The theory that “many hands make quick work” was demonstrated on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park. A group of ninety able-bodied military volunteers arrived from the USAF First Sergeant Academy Class #26E at Maxwell-Gunter Annex to help with a number of tasks and projects in the gardens. They are with the US Department of Air Force Total Force: Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, and Space Force.
The volunteers were met in the gardens bright and early by Ethel Boykin, founder and board member of Montgomery Botanical Gardens along with Diane Vanella, MBG Horticulturist, and Karen Weber, Master Gardener and Chair of the MBG Project for Capital City Master Gardener Association. The volunteers divided into groups and attacked the work.
Some helped to remove the damaged cover on the MBG Greenhouse and replace it with the new one. Others helped clear away weeds vines, saplings and overgrowth from a large shrub border along the entrance drive. Another group tackled the tangled vines along the fence corner at Forest Avenue and Lane Street. Additional tasks that groups of volunteers conquered were: shoveling crushed stone to refill areas that had washed; placing granite blocks around trees to protect them from mowers; pruning, weeding, removing debris and more.
The lush beauty of the gardens provides a wonderful venue to visit, stroll through, learn about plants, and generally enjoy. But anything that lives grows and needs maintaining. Weeds and undesirable plants and trees invade and grow. So having volunteers like this group is a true blessing to help maintain the gardens.
Some others that helped to support and guide the work of the volunteers included Maggie Stringer, Charlene Thomas, Tom McLemore, David Funderburk, Dave Toellner, Henry Lucas, Billie Crawford, Nell Copeland, Carmen Stowers and others.
The work was completed rapidly by the volunteers and they finished the work early. The group also delivered a generous donation check to MBG. The members of the board of directors of the Montgomery Botanical Gardens expressed their sincere appreciation to the group and their leader Jamie Ash. Since MBG is a volunteer organization and relies on donations, grants and supporters for funding, volunteers are vital to the success of the gardens.
This group of military volunteers are attending training at Maxell – Gunter Annex and will graduate and rotate out on June 26. Other groups will be rotating into class every four weeks. MBG hopes to be at the top of the list for community service options for each future class.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for MBG, please click here.
The volunteers were met in the gardens bright and early by Ethel Boykin, founder and board member of Montgomery Botanical Gardens along with Diane Vanella, MBG Horticulturist, and Karen Weber, Master Gardener and Chair of the MBG Project for Capital City Master Gardener Association. The volunteers divided into groups and attacked the work.
Some helped to remove the damaged cover on the MBG Greenhouse and replace it with the new one. Others helped clear away weeds vines, saplings and overgrowth from a large shrub border along the entrance drive. Another group tackled the tangled vines along the fence corner at Forest Avenue and Lane Street. Additional tasks that groups of volunteers conquered were: shoveling crushed stone to refill areas that had washed; placing granite blocks around trees to protect them from mowers; pruning, weeding, removing debris and more.
The lush beauty of the gardens provides a wonderful venue to visit, stroll through, learn about plants, and generally enjoy. But anything that lives grows and needs maintaining. Weeds and undesirable plants and trees invade and grow. So having volunteers like this group is a true blessing to help maintain the gardens.
Some others that helped to support and guide the work of the volunteers included Maggie Stringer, Charlene Thomas, Tom McLemore, David Funderburk, Dave Toellner, Henry Lucas, Billie Crawford, Nell Copeland, Carmen Stowers and others.
The work was completed rapidly by the volunteers and they finished the work early. The group also delivered a generous donation check to MBG. The members of the board of directors of the Montgomery Botanical Gardens expressed their sincere appreciation to the group and their leader Jamie Ash. Since MBG is a volunteer organization and relies on donations, grants and supporters for funding, volunteers are vital to the success of the gardens.
This group of military volunteers are attending training at Maxell – Gunter Annex and will graduate and rotate out on June 26. Other groups will be rotating into class every four weeks. MBG hopes to be at the top of the list for community service options for each future class.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for MBG, please click here.
