In 2004, the Central Missouri Master Gardeners embarked on their largest project up to that point, inspired by the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery military expedition.
They built a medicine wheel garden of native plants, straight from the adventurers' journals.
The North Jefferson City Demonstration Gardens continued to grow with the addition of new features, gardens, demonstrations and aesthetic settings.
Ten years later, the master gardeners will celebrate their progress through the month of October.
Free classes for the public will be held the first three Saturdays with a grand festival planned for the last Saturday of October.
The volunteer-gardeners will host a fundraising event Oct. 9 to benefit the Parks Foundation and the garden will be lit for evening strolls Oct. 10-12.
The master gardeners have been involved with North Jefferson City projects since recovery efforts after the Great Floods of 1993.
Local Master Gardeners Ray and Carole Evans created a community garden at the former Cedar City site in 1997 to introduce to the community various techniques in vegetable and floral plots.
Children's Garden structures were designed and built by Dick and Barbara Crader.
And Scott Marion added a layered compost pile.
Then, in 2003 the master gardeners began work within a one-acre tract across from the baseball fields to develop the Lewis and Clark Gardens in time for the June 2004 anniversary. Carolyn Bening coordinated the garden with more than 100 native species.
Additional garden spaces have included a children's garden, perennial beds, a vegetable and herb garden, a daylilly garden and a turf garden.
A covered pavilion and split-rail fence add a framework to the seasonal beauty.
The latest addition has been a one-half acre conifer garden across Cottonwood drive from the newly-named Bill Quigg Commons, which hosts most of the demonstration gardens.
They hope to complete a Memorial Garden in time to dedicate it next month to the late Judy Rizner, an active master gardener.
And Don Whitener is building a Meditation Garden.
Over the years, the master gardener projects have benefited from Department of Conservation grants, University Extension experts and services, a long-standing partnership with the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, and the carpenter's apprenticeship program.
The master gardeners also benefit from community support of its sole fundraiser - the annual plant sale in May. With those funds, the organization funds scholarships and provides plant material to maintain several community beds across town.
The master gardeners' ability to expand their community projects came when the parks department gave them space to build a greenhouse, hoop house and raised beds, also in North Jefferson City.
The gardens continue to be discovered by visitors and locals alike.
"We wanted a place where people could come and relax and enjoy," said president Steve Stacy. "People can come in all seasons."
Link: www.centralmissourimastergardeners.org
An evening in the garden
Central Missouri Master Gardeners will be celebrating their 10th year anniversary in October and are holding several workshops and events to mark the occasion.
All of the workshops will take place at 10 a.m. at the demonstration garden in North Jefferson City Recreation Area. Admission is free and open to the public.
The workshops include:
• Oct. 4: Steve Stacey is conducting an educational session on composting.
• Oct. 11: Ted Fry will lead a workshop on cool crop gardening.
• Oct. 18: Dan Pawliczak will speak on raised bed gardening and demonstrate how to build a raised bed. He will provide several plans for the construction.
The group will be hosting three events to celebrate the anniversary.
An "Evening in the Garden" is planned from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9. This event is in the Bill Quigg Commons and will feature live entertainment from Mike Michelson and Regina Walker, hors d'oevres, and wine and craft beers from local businesses. This is a fundraiser; tickets are $10 and are available at Parks and Recreation or through any master gardener.
From Oct. 10-12, the demonstration garden will be lit so the public can enjoy the gardens by moonlight. Master gardeners will be available for questions.
The highlight of the celebration is the River City Fall Festival at Cedar Island on Oct. 25. This area is the inspiration for the first garden bed, a medicine wheel. The festival is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and features craft and food booths, live entertainment, pony rides, petting zoo, clowns, pumpkins and more.