As we say goodbye to the slower days of summer and return from our summer break, I am excited about all that lies ahead for the Pulaski County Master Gardeners.

Fall is always a season of renewed energy, and this year is no exception. We have selected a wonderful new class of Master Gardener trainees who will begin their training on October 21. (Some of them attended our September meeting, and will also be at our October meeting; please introduce yourself and make them feel special.) We look forward to welcoming them into our organization and sharing the knowledge, friendships and opportunities that make being a Master Gardener so rewarding.

The arrival of our new trainees brings fresh ideas, new energy and enthusiasm for the future. It is an exciting reminder that our organization continues to grow and develop. Each new member brings unique talents and possibilities that can strengthen our projects and help shape the future of the Pulaski County Master Gardeners.

At the same time, our projects and organization are gearing up for a busy fall season.There are still gardens to tend, activities to enjoy, educational opportunities to explore, and important work to accomplish as we continue through the remainder of 2026. Two important votes will occur in November: our 2027 Executive Board and our Pulaski County Award winners.

As we move into these final months of the year, I encourage each of us to reconnect, become involved, and embrace the many possibilities ahead. Take time to recall the passion you experienced when entering the Master Gardener world—ponder the potential you as an individual, your project, your committee can have.  Together, we can finish 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in all that we accomplish as an individual, group and organization. I look forward to seeing everyone and to sharing an exciting and productive fall season with you. Welcome back—there is much to look forward to!

Happy Gardening!
Michele Wasson

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

The main goal in the Greenhouse these past months has been managing the heat. Despite a fan with an automatic on/off thermostat and an AC unit, the temperatures would reach 100 degrees during midday.

At an Advanced MG Seminar, Randy Forst offered the suggestion of adding a cloth. The
Extension Service staff has determined that the best cloths are the white sunshade cloth
(60%). This seemed to help by a few degrees. Now that the temperatures have cooled, my next trial will be micro greens and lettuce.

What plants loved the heat in the Greenhouse? The “pitcher plant.” I previously wrote of
seeing the pitcher plant in bloom, specifically the Sarrancenia x moorei. I found a variety locally and have already transferred it twice to a larger container.

Sarracenia are a family of pitcher plants. They are thought to have possibly originated as long as 88 million years ago. All varieties of pitcher plants are carnivorous and lure insects with their nectar and elongated leaves. Due to their origins in bogs, these plants need distilled or rainwater (not chlorinated tap water), a continually moist environment and direct sunlight.

What now likes the cooler weather? My Cherokee purple tomato plants are huge,
beautiful plants…producing no tomatoes. But Randy was right, now that the high temperatures are 85 degrees, blooms are appearing. Hopefully, fall tomatoes will arrive.

This summer the “Tabasco” variety pepper plant grew to about 24 inches during the summer and produced a few peppers. The photo below explains the transformation of the plant during the last two weeks.

And, finally, my last question to Randy was why my established hydrangeas produced no
blooms – not one. I called it “Hydrangea Blues.” In years past, the plants probably had 200
blooms. The last cold snap early this spring killed the buds. So, why bring this up? This fall’s goal will be to research the best product to protect these in event of a late freeze. I plan to buy early!!

By Ruth Landers, Chair PCMG Native Seed Project

We Share the Earth’s Bounty through the PCMG Native Seed Project and a New Community Native Seed Dispenser

Ruth Landers

At the St. Joseph’s Pollinator Garden Project, Master Gardeners witnessed up close how creating native landscapes welcomed a host of pollinators to the area. It supported migratory birds, bees and butterflies by providing plentiful nectar and pollen sources, specific host plants, seeds and shelter to protect them. As this garden flourished, many native and beneficial plant seeds were saved and shared with the local community. We learned from returning recipients how they had witnessed more wildlife in their own backyards by the germination of these seeds. Creating wildlife corridors and spreading native bio habitat in our urban areas was our desired goal and it brought us great joy to hear these stories.

When the pollinator garden was dismantled at the end of 2025 following a large fire on site, it seemed like a natural progression to form a Native Seed Project to allow the work from this project to continue to grow. The PCMG Native Seed Project was approved in Spring 2026 with the transfer of Master Gardeners from St. Joseph’s. The project and the bank of native seeds were then moved to the Pulaski County extension office where the project continues to work today.

The Native Seed Project collects and preserves Arkansas native seeds (herbaceous perennials and annuals, grasses, shrubs, and trees), to provide a native seed bank in our community to support native plant diversity. Members sort, stratify, and store seeds to maintain viability, then distribute available seeds at community events and through the PCMG extension office. Education to improve germination and planting success is also provided. The project serves as a native plant resource for PCMG and raises awareness of protecting native wildlife and urban habitat needs.

New members have joined the project and we have both Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists working hard to sort and inventory seeds. We are sourcing our seeds currently from a number of Master Gardener projects and known sources in Pulaski County. We are thrilled to collaborate with other projects and appreciate their support and knowledge. By working together, we are able to provide a much more diverse and robust native seed bank.

More than 2,000 seeds have been handed out since the project was formed this year and the number continues to grow. We attend library garden fests, seed swaps, PCMG monthly meetings and garden events in the local community. We plan to expand to Central Arkansas Master Naturalists and Arkansas Wild Spaces to increase the native footprint.

We made enquiries into acquiring an old newspaper dispenser to repurpose into a Native Seed Dispenser. One of the community gardens in North Little Rock kindly donated one to us. It was a little sad and battered but we felt it could be restored and retrofitted to serve the purpose! My husband Scott is a master of fixing things, so I gave him a project! He hammered most of the dents out of it, replaced siding, welded, fixed the spring doors and retrofitted shelves. He then added plexiglass and primed the outside of it, ready to be painted.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting local artist Nicole Stewart who “creates art from the heart.” Nicole is a muralist, sculptor, artist and lover of nature. She generously offered her skills and talent to paint it. This was when the real magic and transformation began! When I saw the final product, I was totally amazed and knew if this didn’t belong in an art museum, it needed to be in a central location reflecting its purpose. It is now in the foyer at the extension office. Any gardeners who want free seeds to start their native landscape and pollinator friendly plants, can contact the seed project at PCMGNativeseedproject@gmail.com and the available prepackaged seeds are left for pick up and sign out.

We are currently working on a large roll out of seeds this fall where seeds can be sown in the ground and overwintered to allow cold, moist stratification which is required by most Arkansas native plants to promote optimal germination and success. We recognize that not all those who need seeds attend our events, so we have been working on creating a native seed dispenser for Master Gardeners and local community gardeners to access in a central location.

The WWF Living Planet Report in 2024 reported a 73 percent loss in the size of monitored wildlife populations over the last 50 years. Nature loss and climate change is reaching a tipping point. We encourage you to use this service before all the seeds are gone. Sharing these precious resources has an immensely positive ripple effect on our local ecosystem and life within them.

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

After a seriously long stretch of hot, steamy weather well into September, it’s no wonder we’re all dreaming of fall’s chilly days. We have work to do in our gardens and need those cooler temperatures to inspire us to get outside!

Here’s a checklist of things you should be ready to do in October, to get your garden fall-ready, courtesy of Randy Forst:

• Clean up your yard/garden: remove weeds, pick up fallen fruit, trim dead branches, etc. 
• Rake leaves, if desired. Leaves should be collected as they fall to avoid covering plants and grass you want to keep healthy. Throw leaves into a compost pile or use them as mulch for your plants.
• Transition houseplants back inside for the cool season. Be sure to check for pests before making the move inside, treat as needed, and cut back on how much you are watering once indoors.
• Start a compost pile if you don’t have one already (a link to learn more about composting can be found below).
• Get your soil tested by bringing a sample in to your county extension office.
• Replenish mulch, as needed. 
• Give pots a good cleaning with a 1:10 bleach/water solution.
• Avoid hard pruning at this time as many plants, namely spring-blooming plants, are setting buds for next year.
• Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials at this time.
• Decorate your yard and house with seasonal décor, such as pumpkins, mums, and cornstalks. Look for disease-free fruits and healthy cornstalks, and monitor these living decorations, as occasionally squirrels and other critters can find them tantalizing!
• Fall is the time to plant spring bulbs, too, such as daffodils and tulips.
• Cool-loving ornamentals, such as winter pansies, violas, flowering kale, flowering cabbage, and fall mums can also be planted in October.
• If you want to keep your vegetable garden growing, try planting mustard greens, kohlrabi, turnips, spinach, lettuce, shallots, leeks, garlic, strawberries and collard greens.

Randy’s “The Arkansas Garden” column also offers readers links to other tips, such as:

• Clean up the yard: Get tips on sanitizing your garden
  • Find out how to get your soil tested: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/environment-nature/soil/soil-test.aspx
  • Learn how to compost: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/vegetables/compost.aspx

By Danella Snider, Pinnacle Mountain

This summer my husband and I were lucky enough to escape the heat and visit cooler climates a couple of times. We were equally fortunate to have someone come by and take care of the house while we were away, including watering the garden beds.

I am not an evil task master; the majority of my plantings are set up with soaker hoses on a timer, but I do have a lot of garden that requires hand-watering. When I am home, this happens daily, but when we are away the schedule changes to every other day or every third day. During the hottest weeks while we were away, my mind kept wandering back to the garden. What was going on with my annuals around the greenhouse? The sun garden behind the back deck, was everything OK? Would the pepper plants make it? What about the shade plants by the bench in the yard or the plants lining the front of the property?

Gardeners know these thoughts are never far away, even if we are supposed to be resting and relaxing.

Thankfully, we made it home without any major casualties in the garden. A couple accent plants decided to cross to the other side, and there were a few plants that looked like they’d rather be in the compost pile but are slowly reviving (thank you Arkansas natives and Arkansas Diamonds).

I knew there has to be an easier and kinder solution for my dear family volunteers, a way to manage the watering schedule – especially in our hottest months. So, I decided to delve into a topic I have heard whispers of through the years – Self Watering Garden Containers. I have never known anyone first-hand who has given it a try but, born with an innate belief that I can do anything, I dove in with some internet research, including a lot of reading and a couple of YouTube videos.

The internet says I can do it, so why not?

The premises are fairly simple. The system needs a water reservoir, a larger space for soil, a means to fill the reservoir, a barrier between the water and soil to avoid a big, muddy mess, and a means to transfer or “wick” water from the reservoir to the garden soil. I found a lot of resources on the internet using 5-gallon buckets and several using food grade IBC totes.

After an inventory of what I have, what I am willing to sacrifice for the sake of this experiment, and what I need – I decided to try to make a self-watering garden container out of a 5-gallon bucket (I would love to try the IBC tote, but that is not something we have sitting around the property).

Image from Self Watering Containers | Root Simple

For this project, I used a single bucket and a 5-gallon bucket lid as the barrier layer between the water reservoir and the potting soil. A list of materials and the assembly steps are listed below:

Step 1 – Collect the materials

• 16 inches of PVC pipe and a pipe cover (optional)
• Additional PVC pipe to use for the braces
• Bucket Lid
• Weed Barrier fabric
• A drill or other means of making an overflow drain hole in the bucket
• Scissors to cut the weed barrier
• An Exacto knife (or other cutting device) to cut the bucket lid and PVC pipe

Step 2 – Build the Planter

1. Cut off three pieces of PCV pipe about 4 inches each (these will be used to brace the bucket lid)
2. Cut off the edge of the bucket lid until it fits at the correct level (about 4 inches) above the bottom of the bucket.
3. Cut a hole in the center of the bucket lid for the wicking container to fit
4. Cut a hole in the edge of the bucket lid for the PCV pipe to slide in
5. Drill a few smaller ventilation holes in the bucket lid
6. Drill holes in the wicking container
7. Cut the bottom of the longer PVC pipe at an angel to allow water to exit freely
8. Using the outer ring of the bucket lid as a template, cut a portion of landscape fabric to use as a barrier to keep dirt from entering the water reservoir
9. Drill an overspill hole in the side of the bucket about 3 inches from the bottom

Step 3 – Plant!!

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A few tips:

If you would like more detailed information, there are a lot of sites online to check out. Just search “how to make a self watering planter”.

Move the planter where you want it to go before final assembly. Once everything is in the bucket…it gets heavy.

The buckets might not be as attractive as you want them to be. To add a little oomph, give the outside a light sanding and spray-paint with the color of your choice (or what is around the house).

A funnel will help you direct water into the PVC pipe, especially if you are using a water pitcher to fill the planter.

When planting, pick something with roots that are close to the wicking container. Plants with shallow roots do not work well.

If you like the idea of a self-wicking planting container but the effort is too much, there are pre-made items you can buy online. Do a Google or Amazon search on “adjustable self-watering insert,” “self-watering planter insert,” or anything along those lines. There are quite a few options – they cost a little more but do not require the same tools, effort or time.

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The Final Result – I will have to come back and tell you about it next year but right now I consider this a win!! Now I am excited to find a food grade IBC tote so I can give that project a try.

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

How do you get through the garden “dark days”? You know, that stretch between first and last frost? Jeffrey, my fellow Magnolia Chronicle correspondent, putters in a greenhouse (lucky!). I wander aimlessly from house plant to house plant, looking for new growth.

Well, my son-in-law knows it’s hard for me to wait for spring, so he surprised me with a hydroponic garden a couple of Christmases ago. Also known as Aerogardens, these counter-top indoor growing systems can be used to grow a host of plants year-round, providing surprisingly vigorous output with just a little effort. They use hydroponics – where plant roots are suspended in nutrient-rich water – and LED grow lights to grow plants without soil.

The kit came with a variety of seeds, a supply of “grow pods” made of compressed potting soil and plastic cones to hold the pods, the LED lights and a built-in timer. All I had to do was plant a couple of seeds in each pod and add water to the reservoir. I added liquid fertilizer (also included) when the system prompted me, about a week after initially starting it all up. The system will also notify you when it’s time to add more water. Within days the first seeds had already sprouted.

My original kit came with space for six seed pods, but I eventually upgraded to a larger kit with nine spaces. The six-space unit fit nicely on my kitchen countertop, but the nine-space unit fit best on a bookshelf. There are smaller, three-space units available, as well as ones that are nearly farm-sized!

The LED lights can be elevated as the seedlings grow taller, and may remain on for many hours, depending on what you are growing.

I initially started growing basil, chives, oregano and dill and those plants not only grew well but provided a ready supply of fresh herbs. Later I tried bush variety cherry tomatoes, and the plants really took off, as did an abundance of kale (see above). We also tried experimenting with jalapenos and other smaller spicy peppers, flowers and even pumpkins, which we were able to transplant with success into the garden when conditions were right.

The Aerogarden turned out to be a great gift. It got me through the “dark days” of winter and offered a way to have veggies and herbs growing year-round to share with friends. It’s a nice bridge to spring and a sure way to get an early start on seedlings ready for transplanting. It was also nice to have counter-top fresh herbs for cooking. For others, it may offer just enough garden without all the heavy maintenance. And, for children and grandchildren, it can be a great project, offering near instant reward for their efforts and attention!

By Danella Snider, Pinnacle Mountain

The weather app is announcing 100 degrees outside as I am writing this and Fall feels a million years away, but it is coming and it is the perfect time to start foraging for fall decor. Arkansas is a wonderful place to find little treasures to turn into wreaths, make a fun garland for the fireplace mantle, decorative scatter for the dining table, or create a fall centerpiece arrangement.

Some favorites for foraging are:

Beautyberry	Sumac	Broomshedge
Goldenrod	Sassafras Leaves	Oak Leaves
Acorns	Sweetgum Balls	Rattlesnake Master Seed Pods
Virginia Creeper	Pinecones	Bare Branches

Collect what you can based on what is available – keep in mind you will probably need to forage a few times in the season to collect pieces as they are ready. You can start in September for beautyberry and sumac, then a second attempt in October when grasses, leaves, acorns and seed pods are abundant, and the final session in November for those holly sprigs and red berries.

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Before you start, there are a few rules to keep in mind.

1.  Do not collect from:

• State and National Parks
• Wildlife Management Areas
• Public Gardens Without Permission
• Private Property Without Permission

2.  Be sure you can correctly identify the plants you are collecting. Pokeweed berries, poison ivy and poison oak are examples of something you do not want to pick up in the wild.

3.  Do not dig up live plants.

4.   Use the rule of thirds. One third for you, and two thirds are left behind to reseed and feed those animals and feathered friends who use the seeds as a food source.

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Your personal space is the best location to take that first step. Did you plant any pumpkins or gourds? Did you plant corn in the garden with dried stalks ready to collect? Are there oak leaves, acorns, and/or pinecones on the ground that would make good table scatter? Grab your basket and nab those treasures.

Next, ask your friends to collect from their properties and take a drive along rural lanes in case there is something along the road (if it is private property – get permission first).

You can also find these decorative pieces, although it is not foraging per say, in your pantry. Cinnamon sticks and star anise pods are stars this time of year and you can never go wrong with dehydrated orange and apple slices.

A favorite fall decor item of mine is a simple wreath of orange slices I dried in the oven, alongside some strategically placed cinnamon sticks. With a little hot glue and a grapevine wreath from your local craft store, this one is easy.

Another quick idea using items from the yard is using a collection of sticks, some twine, and a canning jar to make a container for cut flowers (or a dried plant collection from your fall findings). To do this you simply need to cut the sticks approximately the same height as the jar, glue them in place, and wrap twine around the whole thing (leaving enough for a small bow).

Have fun out there looking for nature’s little treasures. Make a collection of your own and enjoy!! Send photos of your crafty treasures for our December issue to dfsnider@gmail.com or smwyatt214@gmail.com!

Sunday, October 18, 2 to 5 pm

By Victoria Kessel

Visit Mount Holly’s beautiful grounds and watch drama students from Parkview Magnet High School, dressed in period costumes, perform scenes from the lives of notable Arkansans who are buried there. The students research their characters and develop their own scripts with help from Parkview theater teachers.

The tour guides, also Parkview students, provide history and context along the way. This annual event, which has delighted adults and children for more than 25 years, is free and open to the public.

Tours begin at 2:00, with the last tours beginning at 4:00. Entrance is at the pedestrian gate on 13th Street, midway between Broadway and Gaines Street. Free street parking is available on 13th, Arch and Gaines Streets. 

By Sally Wyatt, Jess Odom Community Center

I was fortunate to travel with fellow Pulaski County Master Gardeners Janet Poole and BJ Saunders on a cruise along the coast of Spain and Portugal recently. Any time you get gardeners together, they’re going to want to check out local flora and fauna, and so we had an opportunity to visit one of the last remaining Muslim “Gardens of the Senses” at the Nasrid Gardens of Velez de Benaudalla.

Located in the Grenadian mountains about an hour outside the coastal town of Motril, this compound was first established during the Nazari (Islamic) Dynasty between 1232 and 1492. In those times, gardens were designed to honor the Islamic culture’s vision of blending spiritual, aesthetic, botanical, psychological and nutritional aspects for enjoyment of the five senses, to ultimately create “a reflection of the Promised Paradise, where nature and human work are magnificently blended,” according to information provided to visitors.

The gardens had two main areas — the residences that once housed multiple families, and the gardens themselves. Islamic culture considers water as a “divine gift not owned by human beings, but who are simply custodians obligated to share it with those who need it most.” Clearly, water is a centerpiece here. The original creators used an irrigation infrastructure, originally established by Romans, along with natural springs to augment rainwater and snow melt to water an array of orchards, fountains, ponds and vegetable gardens. Walking through the garden’s paths, we took a moment to enjoy the sounds of birds; scents of such plants as rosemary, lavender and mint; take in visions of roses and hibiscus; and then, in the lower areas, wander into cool caves perfect for quiet meditation.

The families who lived here enjoyed the garden’s array of fruits, citrus, olives, grapes, and vegetables, and herbs for medicinal purposes. 

We learned Spain and Portugal has been experiencing very dry and hot weather recently, not unlike our summer here in Arkansas. While we did see stressed plants and growth on our tour around the gardens, much was still beautifully designed and did intrigue our senses. I imagine it would be even more impressive in the spring.

Where did you travel to this summer, and did you visit gardens? Share your thoughts and photos with the Magnolia Chronicle team at smwyatt214@gmail.com and dfsnider@gmail.com.

Want to join the Magnolia Chronicle team? Have a story idea or photo to share? Contact Sally Wyatt at smwyatt214@gmail.com.

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.