5 minute read
Joanna Radford
by Joanna Radford
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When Extension Master Gardener volunteers had a dream of teaching horticulture from an outdoor classroom, Surry County offered the Historic Courthouse, in downtown Dobson, as a site for this greenspace. This beautiful three-story courthouse was built in 1916. According to the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, it is the second Surry County Courthouse at this location. In 1971, two-story wings were added to the square building. Today the facility doesn’t hold court, but instead houses many county offices. This site was perfect for an outdoor classroom, and it would benefit the county by enhancing the beauty of the grounds. So, in 2019, the demonstration gardens were created. Designed to serve as tools for teaching horticulture to audiences such as homeowners, youth, green industry professionals, and others, the gardens provide opportunities for hands-on learning and support self-directed learning. The gardens demonstrate five horticulture themes. You will find a pollinator garden, an edibles garden, a sensory garden, a purple heart garden, and a memorial garden. The memorial garden borders the sidewalk as you enter the courthouse from West Atkins Street while the others are at the four corners of the building. The “Pollinator Garden” supports our native pollinators. Most of the plants in this garden are native plants specific to our region and were selected to provide flowers throughout the growing season. Because there is no irrigation system in place for this garden and all watering is done by hand, drought tolerant plants were chosen. Butterfly and moth larval host plants are found here as well as native grasses. The grasses serve as shelter and nesting sites for many different pollinators along with birds and small animals. This garden also has a beautiful butterfly bench and butterfly house in it. The “Edibles Garden” illustrates how easy it is to mix edibles into the landscaping around the home. And a bonus is that it can be a lot of fun! A productive garden can offer beauty and function throughout the season. Everything you see in this garden is edible: perennial herbs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Each year this garden demonstrates different gardening methods such as trellising options, raised beds, and container gardening. The vegetables may change each year since rotation of vegetables is important to prevent diseases, insects, and weeds. This garden highlights the benefits of an irrigation system. This system is easy to install and is relatively inexpensive for the homeowner. Plants can have a therapeutic effect on the observer. The “Sensory Garden” stimulates the senses of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. This garden promotes health and well-being of all. It may be of special value for adults and children with disabilities or processing disorders such as autism or attention deficit disorder. Plants selected for this garden include flowering vines, bedding plants, and container plants. You will find eye-catching yard art and musical instruments on display to enhance visual and auditory interest. Pavers make up the center walkway and help those with mobility issues. Pavers are a great alternative to concrete. They are durable, affordable, easy to maintain, and permeable. Water runoff decreases when it moves through the pavers opposed to over an impermeable surface such as concrete. The walkway leads to a wooden arch that has made a beautiful backdrop for many weddings. The Historic Courthouse has several historic markers on the grounds some of which include Stoneman’s Raid and Tabitha Holton, the first woman licensed to practice law in North Carolina. In addition to these markers, the “Purple Heart Garden” is dedicated to veterans killed or injured in any action against an enemy of the United States while serving in the Armed Forces after April 1917. Native purple, blue, and magenta plant combinations make up this garden. When in full bloom, this is a breath-taking garden. Most of the plants are perennials that will come back year after year. They are native and attract pollinators providing nectar and habitat for them. These low maintenance plants require minimal weeding, pruning, deadheading, and mulching. The “Memorial Garden” memorializes the fallen veterans from the time of the Civil War to the present. It has red, white, and blue flowers and trees planted on both sides of the walkway into the main entrance into the Historic Courthouse. Most plants in this garden are perennial. The addition of a few annuals from time to time adds a splash of color. Plants in this garden receive full sun
and have been selected for this. Mulch is present in this garden to help decrease weed populations and to preserve as much moisture as possible. The Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at the Historic Courthouse Square in Dobson are open to the public. They are beautiful to see. If groups or classrooms would like a guided tour or educational program, please call NC Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025 to schedule. Individuals are welcome to enjoy the gardens as well. All plants varieties are labeled, in case you see something you would like to plant at home. Photo Credit: Cheryl Ward, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
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