Charlie “Tinman” Lucas workshop was a wonderful success!

By Marilyn Hobbs

The Montgomery Botanical Garden (‘MBG’) Education Committee sponsored a well-attended workshop on Saturday, June 25, with Charlie “Tinman” Lucas. Charlie Lucas is a self-taught artist from Prattville, Alabama. 

Charlie is also an internationally known artist known for his art made from discarded scraps of metal, old car parts, and twisted wire. Lucas added painting to his collection in the late ’80s. 

This MBG workshop was underwritten by a grant from the Montgomery Kiwanis Club. So the MBG provided this outside in the garden workshop to the public absolutely free!! MBG also provided many tools and supplies. 

MBG’s workshops are open to the public but we really wanted to target teachers for this one. Charlie “Tinman” Lucas loves teaching and helping art teachers and many MPS teachers were in attendance!

More workshops are planned for the future. 

Where’s the Bench?

When you enter Montgomery Botanical Gardens you may notice that something is missing. Where’s the bench? The two beautiful Oak Leaf Benches that greeted visitors as they entered the gardens are not missing. Thankfully, they have been removed temporarily to be cleaned, restored, and refinished to help preserve and protect them from the elements. They will soon be returned to grace the entrance and provide a place to rest. A bit of historical reminder, these benches were carved by “Beneath the Bark” in Wetumpka from a gigantic old oak tree that fell in the garden during a storm in 2017. Patrons purchased and donated the benches to provide funds for the development of the gardens. We will all be happy when the two benches are refreshed and returned to the garden.

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Summer Blossoms Greet Visitors in the Garden

by Cathy Maddox

The heat of the summer is enhanced by the beautiful timely blooms of the Hydrangea, the Daylilies, and the various pollinator plants in the Southern Garden in Montgomery Botanical Gardens. The Blushing Bride Hydrangea, Glory Blue Hydrangea, Oak Leaf and Limelight Hydrangea provide a tapestry of various colors and shapes to view as you walk the pathway. You will see the pink, blue, lavender and white of the various specimens. The Daylily Garden is displaying numerous daylilies in a multitude of colors along with a variety of companion plants that are in bloom much to the delight of visiting pollinators. The Pollinator Gardens are also thriving and providing for pollinators. Of course, the entrance beds greet you as you start your walk in the gardens with their lush reds and purples. So plan an early morning or late afternoon walk through the gardens to avoid the heat and relish the beauty of the summer blossoms.

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MBG Biblical Garden Hosts the Annual Scholarship Reception for Federation of Garden Clubs

Left: William Rochelle, scholarship recipient; Right: Elsa Wallace, accepting the scholarship for her granddaughter, Sophia Justen 

By Cathy Maddox
The Montgomery Federation of Garden Clubs held its annual Scholarship Awards Reception in the Betty Fitzgerald Biblical Garden in the Montgomery Botanical Gardens on Monday, June 13. Each year multiple applicants are carefully evaluated and three are selected to receive $1000 scholarships as they enter their college of choice. This year’s recipients are Meleah Eckels and William Rochelle from Montgomery and Sophia Justen from Baltimore, MD. 

Rose Winkler coordinated the event which included a lovely table of refreshments and a table of information about the Federation. June Cyrus, Federation President, welcomed the attendees and congratulated the recipients. The beautiful summer morning with a light breeze provided a perfect setting for the reception and provided an opportunity for attendees to view the results of the many hours of work volunteered by Federation members to revitalize the Biblical Garden. Echinacea was in full bloom as well as Bee Balm. The herbs were thriving and shrubs have put on new growth. All those present enjoyed the reception and extended congratulations to the scholarship recipients.

Left: June Cyrus, Federation President

Left to right: Elsa Wallace, Carol Rylee and Carol Tew

Right: Rose Winkler, reception coordinator

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