Category: Home and Garden

Butch and Martha Walker’s amazing property

Story and photos by Joe Whitten
Submitted photos

Southern souls start longing for spring in January, and by February, they check daffodil rows each day to see if they have awakened from winter sleep and begun stretching toward the sun.

Soon, rows of golden joy grace tended yards and old homeplaces where house and barn no longer stand. March and April find trees on Beaver and Bald Rock mountains leafing out and underneath the trees, native azaleas blossom pink and white. Rural folk used to call these azaleas, “mountain honeysuckle” or “bush honeysuckle.”

Azaleas. This springtime glory of the South brings myriad colors through quiet boulevards of old towns and acres of gardens tended by horticulturists. This beauty calls to mind Mobile’s Bellingrath Gardens, 283 miles from Pell City, and Callaway Gardens, 118 miles from Pell City. However, within five miles of the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City, Butch and Martha Walker’s unique house sits on reclaimed strip-mine land planted with over 400 azaleas.

Butch’s azaleas and seasonal plants complement the home designed by St. Clair County native Randy Vaughan, who grew up in Eden. After graduating from Pell City High School in 1975, he went to Auburn. “He was studying architecture, and this was his senior class project at Auburn,” Butch recounted. “He graduated No. 1 in his class.”

Since then, Vaughan has enjoyed a successful career as an architect. He noted that he had worked in nearly every scale of architecture, from custom-designed private residences to large-scale projects.

 As a student, Vaughan designed a two-level home for the Walkers with the great room, dining room, and kitchen on the lower level and three bedrooms and two baths on the upper level. “We both really liked it when we first saw it,” Martha said, with Butch adding, “We were debating whether to build in front of this strip mine cut or behind it, and Randy decided to put the house on piers and span the cut. Originally, it was open underneath, but later we closed it in and poured a floor.”

Butch and Martha have added two upper-level rooms – a sunroom across the back and a living room across the front. The focal points of the living room are Butch’s grand piano and the arched double doors, which were a serendipitous find. Martha spotted the doors at Mazer’s in Birmingham and told Butch about them. 

“I worked just over at O’Neal (Steel),” Butch recalls, “so I went over there at lunch, and they wanted a big price for it. So, I asked the guy if he thought they’d take less. He said, ‘I don’t know, but this guy riding up on the cart can tell you.’ So, he pulled up and I asked him, and he said, ‘Would you pay so-and-so?’ I said, ‘No,’ and I told him how much I’d give. He said, ‘Well, let him have it for that.’ So that’s how we got the doors for about 75% less than he was asking.”

With her eye for color and detail, Martha has made their home a warm and welcoming one for family and friends. Whether it be a Sunday afternoon of music in the living room or a holiday meal at the dining table, guests are made to feel at home.

Back to his roots

Butch had finished college and served in Vietnam when he and Martha Kirkland married in 1974. They lived in two or three different places, but eventually moved into Butch’s parents’ home on Highway 174. Butch and Martha’s property lies not far from his parents’ original 23 acres, where their son, Kirk, lives with his family and enjoys about over 100 azaleas Butch has planted there.

In some of his college work, Butch studied horticulture. When asked how he became interested in native azaleas, he replied, “My cousin in Mobile, Glen Burnham, collected them. He and a friend of his had gone all over the Southeast collecting and hybridizing. He had azaleas at his house, and when they were in bloom, the traffic would be backed up for miles.”

“He had some connection with Bellingrath Gardens, because once when we went down for a visit, he said if he had known we were coming, he could have gotten you in to see the gardens free,” Martha recalled. “Glen Burnham also designed a portion of Disney World’s gardens.”

Early planting

Before he married Martha, Butch had planted his first azaleas on the homeplace where he grew up. When he and Martha moved into their Vaughan-designed home in 1981, Butch pruned back those plants, dug them up, and moved them to the reclaimed strip-mine property. Now over 50 years old, those azaleas still burst into variegated glory every spring.

The annual show of colors traveled much before taking root in Pell City. “I’ve dug them out of the woods, and I’ve bought ’em out of Georgia and Mississippi and south Alabama. And one of my cousins worked for T.R. Miller’s lumber company down in Brewton, Ala., and I have some transplanted from the Brewton area.”

Some of his 400 plants result from Butch’s propagation of azaleas. “I’ve done some by cutting, but I do mostly by seed, and that’s a long, drawn-out process because you’re talking about three or four years from seed to bloom.”

Another way to propagate is tissue culture, which Butch describes briefly. “It’s done under sterile conditions. You take a small piece of the plant – the tissue – and put it in a medium under sterile conditions, and it will start multiplying and keep on multiplying. From one little piece, you can get thousands. You keep dividing it. I’ve never done it cause it’s not something you can do at your kitchen table. I do have some plants from tissue culture that I bought out of Pennsylvania.”

With tissue culture, the resulting azaleas’ blossom color will be exactly like the tissue donor plant. However, seedlings can result in myriad colors depending on how cross pollination has occurred.

“With seedlings, you don’t know what colors you’re gonna get until they bloom. One year, I did some cross pollinating and collected the seeds and planted them in my basement. When seedlings have two leaves, you can transplant them into individual cells. I had done that – had 600 seedlings in cells, and they were up about an inch or more tall. Well, we had a nice warm day, and I thought, ‘I’m gonna set them out and get them a little more light and warmth.’ I did. And out of the 600, I killed 599, but the one that survived was a keeper.” Butch aptly named that azalea, “Walker’s Survivor.” When in full bloom, it caused one friend to say, “It’s a confection, whipped cream and peaches.”

“Some people might say we lead a boring life,” Martha comments, “but we are workers and do a lot of work around here. Our life has been an adventure in hard work.”

One of those adventures came when Butch decided a tree limb needed to go. “Well, this was in 2011. I was walking back to the barn, and this tree limb was hanging out there – and it could have stayed there a hundred years without hurting anything. Well, I looked at it and decided it was time for it to come down. So, I got my ladder and put it on the tree. Got my chainsaw, and I went up and I cut. When it fell, it sprung back, and I fell 15 feet, head down. I held onto the ladder, and that kept me straight and probably kept me from getting badly broken up. I had thrown my saw when I saw what was happening and it landed on the ground still running.

“After I could breathe again, I got up and turned the saw off and came to the house. I turned the fan on and sat in my recliner a few minutes. Then I got in my car and drove over to my neighbor’s, and he drove me to the emergency room over on Hospital Drive in Pell City, and a helicopter took me to Birmingham.”

“They called me at Kennedy School,” Martha added, “and said, ‘Mrs. Walker, you need to leave as soon as possible. Your husband has taken a significant fall.’ I said, ‘What!?’ And they said, ‘We are airlifting him out now, even as we are speaking.’ And I told the school receptionist, ‘Bye. I’m gone!’

Martha could see the helicopter whirling ahead of her as she drove to the hospital. “We finally got to see him and Butch really looked awful. They were trying to pull his arm back in place.”

Fortunately, Butch fared better than Humpty Dumpty did in his garden wall crackup, for the doctors got Butch put back together after a five-hour surgery on his wrist. Butch wore a cast for five weeks, then went to physical therapy.

He asked the therapist if he would be able to play the piano again, and she thought he was pulling the old piano joke: “Doc, will I be able to play the piano?” And the Doc says, “Yes.” And the patient says, “That’s good! I wasn’t able to play it before!”

When Butch convinced her that he indeed played the piano, the therapist said, “That will be good therapy.” So, with short periods at his grand piano, he started playing the Southern gospel songs that he had loved playing all his life.

Some of those old songs may have flitted through Butch’s mind as he fell from the tree – “I’ll Fly Away,” or “Precious Memories,” or “I’m in the Glory Land Way.” However, one of the first ones he played after the fall must have been “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” for Butch and Martha agree that God’s hand was with them during that event and throughout their lives.

After some months, Butch was back to his gardening and propagating azaleas, and from early spring to late autumn, his and Martha’s place is awash in color by blossom and foliage. A place of peace and contentment. Home.

By Leigh Pritchett
Photos by Graham Hadley

As anyone who has ever tried to grow a plant knows, there is a science to it.

 Local experts offer the following advice for creating and maintaining attractive landscapes and successful vegetable gardens.

 The first three tips are so crucial that, together, they determine whether a plant will live through the first year.

Do not assume the soil is good. St. Clair County soil may contain clay or be compacted. Topsoil, compost and a supplement specific to that plant are likely to be necessary. (For soil-testing supplies and direction, check with St. Clair’s Alabama Cooperative Extension Service office, St. Clair County Soil and Water Conservation or St. Clair Farmer’s Cooperative.)

Be mindful of moisture requirements. Each week, plants need at least one inch of moisture that soaks down to the roots. If a plant dries out completely one time, it dies. Overwatering is just as detrimental as underwatering.

Place the plant in a hole that is neither too large nor too small.

Bury the plant to the same soil line as it had in the container from which it came. As a general rule, it is better to have the plant a little above the soil line than too deep into the soil.

Choose plants that are right for the climate zone. St. Clair County falls within zone “7” and “7B” of the climate map for plants. Plants acclimated to one zone might not thrive long in another. For example, a West Coast plant is not likely to survive in the South.

Select a plant that, at maturity, will fit the space allotted for it.

Choose a plant that is right for the amount of sunshine or shade it will experience. A plant meant for shade will not do well in direct sunlight and vice versa.

Distance plants from the house or building. When the plant matures, the homeowner should be able to walk between it and the house.

Replace bark or straw regularly. Bark lasts two to three years. Straw breaks down quickly and has to be replaced twice a year. Other possible “mulches” include shale, pea gravel, river rock and brick pieces.

Use weed barrier cloth and pre-emerge herbicide to prevent growth of weeds and germination of unwanted seeds. Weed barrier cloth and pre-emerge herbicide are especially needed with rock-type mulches.

Research how to cultivate and harvest vegetables and herbs. Successful vegetable gardening comes with knowledge and experience. It may take years to develop the expertise and to discern what grows best in the garden area.

Purchase plants from a nursery or garden center. Employees of nurseries and garden centers are knowledgeable about plants, trees, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides and can give advice on landscape issues and plant deficiencies. The information they provide is specific to the climate zone in which the homeowner lives. Nurseries and garden centers offer a large selection of trees, plants, fertilizers, supplements, bulk materials (mulch, sand, gravel etc.), statuary and decorative stones for pathways and hardscapes.

Understand that plants new to the market come with limited information. New plants are studied only three years before they are put on the market. Therefore, their growth potential beyond that may not be known initially, and they might outgrow the space allowed for them.

Buy mulch and other bulk material by the truckload. Buying by the bag is more expensive.

Periodically inspect plants and trees in the yard to see if they remain healthy. Lichens growing on a plant, for instance, can indicate poor health.

Learn how and when to prune each kind of plant. (Pruning a crape myrtle too severely is called “crape murder!”)

Editor’s Note: Sources for this story were Crawford Nursery, Odenville; Hazelwood’s Greenhouses and Nursery, Pell City; Landscapes by Shelly, Pell City; Warren Family Garden Center and Nursery, Moody.

Story by Leigh Pritchett
Photos by Graham Hadley

In 2020, thoughts and energy turned to the outdoors in a big way.

Nature provided an outlet for exercise, enjoyment and escape.

Landscaping not only was an avenue for creativity, but also an opportunity to revive underutilized sections of the yard. Some projects even turned outdoor areas into comfortable, functional living spaces.

All this activity and renewed interest made 2020 a busy year for plant nurseries, garden centers and landscape artists.

“People who never gardened before wanted to do it,” said Michelle Warren, horticulturist with Warren Family Garden Center and Nursery in Moody. “… We definitely had a huge number of new people from all over Alabama to come see us. … There was a huge uptick in sales from spring right up to fall. … I think any garden center could say that.”

Geneva Jones of Crawford Nursery in Odenville agreed. Because people were home more, they devoted time to sprucing up their yard. She expects that to continue in 2021.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what happens this year,” said Will Crawford, owner of Crawford Nursery.

Another trend that came as a bit of a surprise was the surge in vegetable and herb gardening.

“That was a big trend last spring and through the summer,” said Warren. “… That was a big trend we didn’t expect.”

Warren believes fruit trees and blueberries are likely to see lots of interest this year.

Making a plan

Gardens have a specific purpose, whether it is to beautify, to attract birds or butterflies, or to reclaim some dead space.

Every successful landscaping project begins with a plan, say the experts.

They suggest photographing the area to be landscaped to give nursery or garden center employees an idea of the layout. Some nurseries and garden centers may even draw a landscaping plan for customers. These plans incorporate the customers’ wishes, while giving attention to essential details, such as the amount of sun or shade, available space, and growth potential of each plant.

John Hazelwood, owner of Hazelwood’s Greenhouses and Nursery in Pell City, said a landscaping plan also should take into account other plants and trees in the yard and the impact they will have on the new plants. He gave as an example water oaks and willow oaks, both of which are “heavy feeders.” Their presence can deplete the soil of water, fertilizer and nutrients that other plants need.

Once the landscaping plan is drawn, the designer or employees at the nursery or garden center should be consulted if plant substitutions are necessary, said Hazelwood and daughter Shelly Martin of Pell City, owner and manager of Landscapes by Shelly. If the wrong plant is substituted, it may outgrow its allotted space and disrupt the whole design.

Hazelwood said homeowners can install landscapes themselves. They just need to be able to read landscape plans to know which plant goes where. Labeling is extremely important. The plants should be labeled before and after placement so that the homeowner knows what each one is.

Going for less

In the early 2000s, landscaping concepts centered on layering and mass planting, Martin said. In the past five or six years, the theme has been on the minimal and the contemporary, concentrating on the use of specific plants for a certain effect or focal point.

Two words – “low maintenance” – describe the kind of landscapes individuals have been wanting lately.

“Low maintenance is a big thing,” Jones said.

Hazelwood added, “They would really like no maintenance, but there’s no such thing.”

Even if the landscape is considered low maintenance, Martin said periodic attention is still necessary. “The landscape will look only as good as the maintenance.”

Modern landscapes, Jones explained, are “open designs, where everything is not so crowded. They use a lot of boxwoods and (ornamental) grasses and things like that.”

As for boxwoods, Jones noted that those landscape staples from the past – in addition to needlepoint hollies and dwarf yaupon – are receiving renewed interest.

Hazelwood said japonica and sasanqua camellia also “are hot right now.”

Homeowners are particularly interested in dwarf variations of plants because they think these will always remain small and need little to no pruning. Nonetheless, Martin said dwarf plants can grow to be sizable; they just may take longer to do it.

Martin noted that landscaping does not last forever. It will need to be redone periodically.

“Your landscape is basically like painting your house,” she said. The landscape should be revamped every eight to 10 years, and plants that require heavy pruning should be replaced after 12 to 15 years.

Seeking variety

In addition to low maintenance, other highly requested landscape features are colors and textures.

Martin said color and fragrance lend an air of welcome to a home.

Warren and Martin said golds, purples, greens, blues and chartreuse (such as Limelight hydrangea and Little Lime hydrangea) have been the colors of choice.

Ornamental grasses – pink muhly grass, adagio grass, dwarf fountain grass, carex, Sassy Grass, etc. ­– give texture to a landscape, said Jones.

A good landscaping design offers beauty for all seasons, Martin said.

By using a variety of plants, “you can design a landscape that has color, something happening year-round,” said Jones.

For example, a landscape including common azaleas (bloom once in spring), gardenias, Encore azaleas (bloom spring, summer and fall), hydrangeas (bloom in summer), camellia japonica (bloom in February) and camellia sasanqua (bloom around November) would provide bursts of color all year, Jones said.

Encore azaleas, Hazelwood said, “bloom more than once a year. … There are 33 varieties of them now.” In winter, flowering kale, flowering cabbage, pansies, snapdragons and sweet Williams show their colors.

Knock Out roses (a rose bush that blooms for months) have been and continue to be in much demand, Hazelwood said. “I don’t know how many thousands of those we have sold. They bloom their heads off, and they bloom all summer long.”

This year, the new Petite Knock Out roses are expected to be popular, said Jones and Crawford.

Hazelwood said new plant selections are being produced continuously to keep up with changes in trends. “The breeders are constantly striving to come up with something new.” Hydrangeas are a case in point. “There are so many of those, it’s unbelievable.”

Creating living space

One of the new trends in landscaping is hardscapes. Hardscapes are gardens, pathways, even outdoor living spaces.

“I love hardscapes,” said Martin, who was working on two such projects at the time of this interview. “I love to use natural stone to create fire pits and patios and retaining walls, … to create for the homeowner a secret garden.”

Hardscapes might incorporate a swimming pool, pond, stand-alone fountain, wall fountain. A hardscape could be an outdoor room, so to speak, for grilling, dining, entertaining or warming by a fire.

“I love to design swimming pools and outdoor kitchens,” Martin said. “… They are fun spaces to create.”

During 2020, the number of hardscape projects she designed and installed grew exponentially. “I really saw a huge increase in the hardscape activity. We did more hardscapes last year than we have ever done,” Martin said.

She and her crew locally installed approximately 30 landscapes featuring hardscapes and designed more than that for builders and landscapers in the Birmingham area.

Thinking commercially

The concept for commercial landscaping is somewhat different from residential landscaping, Martin said.

Commercial landscapes need to have appeal, plus longevity. Junipers, dwarf yaupon and Chinese hollies are some of the possibilities, coupled with maples that give beautiful fall color.

Choosing the right trees is important in the commercial setting to avoid an invasive root system that eventually bucks the sidewalk, Martin said.

The landscaping plan also has to consider the clientele of the business. If, for instance, children will be going into the building, thorny plants would not be suggested.

On the other hand, thorny plants would be good for blocking access to a ledge, Martin said.

With commercial landscapes, the aim is toward beauty, functionality and durability without creating a “maintenance nightmare.”