Finally, the “thoroughly modern” house in the cul-de-sac of Colony Lane belonging to Brenda Perryman featured color-filled beds and containers, beds with all vegetation labeled, statues in all shapes and themes, azaleas (past blooming), and a glorious porch filled with flowers and succulents, along with a comfy swing on which to enjoy a perfect cup of joe.
The Louisiana Master Gardener program provides invaluable training and educational opportunities. The program is open to all people regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion or national origin. Master Gardener programs are all-volunteer programs sanctioned by land-grant institutions in each state and function as an extension of the college or university. In Louisiana, the program is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and is directed by the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardener classes take place each year at the Webster Parish Extension Office. 1202 Homer Road in Minden. For 2024, classes are scheduled to be held on consecutive Tuesdays, beginning June 18 through September 9 from 6 to 9 pm. Classes meet three hours once a week for 11 weeks. For information on how you can take part in the class, contact John Monzingo at (318) 371-1371 or (318) 927-3110.
