Mobile County Master Gardeners

05/28/2026

Gardening Events for Your Calendar

What: Market in the Park, Spring/Summer 2026
Locally grown produce and handcrafted items
When: Saturdays, Apr 25 – Jun 27, 2026 (7:30 am – Noon)
Where: Cathedral Square, 300 Conti Street, Mobile
Look for: Master Gardener tent to ask your gardening questions

What: Garden Walk and Talk at Bellingrath Gardens
Led by Bellingrath’s horticultural experts
When: Wed, June 24, 2026 (10:30-11:30 am)
Where: 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd, Theodore, AL
Free tour with regular garden admission or membership
More info: www.bellingrath.org/discover/events

What: Mini NatureBLAST! And Full NatureBLAST! Day Camps
When: June 8-11 (9 am – Noon) and June 15-18 (9 am-3 pm)
Where: MBG, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL
Info: Call MBG, 251-342-0555
More info: www.MobileBotanicalGardens.org

Master Gardener Helpline: 877-252-4769

05/28/2026

"Mobile may be one of the toughest places in the country to grow plants, and not because we lack enthusiasm."

By: Jacob Kelley, Extension Agent (Commercial Horticulture), Alabama Cooperative Extension System [email protected] | www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org When I moved to Mobile six years ago, I assumed it would be like the rest of the Southeast: hot, humid, buggy, and occasionally soggy. I was...

05/19/2026

More photos from our Mobile County Master Gardener's Tour of Gardens, from Jane Finley's beautiful garden!

05/18/2026

What a wonderful weekend for the Mobile County Master Gardeners’ Garden Tour! 🌿🌸

We wanted to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our community for your incredible support and for spending time with us exploring these beautiful gardens. Your enthusiasm for gardening, learning, and supporting local outreach programs helps make events like this possible.

We are especially grateful to the generous garden owners who opened their private spaces and shared their hard work, creativity, and passion with all of us. Each garden was truly inspiring and showcased the beauty and diversity of gardening along the Gulf Coast.

Thank you as well to the many volunteers, Master Gardeners, and supporters who worked behind the scenes and throughout the weekend to make this event a success. From planning and setup to greeting guests and helping everything run smoothly, this tour would not have been possible without your dedication and teamwork.

We appreciate everyone who helped make this year’s tour such a memorable event. Thank you for supporting the Mobile County Master Gardeners!💚

05/16/2026

Gardening Events for Your Calendar

What: Mobile County Master Gardeners 2026 Tour of Gardens
Be inspired by 8 beautiful gardens in Mobile, visit over 3 days!
When: May 15-16, 2026 (9 am – 4 pm) May 17 (Noon – 4pm)
Garden locations will be announced on May 13 (link below)
Info: https://www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org/2026tour
Cost: $20 pp (online tickets available or purchase Tour at a garden)

What: Market in the Park, Spring/Summer 2026
Locally grown produce and handcrafted items
When: Saturdays, Apr 25 – Jun 27, 2026 (7:30 am – Noon)
Where: Cathedral Square, 300 Conti Street, Mobile
Look for: Master Gardener tent to ask your gardening questions

What: Garden Walk and Talk at Bellingrath Gardens
Led by Bellingrath’s horticultural experts
Where: 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd, Theodore, AL
When: Wed, May 27, 2026 (10:30-11:30 am)
Free tour with regular garden admission or membership
More info: www.bellingrath.org/discover/events

What: Mini NatureBLAST! And Full NatureBLAST! Day Camps
When: June 8-11 (9 am – Noon) and June 15-18 (9 am-3 pm)
Where: MBG, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL
Info: Call MBG, 251-342-0555
More info: www.MobileBotanicalGardens.org

Master Gardener Helpline: 877-252-4769

05/16/2026

Time for a trim!!!

By: Bob Howard, Mobile County Master Gardener | www.mobilecountymastergardeners.org Mobile is called the Azalea City because azaleas are probably the most recognized horticultural feature of the community. The Pride of Mobile variety is a Southern Indica hybrid azalea bred for its tolerance of heat....

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

05/13/2026

Weekly Native Spotlight: Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Wild bergamot is a standout native plant that brings color, fragrance, and pollinator power to Alabama gardens. This lavender‑pink bee balm blooms throughout the summer, drawing in an impressive variety of pollinators from bees and butterflies to hummingbirds. Its hollow stems also provide valuable winter nesting habitat for native bees, making it a year‑round asset in any pollinator‑friendly landscape.

This hardy perennial thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well‑drained soil with good air circulation, which helps reduce powdery mildew. Because wild bergamot spreads by rhizomes, it’s an excellent choice for naturalized areas, wildflower meadows, and pollinator gardens, though it may be too vigorous for small, formal beds. One of its unique strengths is its tolerance of juglone, the chemical produced by black walnut trees—meaning it can grow where many other plants cannot. If you’re looking to boost biodiversity and add a reliable summer bloomer to your garden, wild bergamot is a beautiful and beneficial choice.

05/13/2026

May's Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Strawberries! What is your favorite way to enjoy strawberries?

Find growing instructions for your own strawberry patch and delicious recipes like Sassy Strawberry Salsa and Strawberry Delight here: https://www.aces.edu/go/4994