Garden Club plans Dig Day
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The Hamblen County Garden Club will host its first project of the year Thursday at Rose Center by redoing its herb garden.
The club is calling it its first Dig Day and the group will be cleaning out all the planters around the center to plant an Herbal Tea Garden.
The Herb Garden was created several years ago by the Morristown Herb Society and since its disbandment several other plants have since been replaced in the garden.
Betta Alton, the club president and founder, is excited to help out Rose Center and restore a garden with historical impact.
“We chose this as our first civic improvement project due to its history with the Rose Center and also with the community,” Alton said.
Alton along with several other members of the club have been growing herbs at their home to plant in the garden once it is cleaned out.
Another dig day will take place in May and the club will fill the clean pots with the new herb plants. Once everything is complete in the garden, Alton said the club will have an Herbal Tea Party using the “fruit of their labor.”
“We are redoing the herb garden at Rose Center as our first project and once it’s done we’re hoping to have an herbal tea party to celebrate.”
The gardening club, which is still only months old, has been very active around the community.
It holds monthly meetings at the Rose Center every fourth Thursday. Each month the club mingles with local gardeners and has guest speakers give gardening tips.
In January Jason Rogers, manager of Grow Morristown, visited with the club to discuss his program and how it is designed to help families learn about sustainability through gardening.
The garden club was present during the Morristown-Hamblen Library’s Seed Swap to talk about their organization and donate dozens of seed packets.
Alton who is new to area, created the club to help build her adopted community and provide community guidance for civic beautification.
She hoped that it would build community and encourage others to enjoy the benefits of gardening while also educating individuals on the importance native plants.
The clubs next meeting will be held on April 27 at 1 p.m. in the Rose Center. The group will be making custom seed envelopes and a box to store them in.
This is a free workshop with materials provided, but donations will be accepted to support the HCGC.
Members in good standing will also be voting on Board member positions and passing the proposed By-Laws.
For more information about the Hamblen County Garden Club, visit its Facebook Group or call 805-910-9070.

