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When Betta Alton retired from her job as a registered nurse, she went in search for a change from the dry climate of Southern California. She wanted somewhere that would be more favorable for her favorite hobby, gardening.

“I did a latitude and longitude line on a map in the zone I wanted to be in, and I started driving east,” she said.

A home in Morristown was the result.

Now, Alton has started a garden club to help build her adopted community and aide in civic improvement.

While Alton has been a member of garden clubs before, she has never started one herself. Her hope for the Morristown garden club is that it will build community and encourage others to enjoy the benefits of gardening while educating individuals on the importance of native keystone plants and pollinators.

The meetings are held at the Rose Center every fourth Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The first meeting was held on January 26 where attendees were treated to door prizes donated from Southeast Landscape Supply.

They learned about winter sowing and Tennessee perennial seeds.

Jason Rogers, who runs a demonstration, garden at Central Services for the program Grow Morristown, also attended and presented to the group. Grow Morristown is a program through Morristown-Hamblen Central Services and is designed to help families learn about sustainability through gardening.

Alton runs a successful online group called Tennessee Seed Swap and says her focus for the gardening club is “sharing and providing education and resources regarding conservation, preserving and creating native plant and pollinator habitats.”

Alton’s goal for future meetings is to host seed swaps, hands-on demonstrations, and presentations on sustainable ways to grow your own food as well as herbs for medicinal purposes.

For more, call 805-910-9070.