HayesJackson

Hayes Jackson graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Landscape Design and Ornamental Horticulture. After working in southern California with Armstrong Nurseries, he returned to Alabama to work on his masters in Environmental Biology at Jacksonville State University. Hayes is currently seeking his Ph.D. at Auburn University. Hayes is the Urban Regional Extension Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Anniston where he works with urban horticulture and community-based programs concerning urban horticulture.

An avid horticulturist and true plant collector, Hayes has ventured to places like China, the Himalayas of northern India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Guatemala to look for new plants for Southern landscapes. His gardens have been featured in many publications including Southern Living and Alabama Gardens Great and Small.

Hayes has a 7-acre garden that contains just about one of everything. A fine example of a "botanical wonderland", the garden is mostly composed of paths, beds packed with plants, and the grass can be cut in 13 minutes. The garden contains large collections of palms, ginger lilies, bamboo, camellias, azaleas, conifers, hostas, natives, cacti and succulents, trilliums, cannas, elephant ears, wildflowers, magnolias, amaryllis, daffodils, hollies......oh gosh, the lists goes on, but you get the idea. However, you won’t see a bradford pear or a hybrid tea rose on the place.

Projects:

Tree Amigos Horticulture Therapy

The Tree Amigos 4-H Club is a horticultural therapy program started by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in 1994. This program paired Calhoun County Master Gardeners with children and staff at Coosa Valley Youth Services. A greenhouse and nursery were built with the assistance of local, State and National sponsors. Many trees were grown and distributed free of charge to communities in need. Other plants were sold to help fund program improvements. Students earn credit towards a high school diploma by participating in the program.

Anniston Museum of Natural History Gardens / Botanical Garden

museum

Median Educational Garden

An Anniston median planting had become problematic, and the city horticulturist asked for ideas and solutions. The median is 15-25 feet wide and 600 feet long and promotes new and non-traditional plantings for our area. The new landscape uses many xeriscape plants, displays a butterfly and hummingbird garden, an exotic perennial garden, and a tropical garden. The garden has become a well-known demonstration planting not only for its beauty, but as an educational entity. Objectives include continuing garden maintenance with volunteer group (NARPS, North Alabama Rare Plant Society) and evaluating garden impact on the community through testimonials and caller input.