Lee Links - September/October

"The One Less Traveled By"

Article and pictures by Rosanne Brown

"Two roads diverged in a wood…," this famous line from Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," finds the traveler pondering which path to choose for the remainder of his walk. The traveler laments on what could be from what appears ahead, as opposed to what might be missed on the other path. Life is full of opportunities, and no matter the path, make the
best of your journey.

This is what our Lee County Master Gardeners do. This group of unique, talented, and diverse individuals have a common love of horticulture and use that super power for good throughout our community. From the educational programs they provide in the schools to local gardens they tend in the community, this group of hard working green thumbs, make it their mission to transplant their appreciation of nature into others.

Thanks to our Lee County Master Gardeners, the Lee County Extension Office has many gardens, several paths, and we get to walk them all. One garden is on the north side of the building, the Southern Charm Garden, and one to the south, the main garden, the Dale Smith Native Plants Garden, which includes a butter􀇵ly garden. They usually have many
visitors. Almost daily you will bump into a worker or a passerby. You might say some of them have taken up residence here, and that is just the pollinators and animals that frequent the gardens. Whether starting the day anew, taking a breather from work, or spending some time just winding down from the day, the gardens o􀇳fer a wonderful getaway and are open for the public to enjoy.

Also, the Master Gardeners maintain a greenhouse on the grounds. This is one of the busiest places in the Spring, as they prepare for their annual sale. Many shoppers stand in line year after year in anticipation of what special plant they may find or wanting to purchase a tried and true favorite. Both new gardeners and seasoned green thumbs converge to peruse the different plants to find exactly what they need for that special spot in the yard, an added variety to a flower bed, or a uniquely designed, one of a kind fairy garden to grace the porch. The money raised during the sale funds the many community activities, public gardens, and educational projects provided by the Lee County Master Gardeners.

Does this make you think about taking a new direction in your life, maybe get your hands a little dirty? In the words of Robert Frost, be one to say, "I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference."

Master Gardener registration is open through September 9th or until full.

For more information, visit Extension's Master Gardener webpage.