Bonsai Basics at the Madison Library grows community knowledge Oct. 21

MADISON – Bringing botany to bookworms, Madison Public Library is hosting a free Bonsai Basics event on Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

“The program is about one hour with a speaker and time for questions and answers,” said Programming Librarian Carolyn Reagle. “For this program on ‘Bonsai Basics,’ the Master Gardeners have put together everything you need to know about growing Bonsai, including material selection, basic branch wiring, repotting, pruning techniques, soil mixing, nutrient control, sun exposure issues, moisture control and basic design techniques. Philip Terry, the President of Living Art Bonsai Society, is the presenter.”

Through a partnership between the Alabama Master Gardeners, the Madison Public Library can encourage locals to engage with gardening and plant growth techniques.

“I’ve been partnering with the Master Gardeners of Northern Alabama since 2021 to bring gardening programs to the community,” Reagle said. “Each year, we have a Master Gardener Spring/Fall Series that begins in February at the Madison Public Library with some events at other branches. The topics vary each year, but they are geared to gardeners at all levels. The presenters are Extension Agents from the Alabama Cooperative Extension, Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities with horticulture backgrounds. Some of the Master Gardeners present as well.”

Reagle said this support from the Master Gardeners is enabled through a grant to encourage children’s knowledge of plants and gardening.

“The Master Gardeners have supported the library through a yearly grant from the Jane R. Parks Grant, which we’ve used for our Children’s Garden Rangers programs and to support the seasonal Seed Library at the Madison Public Library,” she said.

For those who cannot attend the Bonsai Basics event, there are more Master Gardener classes at the Madison Public Library in 2026.

“Ron Daniels, American Rose Society Master Consulting Rosarian and Master Gardener, will be presenting here on ‘Growing and Caring for Roses’ on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.,” Reagle said. “Ron is a member of the Nashville Rose Society and author of ‘Rose Therapy.’ He’s a terrific speaker. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 10:30 a.m. there will be ‘A Beeutiful Day in the Apiary’ event with Alison Shabel, Extension Agent.”

The continued planning of Master Gardener classes at the Public Library is a result of a positive response by the Madison community for an event last spring.

“This year’s program, ‘Totally Tomatoes’ on March 18, brought in almost 100 attendees to the Madison Public Library,” Reagle said. “There were three programs on growing tomatoes with different speakers, and the first 75 attendees received a complimentary starter tomato plant geared toward the Northern Alabama climate. The gardening programs are very popular, with 50-75 attendees on average attending the programs.”

Along with encouraging literacy, Reagle said the Madison Public Library works to encourage learning and growth for both children and adults.

“The library is more than a place where people check out books; we are so much more and becoming community centers,” she said. “Gardening programs and the Seed Library help promote the joy of gardening and connect the public to nature. Our goal was to help them learn how to grow their own food, support pollinators and create connections.”

For more information, visit www. hmcpl.org/madison.

“For me, this is very rewarding work,” Reagle said. “I am a lifelong learner and gardener, so the gardening programs come naturally, and the Master Gardeners are wonderful community partners. Our community is eager to learn and enjoys the programs. I hear how much they appreciate the range of programs provided by the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.