Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial Dedication in Clarksville

From In the Garden

As promised, Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial marker was installed at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Monday, November 7, 2009. The day could not have been better and there was a great showing of dignitaries, garden club members, veterans, and the general public.

Here are some faces in the crowd. All were enjoying the day and marveling over the dedication of the garden clubs in Clarksville in order to bring this much needed and overdue marker to Clarksville. Clarksville (along with Oak Grove and Hopkinsville Kentucky) is the home of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Fort Campbell is the home of the elite 101st Air Assault Division. Fort Campbell was also my very first duty station in the Army so it holds a special place in my heart. Not only did I start my 20 year career here at Fort Campbell in 1985, but I finished my Army career here too. Fort Campbell is most special to us in the Ramsey household and due to the great weather, land, and cost of living we made the decision to retire here and put down roots way back in 2001. Mr. Fix-it and I have never regretted that decision and days like this help to reinforce the reason why we settled here-the great concentration of veterans and supporters.

From In the Garden

There are three distinct areas of Tennessee called 'Grand Divisions'. There is East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. Clarksville is located in northern Middle Tennessee right on the border of Kentucky. The above picture is taken from downtown Clarksville looking toward the Red River. We are fortunate to have at least two major rivers run through our town. We are also lucky to be able to enjoy the many benefits of Kentucky and Tennessee all rolled into one. Recently Clarkville was voted the 4th best place in the country to start a business as ranked by CNN Money. Clarksville has also made the list of Best Places to Live several times over the past few years. If that weren't enough to sell you on Clarksville, Reuters reports Clarksville leads the way in the recovery of the recession and in fact, it is reputed the recession has barely touched us here in Clarksville. A big reason for that buffer (in my humble opinion) is the military. It is only fitting Clarksville come together to honor the military not only for their many contributions during this month of Veteran's Day, but also for their support of the city and surrounding communities.
As a veteran of 20 years and having been to three separate wars, a member of a family who has long served the military, a wife of a soldier who is slated to deploy and himself a veteran of two wars, a mother of two daughters (one a veteran and the other currently serving in Iraq), and finally, as a gardener, I am most honored to have been a part of the movement to bring a Blue Star Memorial Marker to the heart of Clarksville. It is a fitting tribute; a reminder to all who visit Clarksville, and it so intimately ties gardening with my former career that I couldn't be more overjoyed the Blue Star Memorial marker came to fruition after two years of work. Way to go everyone who worked on bringing it here, especially Annette and Helene who spearheaded the movement and brought in the other two garden clubs. Beachaven, Clarksville, and Les Candides Garden clubs rock! A special thanks to the mayors of both the city of Clarksville and Montgomery County for jumping on board and supporting the effort. The marker looks great downtown....

in the garden....

P.S. This should count as a post about where I hail from as requested by Janie at An Obsessive Compulsive Plant Collector. Though I do not live in Clarksville, it is the biggest thing around here and generally where I count as being from.

Update: According to our local newspaper Business Week has just named Clarksville as Tennessee's best place to raise kids. Another feather in the hat for Clarksville.

Too Many Straight Bladed Plants-Time for a Redesign & Blue Star Memorial

From In the Garden

Too many straight bladed plants? Can you have too many? This is how my 'Rear Sidewalk Garden' looked in May of this year. It is not too bad really, but when you look at it now can you see the problem?

From In the Garden

You don't have to look too hard to see it, that's for sure. The issue is with all the straight bladed plants-too many of them so there is no contrast and interest in this garden and other plants are crowded. Back in May the straight bladed plants were well behaved and actually did not look half bad, but now they don't look so good. They've had a really good year and have grown beyond their bounds and are crowding one another and other plants in this garden. Believe it or not these are not all the same types of plants. Starting from the left next to the peony there is a mystery iris, then gladiolus, scads of 'Lucifer' crocosmia, and finally an ornamental plume grass. Too much straight blade overload for me so it was time for a rework. I will not even tell you the story of how this mess occurred but it had something to do with trying to plant the right plant in the right spot-namely a sunny area. I forgot about the surrounding plants being the same type:( Fortunately the situation can be fixed rather simply.

From In the Garden

I dug divided and replanted the irises a bit further away from the peony. I'll be posting on them Monday because I need some help identifying them. I completely removed the glads and the crocosmia. They have found homes in pots for the time being. I then added a catmint plant and stood back to look at my work. I like it so much more now that most of the straight bladed plants are gone. I did leave the ornamental plume grass as a focal point in the center of the bed as a divider. This garden looks completely different on the other side of it but we'll perhaps save that picture for another post.

From In the Garden

What you don't see are the pink lady bulbs under the soil. If you look in the first picture you can see the foliage that looks pretty nice in May. The picture above actually shows the pink lady bulbs in bloom in July. They are a bit crowded and lost aren't they? Yes, it was indeed time for a rework and redesign in this 'Rear Sidewalk Garden'. Now that the straight bladed plants have been removed all the remaining plants have some breathing room and room to shine....

in the garden....

Any gardening design issues you are working on this fall?

Remember when I posted on the Blue Star Memorial Marker in January? Monday marks the dedication of Clarksville's very own Blue Star Memorial Marker. All three garden clubs will be represented. The bugler and color guard from Fort Campbell will also be present. As a veteran of three wars and a member of one of these garden clubs (Beachaven) I am most proud this dedication has come to fruition. Many thanks to all who worked on the project in all three (Beachaven, Clarksville, and Les Candides) garden clubs. As a personal note I'd like to thank Peggy, Lola and Sandy for working on the project as part of the committee to plan the dedication. I'd also like to thank Lola's husband (Harold) for getting the bugler and color guard to participate. Hope to see you all there, Monday 10:30 at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Come show your support for the veterans AND the gardeners (us!) just in time for Veteran's Day.

Speaking of veterans, it is with great sadness we learn of the shootings at Fort Hood. I remember when this happened at Fort Bragg in 1995 (one killed and 20 wounded) and I can tell you it is a terrible thing for soldiers everywhere to think they can be targeted while on base and doing normal everyday activities. It is an especially horrific thing for these days in this time of war. Such a senseless loss for us all.

Garden Clubs and the Blue Star Memorial Program

I sometimes give lectures on gardening. Such was the case when the Les Candides Garden Club asked me lecture on Fall Gardening. I had such a good time!

The meeting was held at the Clarksville Country Club and the hostess did a great job of making everyone feel at home, including me. The two lovely ladies pictured on the right are Martha (left) and Minerva (right). Minerva was the hostess for this meeting.

Refreshments were delicious and served impeccably by the staff at the Country Club. The designs and decorations were even more lovely. Just take a look at the scrumptious food at the left!

Fall gardening is one of the most special times of the year for me in the garden. It is when the garden is full and lush, the leaves have not yet started falling, the harvest is bountiful, the weather is moderate, rains are plenty, and the Jimster heads back to school! (Ah, just kidding on the last part as I miss the Jimster when he is gone to school) Of course it is now winter, but winter can also be lots of fun in the garden too with lots of interest as well.

After my program was complete, the President of Les Candides invited me to stay for their meeting. I am the President of the Beachaven Garden Club and there was an item on the agenda that involved not only my garden club, but the Clarksville Garden Club as well.

Many of you may know Annette Shrader, one of the hosts of the Volunteer Gardener, our state gardening television program. She is also the President of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs and has initiated a program that will involve all three garden clubs in Clarksville. Annette, and others, would like to see a Blue Star Memorial Marker installed in Clarksville. All three garden clubs have decided to participate in obtaining a Blue Star Marker in Clarksville and you should look for it sometime next year. I really enjoyed Les Candides Garden Club and all of their members.

I have to say a special HELLO to Jane. There she is on the left side of the table at the head of the row. Jane is a reader of blogs and had read mine in the past. I am not sure if she is still reading, but if so-Hello! She was so neat to talk to because she does read blogs! In my experience, most garden club members don't seem to read blogs-but that's okay.

Thanks Les Candides for having me at your meeting and for being such a good audience!

in the garden....

Calling all bloggers, tomorrow is the day of Shirl's Desert Island Challenge, if you want to participate do check out her post. Tomorrow's post here will be part of the challenge and I wanted to give you all a head's up in case you wanted to join in. tina