The adage that “times flies” has never been more appropriate in my life as I approach the end of my year as President of the Pulaski County Master Gardeners. The new MG classes began on October 22, 2025 with thirty-seven attendees. We always hope for more but are thankful for the ones we have. The final class will be held on November 19, 2025; however, we will host our New Member Reception on November 18, 2025. It is always an exciting time when we welcome our new members.

Susan Rose and Ann Griffin, Members At Large, have brought in new and informative speakers this year. It has been an eventful year full of travel opportunities sponsored by our Travel Committee. My job as President has been delightful and productive thanks to the Executive Board and Derek Reed. We will close our calendar year with our annual December luncheon which will be held at the Pleasant Valley Country Club on December 9.  

My goals for this year have been accomplished: Goal No. 1 was to always be transparent about the Board activities. Goal No. 2 was to always remember that we are all volunteers. Goal No. 3 was to make sure I listened more than I talked. Goal No. 4 was to be very conscientious about how to improve processes and be more efficient as an organization.

I feel 2026 will be extraordinarily successful under our new incoming President, Michele Wasson, who is always full of innovative ideas.

I pray that as we approach the holiday season, we will always remember what is most important; to take time for you, your family, and friends. In the end, those relationships are what lead to peace and serenity along with our gardens.

Peace and Blessings,

Pam

Don’t forget – Master Gardeners have access to an online calendar containing interesting/important events. You can find this calendar using the link below:

Pulaski County Master Gardener Event Calendar

By Jeffrey McKinley, Scholar’s Garden

Wow!! What a long growing season that we had this year. My seemingly tired plants took on a new energy after the recent rains. The mums, roses and azaleas in bloom are a backdrop for camellia bushes loaded in buds.

In the Greenhouse, my last crop of seedlings were radishes – Easter variety. Sharing most of the 200 seedlings, I planted about 40 in my bed with edibles and natives. Hopefully, they are radishes before a frost! Now it is time to stick to spouts and clean out the greenhouse. And, growing herbs for winter use is easy and rewarding.

After the advanced Master Gardener class, I decided to harvest my cone flower seeds to prepare these for seeding early next year. Brent from Pine Ridge Gardens suggested they be stored in Ziplock bags filled with damp vermiculite and then refrigerated. So, I’m all ready to bag. Hopefully, I’ll have plenty to share.

I recently attended a lecture and demonstration by Shane Connolly, renowned floral designer at the AMFA. The talk was entitled “From the Woods and Gardens of Arkansas.” He encourages using local, seasonal and mindfully grown plants. Having always had a fascination with Victorian era “language of flowers,” I eagerly purchased his latest book, Discovering the Meaning of Flowers. Another favorite reference of mine is The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz. So, before you throw out those trimmed branches of wild vines, remember they might be the start of a Thanksgiving arrangement.

 

Final thoughts…

My greenhouse thermometer reads 43 degrees at 6 a.m. this weekend (Nov. 1), so it’s time for my small heater!

Chrysanthemums abound. They can convey the message of “I love you” (red) or truth (white). The popular yellow carries the meaning “slighted” or “scorned love”. So, choose your colors carefully!!

In closing for the year, remember:

• Protect the birds & pollinators. Create areas of protection with yard refuse. Don’t throw all that raked matter away. Create piles in protected areas, e.g. near a wall or the stone structure of a water feature.

• Protect your pots. Cover porous pots so that water doesn’t freeze and cause cracking. Contractor trash bags work well for this.

By Danella Snider, Pinnacle Mountain

I had the chance to visit the Woodruff Community Garden in Little Rock recently. The garden was vibrant in full harvest mode with the prettiest Okra plants I have ever seen.

During my visit, I was able to enjoy some watermelon with two of our Master Gardeners who have a plot in the garden and visit with the garden administrator, Mr. Bass, to learn more about the project and its impact on the community.

Established in 1996, the Woodruff Community Garden is a six-acre space owned by the Boys and Girls Club of America and nestled among the roads and houses of the Capitol View-Stifft Station neighborhood. You can find the garden behind the Lamar Porter Field on Seventh Street if you would like to visit the site.

The garden hosts community beds where garden members contribute to help the plants thrive and share in the harvest. There are also private beds available for those who want to plant for personal use. They try to keep things organic in the garden, as much as possible. Everyone in the garden helps. During the summer there are volunteers who come out and water. They spread it out so there is not too much, but if something needs to be done somebody does it.

Thanks to a grant provided by Titos Handmade Vodka and managed by the Hunger Alliance, the garden has benefited from renovations earlier this year, including new beds, a greenhouse, new soil compost bin, an updated shed porch and solar power. In addition to the recent improvements, the garden also hosts three beehives producing about a gallon of honey per year. The gardeners get to share in this bounty, receiving from a quart to a quart and a half of honey annually.

The goal of the garden is to benefit the community. While the grant helped spruce things up, the administration strives to keep dues low to allow more community members to participate in the garden.

This is a volunteer, come enjoy, dig in the dirt, have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and enjoy the garden kind of place.

Lee Bass, Administrator

Before receiving the grant, there were only around 10 gardeners. Now there are 35 to 40, with a waiting list of those who want to join. Community members who cannot join have still offered to help by donating time and effort to keep the garden buildings in shape. Gardeners can share in the produce of the community beds, as any overflow from the community beds or private garden beds is added to a “giving box” in front of the garden gate for community members to take as needed. Hundreds of pounds of produce are passed through the giving box every year to end up on the tables of friends and neighbors.

Community events are also held at the garden, gatherings specific to the neighborhood as well as Boys and Girls club events. Last year 50 children participated in a Junior Gardener program, where they learned about plants and the basics of gardening. In another session, children learned about plants by using things from the garden to create “colors.” I have it from a good source the Zinnia petals were a big hit in this project.

This little oasis in the heart of historic Little Rock is the perfect example of a garden bringing people together and helping the community. Sharing time in the dirt and the fruits of their labor does a little bit of good for everyone.

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

Have you noticed spots on your hydrangea leaves lately? You’re not alone, according to the number of calls coming into the Extension Office’s plant disease hotline, according to Derek Reed, Pulaski County Horticulture Extension agent.

“We started getting a lot of calls in late summer and early fall from people wondering what was happening to their hydrangeas,” he noted.

Gardeners report seeing spots on older leaves at the bottom of the plant, before the spots spread upward. Initially purple in color and circularly shaped, as the spots enlarge they become irregular or angular in shape and develop a tan or gray center. Leaves that are severely affected often become yellow-green.

So, what’s causing this? It’s most likely Cercospora Leaf Spot, and it’s caused by a fungus, Derek noted.

It’s infectious and can affect smooth, panicle, oakleaf and bigleaf types of hydrangeas and it is the most common disease seen on this popular landscape plant. It is typically first noticed July through October.

The good news is that this disease is usually just an aesthetic problem, because it rarely kills the plant. However, if the fungus becomes severe, it can reduce overall plant vigor as the plant drops its affected leaves.

Summer rains and overhead watering are major factors in the fungus’ spread. Rains in late summer can also increase defoliation.

The fungus can easily survive on infected leaves that fall around the plant, so it’s important to remove these leaves, both on the plant and on the ground, and keep the area cleaned up, especially before new leaves emerge in the spring. If possible, try to water the plants with a soaker hose or drip irrigation, rather than overhead sprinklers.

Have another plant problem or question? Call the Pulaski County Extension’s Helping Hands hotline at 501-340-6650.

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

As a relative newcomer to Arkansas and all its beauty and bounty, I am excited to learn and experience everything the state has to offer. Well, maybe not everything. Not a fan of mosquitos, ticks or red ants — and the pain and irritation that an encounter can offer — I’m trying to learn how to avoid these insects. So, when temperatures began to drop and Fall settled in recently, I searched UA Extension library materials with this question: When does tick season end in Arkansas?

The answer: “Tick season is a yearly event in Arkansas.” 

Bummer!

The document, appropriately titled “Tick Season in Arkansas,” went on to explain that “while warm weather in Arkansas also means the arrival of tick season, cold harsh winters in Arkansas have little effect on tick populations.”

I’m sure Native Arkansans already knew this, but I had hoped that winter’s ice and snow would somehow decimate the population.

Nope. “Tick species found in Arkansas are adapted to survive harsh winters.  Some species survive the winters in leaf litter, soil and other protected sites while a few others may survive the winter on their host.”

The very informative article, found at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/garland/news/anr/2015/Tick-Season-in-Arkansas.aspx, went on to describe the various types of ticks to be found in Arkansas, the diseases they can spread and symptoms a victim might experience. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis are the most frequently reported tick-borne diseases here, along with tularemia and anaplasmosis. The bacteria that is responsible for Lyme disease, spirochete bacterium, has been found in deer, canines and ticks in Arkansas, but the risk of acquiring it here is currently considered low, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.

Depending on the tick and its infection, early symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, muscle pain, lack of appetite and a rash. For a full explanation of bites and their symptoms, check out the article.

If you think you’ve been infected, check with your health care provider.

It’s best to avoid getting bit in the first place. UA experts recommend avoiding dense vegetation or tall grass, and the edge between open and forested areas. If hiking or gardening in these areas, use tick repellents, especially those with DEET. Wear light-colored clothing and check yourself and your children carefully after being around tick-infested areas. Experts suggest you check children under their arms, in and around their ears, behind knees, around the waist, in their hair and even in their belly button! If a tick is spotted, remove it as soon as possible. The chance of a pathogen being transferred is greatly reduced if the tick is removed within a few hours after attachment.

By Donna Simon, Jess Odom Community Center

It is strange, is it not, that at Christmas our homes are filled with pots of poinsettias, a plant that in its native Mexico grows to 12 feet tall and blooms in the spring with a beautiful red flower? How did this come to be?

 

The Poinsettia, Euphoriba pulcherrima, was brought to the U.S. by botanist Joel Poinsett when he discovered the plant during his stint as the U.S. minister to Mexico. In 1826 he sent plants back to his South Carolina greenhouse and cultivated them. After exhibiting his Poinsettias at the first Pennsylvania Horticultural Society show, the popularity of the plant spread, even across the Atlantic. People began to refer to the plants as Poinsettias, in his honor. The Aztecs called the plant cuetladochitl (brilliant flower) and the Mayan’s name for it was k’alul wits (ember flower).  Hmmm.  Let’s stick with Poinsettia!

But the Poinsettia as a Christmas tradition didn’t begin until the 1920s. A California nurseryman named Paul Ecke took a Mexican native plant growing wild along the California/Mexican border and began experimenting with it. Ecke developed many varieties. He was able to make the Poinsettia bloom in late November to early December and was able to make a more compact plant that could grow in pots. But why would he have it bloom in late November?  Why do we associate it with Christmas?

There are many legends and symbolisms that tie the Poinsettia to Christmas. One legend has Pepita, a poor child, having nothing to bring to Christmas Eve service, making an offering of humble weeds. When placed on the altar, the weeds miraculously transformed into beautiful red and green flowers. Symbolizing humility, generosity and miracles, the Poinsettia became forever linked to Christmas.

In Christianity, the star-shaped bracts of the Poinsettia symbolize the star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to the Christ Child. The red color symbolizes the blood of Christ and white Poinsettias symbolize purity and innocence. In Mexico, the Poinsettia represents good luck and prosperity. Today the plant’s symbolism includes themes of hope, peace and success. At Christmas we offer Poinsettias to wish others good cheer, joy and celebration.

To care for Poinsettias properly, remember:

• Let in the Light.  They like 6 hours of indirect light.
• Don’t let them shiver or swelter. Keep them away from drafts and heating vents. Don’t allow them to touch cold windowpanes. Protect them when carrying them to the car. They like daytime temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees F.
• Don’t let their feet get wet. Remove the pretty foil wrap or at least punch holes in it so the water drains. Do not leave them in standing water or fungi may cause root rot.
• Don’t let them get droopy.  Examine the soil daily to monitor moisture.  Let the soil dry out between watering but droopy leaves may mean they are thirsty.
• They’re not hungry. There is no need to fertilize while they are blooming.  Fertilize only after the holidays if you intend to keep them to try your hand at getting them to rebloom.

Poinsettias, like other Euphorbia, exude a milky sap when cut. To use Poinsettias as cut flowers, trim the leaves off the lower end of the stem, dab away the sap and sear the end with a flame to keep them from wilting and to stop the sap from bleeding out.  Another option is to place the cut Poinsettia in a vase of water until the sap drains out. After either of these methods, the Poinsettia may added to a bouquet with other flowers.

More interesting facts about Poinsettias:

• It is the December birth flower
• What we often consider as the flower are actually bracts or modified leaves. The true flowers are the tiny yellow flower clusters in the center of the bracts.
• The bracts are photoperiodic, sensitive to changes in day length. As the daily dark periods get longer, the plant is prompted to start coloring the upper leaves.
• Poinsettias come in classic red (the most popular), pink, white, yellow, orange and purple. Some have bracts that are marbled, speckled or spotted.
• There are over 100 varieties with more new ones being developed each year.
• They are the most popular plant in the U.S. with over 35 million sold each year.
• California is the highest producer of Poinsettias in the nation.
• Euphorbia cyathophora (Fire on the Mountain or wild Poinsettia) is native to the Southern U.S. It has smaller colorful bracts than the Poinsettia we know.
• Poinsettias are not poisonous to humans or animals but can cause vomiting, stomach upset or mouth irritation if eaten.
• The milky sap contains latex which can irritate the skin.
• Both the Aztecs and Mayans used it for medicinal purposes
• The Aztecs made a colorful red/purple dye from the bracts and bark.

By Danella Snider, Pinnacle Mountain

Fall has fallen, the bustle of Spring and Summer gardening is over, and we are heading to the quiet months of Winter as I write this line. Many of us have cool weather vegetables in the garden and will have plants to tend over the next few months. We all have tools to clean, oil and sharpen, and many have garden plots to plan out for next year. But if you still need a way to get creative with plants and play in the soil, a terrarium might be the thing.

 With a container, a space to rest that container and a little light (grow lights help here) you can start a little garden in a jar. These projects work wonders when you feel a creative urge and want a little extra life in the house. Personally, I started terrariums as a means to protect plants in the house from the two young cats I had just adopted. The girls cannot open the jars and get to the fun stuff inside and I do not have to worry about them ingesting something that requires a visit to the vet. It is a win, win.

The set up of a terrarium is very basic. You need a container with, or without, a lid, a drainage layer (rocks, clay pebbles, those little glass beads they sell in garden centers and home decor stores will work as well), a thin layer of material to keep soil from falling into the drainage layer. Next up, and optional, you can add a bit of charcoal to act as a filter for the water and slow down any growth you don’t necessarily want in the jar, then add in the soil, plants, and any other décor.

For the terrarium in the pictures, I used a fishbowl found in the crawl space, a small glass tray previously used to catch wax drippings from a candle, clay pebbles for the drainage layer, botanical charcoal, a scrap of landscape fabric, seed starter soil, and some cuttings from my summer plants.

Step 1 – Clean everything. A little soap, hot water and a scrub brush work wonders.

Step 2 – Dry thoroughly

Step 3 – Lay the drainage layer. This needs to be deep enough for proper drainage (1/3 of the base layer)

Step 4 – Cut the fabric to fit over the drainage layer and place it there

Step 5 – Lay the charcoal

Step 6 – Place some soil (the best bet is terrarium specific soil. It is supposed to be sterile) I am using seed starter soil

The layering should be about 1/3 of the container height. You need enough space for the plants to get into the soil and establish roots, while maintaining room for them to grow.

Step 7 – Place the plants. You may need some tools to help with this if you are working with a smaller container (spoons work well).

Some selections from the garden to place in the new terrarium.

In this terrarium I have selected a Swedish Ivy start, and some cuttings from Summer Annuals. I do use root starter when I plant cuttings.

Step 8 – Add a little water and close it up

You may need to add water and clean off the sides of the jar from time to time…this can vary from container to container. All the time you can watch the plants and see the little changes made in the terrarium. And, the best part, just like any other garden A) you can never stop at just one and B) if something does not work just try again.

There is a wealth of information out there for terrarium enthusiasts. If you would like more information, here are some links below.

Bing Videos

How to Make a Basic Terrarium

How to Make a Terrarium: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

The Pulaski County Master Gardener Class of 2025, all 37 of them, will officially complete their training on November 17, according to Derek Reed, Pulaski County Horticulture Extension agent, and the group will be welcomed into the fold at PCMG’s November 18 meeting.   

“We initially hoped to start out with a class of 40-plus, but life happens and some candidates were not able to start the course,” Derek explained. “It’s a good group. We have 21 sanctioned projects that are requesting help, so help is on the way!”

Trainees attended a ‘meet and greet’ with representatives from the county’s sanctioned gardens on November 1, in an effort to help them decide which ones to join, Derek added.

Photos by Charles Pharis, Submitted By Jeffrey McKinley, Scholar’s Garden

Sometimes a conversation among strangers can lead to amazing discoveries, as Jeffrey
McKinley experienced recently.

Jeffrey was at lunch with a friend and her friend’s neighbor, Charles Pharis, when the
conversation turned to Monarch butterflies.

“On October 22 they had a dozen-plus monarchs in their yards, on their annual
migration.”

This led to Charles not only sharing photos of this phenomenon, but photos of his
amazing garden, and then an invitation to come experience it.

“My friend and I, along with Charles and his wife Peggy, walked through Charles’
gardens (in early November). After more than 30 years of living there, Charles had
created an indescribable garden. Whether standing under the snowball viburnum, over
the Turks’ Cap or tiny native cyclamen or by the mustard greens, you are in awe and
inspired. And, of course, they saw monarchs yesterday! I left with a new commitment
to experiment and to patiently (hard for me) allow plants to thrive…or not…in a
space. And, Eddie, their new 4-month-old puppy, happily shared the adventure. Aren’t
gardeners great people??”

Do you have personal or sanctioned garden photos to share? We would love to publish them in
Magnolia Chronicle! Submit photos to Sally Wyatt at [email protected]. Story ideas are
always welcome!

The Pulaski County Master Gardener Holiday Lunch will be held on Dec. 9 at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the lunch begins at 11:30. Speaker for the event is Mary Evans. The cost is $25 and attendees can register online before Dec. 4.  

Pinnacle Mountain – Submitted by Carol Wright

A photo collection from early Fall garden cleanup at Pinnacle Mountain

AR Children’s Hospital – Submitted by Terri Bonner

Hayes Senior Center – Submitted by Michele Wasson.

Master Gardeners hard at work at Hayes Senior Center

Helping Hands at 4H Fundraiser – photo submitted by Karen Sherman

Five Master Gardeners volunteered to help decorate tables for the annual Dinner at the Vines event, a fundraising opportunity held on Sept. 30 for the Arkansas 4H Foundation.

Maumelle – Submitted by Sally Wyatt

Master Gardeners at Maumelle’s Jess Odom  Community Center decorated the center’s garden beds with pumpkins, scarecrows and a jolly “rancher” earlier in October, and then planted 10 trays of colorful pansies and violas near the center’s entrance and in the Butterfly Meadow on a recent work day.

                                             

Want to join the Magnolia Chronicle team? Have a story idea or photo to share? Contact Sally Wyatt at [email protected].

Did you know you can log education hours by simply reading the Magnolia Chronicle? You can add this time to the following project: Edu-Research, Newsletter/Program Lecture.