Carrying a few unnamed daylilies, Ruby Sunday and her late husband, Bob, moved to Dalton, Ga., in 1983. The blooms that rewarded her the following year sparked a passion that has now become known as “Bethlehem Gardens.”
From those few bulbs, the seven-acre property is now home to over 200 varieties of daylilies, 100 varieties of hosta, 25 varieties of heucherus, and numerous ferns, cyclamen, violas, etc. “A lot of things can qualify you as addicted. I’m sure this would be considered one of them.” said Ruby. She has devoted almost 30 years to growing daylilies and hostas, and the vast knowledge she has acquired along the way has earned her the label, “the gardener with a master’s touch.”
Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., Inc. is delighted to host Ruby Sunday as special guest lecturer for a free workshop on “Growing Daylilies, Hosta, Ferns and More.” The seminar will be held at Ooltewah Nursery on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 11:00 a.m. The entire community is invited.
Ms. Sunday will share her wisdom and knowledge on growing these plants, and attendees are encouraged to take notes or ask questions. The workshop will be located directly in the garden center among the many plant species, and Ms. Sunday also intends to bring several specimens from Bethlehem Gardens.
A family-owned business, Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., Inc. was established in 1989 by life-long area residents: Wendell and Gina Whitener. ONLC has continued to serve the Chattanooga & North Georgia community by offering educational and informational learning opportunities for adults and children alike.
Ms. Whitener said, “In the spring of 2011, we began offering a series of free community workshops on a wide variety of gardening topics. They were so well received by the community that we now offer a new worship series every spring and fall.” For more information, call 423 238-9775.