By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Master Gardeners are teaming up with the Habitat for Humanity of Autauga and Chilton Counties to transform the yard of a home rehabilitation project.

Kimberly Lynn serves on the board of directors for both organizations.

“It has always been on my radar that we would merge volunteer efforts if we had a chance,” Lynn said.

The rehabilitation of a house with a neglected yard presented the perfect opportunity.

Tea olive shrubs, day lilies and knock-out roses are being included in the design.

Sod will be brought in to add grass to the front yard that has turned to dirt.

Master Gardeners began the project in November and plan to be finished in time for the flowers to be blooming this spring.

“We have developed a low maintenance landscape plan, so it will be easy to maintain when we are done,” Lynn said.

Lynn said this was important because the homeowner uses a wheelchair.

The project included removing some landscaping to make room for the new. However, some elements are being reused, but in a better way.  A few trees that were posing a danger to the structure were also removed.

“As a Master Gardener, it is a part of our community outreach,” Trisha Williams said.

“To me this is the perfect outreach for Master Gardeners.”

There will be about nine volunteers from Master Gardeners helping throughout the project.

Master Gardeners has partnered with Habitat in the past by providing training on plant and yard care to Habitat homeowners.

The Chilton County Master Gardeners also offers classes for prospective members. The next class will begin on Jan. 25 and run through April meeting Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the class, contact the Chilton County Extension office at 205 280 6268.