Friend of Extension Given Mosley Environmental Award

Jim Scott, a Montgomery attorney and longtime friend of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, was honored with the W. Kelly Mosley Environmental Award recently. The award, given by the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, recognizes individual achievements in promoting the wiser use of renewable natural resources.

Chuck Browne, Lee County Extension coordinator, nominated Scott for the honor.

Browne met Scott about 10 years ago while searching for an effective means of dealing with armadillos in the landscape.

“He had developed a unique method of capturing them with buried PVC pipes,” said Browne. “But when I visited him, I discovered that he had transformed four acres on Lake Martin into an amazing woodland garden.”

Scott said he tackled the woodland garden project after Hurricane Opal ripped through his yard in October 1995.

“The storm exposed boulders and rocks, ripped up entire trees and tore holes in the forest canopy,” said Scott. “It totally changed the ecosystem on my property so I decided to return it to a woodland garden.”

Scott’s passion for his garden is matched only by his willingness to share the garden.
Rick Beauchamp, Elmore County Extension coordinator, called it a superior teaching resource.

“I cannot estimate how many Master Gardeners have toured Mr. Scott’s property over the years,” he said. “It is an excellent example on how to blend native plants, wildflowers and trees with more traditional garden plant materials.”
Browne echoed Beauchamp.

“Mr. Scott is always willing to share his garden, knowledge, time and talents with others,” said Browne.

Scott is modest about his work with Master Gardeners.

In accepting the Mosley Award, he chose to praise those people he has worked closely with.

“The real work is being done by all of those county Extension agents and Extension professionals,” said Scott. “They are the ones out there every day helping the people of Alabama.”

Mosley award winners receive a certification of recognition, a cash award and a framed, limited-edition reproduction of a forestry/wildlife painting.

Mr. Scott has generously donated the cash award to the Lee County Master Gardeners Association.

Maggie Lawrence, president of the Lee County Master Gardener Association, says the gift will enable the group to expand its educational efforts.

Posted by lawremc at April 8, 2008 03:29 PM | TrackBack