The speakers for the November meeting of the Nashville Rose Society will be two members of the Davidson County Master Gardeners – Susanna Hadley and Joan Clayton-Davis. The meeting will be held at the Ellington Agriculture Center Ed Jones Auditorium, 440 Hogan Road,Nashville, TN 37220. This venue has excellent parking and easy entry.
Joan Clayton-Davis is Coordinator of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County Speakers Bureau, which educates the community on gardening, horticulture, etc. at libraries, schools, community organizations and churches, reaching more than 500 people each year. Joan has been a Master Gardener since 2014 and received the University of Tennessee Extension 2017 “Outstanding Master Gardener Award” Central Region. She is a retired Health Communications/Social Marketing Consultant.
Read more about Joan’s family history of farming and gardening since 1913 in her interview with the Nashville Public Library on blog post “A Master Gardeners Story”.
Joan will present “A Beginners Guide to Saving Seeds”. Seed saving is the practice of saving seeds or other reproductive material from open-pollinated vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers for your use from year to year.
Susanna Hadley has been a Master Gardener with the Master Gardeners of Davidson County since 2023. Currently serving as the Second Vice President, she acts as a bridge between the garden leads and the executive board. In addition, Susanna is the co-founder and Experience Director of Nashville Lawn Care, where she and her husband focus on meeting both commercial and residential landscaping needs while expanding into gardening and community garden support.
A Nashville resident since 2007, Susanna’s love for gardening intertwines with her passion for cooking and advocating for equitable food access. She has also contributed her time to organizations like The Nashville Food Project and Restoration Pointe, further reflecting her commitment to the community.
Susanna will teach us “How to Start Seeds” – how to choose good seeds, how to store seeds, containers for starting seeds, media for starting seeds, and techniques for starting, germination, and getting new plants ready for planting.
It is also that time of year for our annual Chili Cook-off. Everyone will vote for the best chili and the best cornbread – a good chili needs a good cornbread! Cook up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it to the meeting. One thing is for sure, no one is going home hungry.
Finding the Center
From I-65: Take Exit #78-A east on Harding Place. Take a right at the second light onto Trousdale Drive. Travel south on Trousdale for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left on to Hogan Road at the four-way stop. Hogan Road ends at the front gates of the Ellington Agricultural Center. Note: all buildings have identifying lawn signs for your convenience.
From I-24: Take exit #56 west on Harding Place to the Nolensville Road intersection at Walmart. Turn left onto Nolensville Road and travel south 1/10 mile and turn right onto Edmondson Pike. Travel 1 1/2 miles on Edmondson Pike. The east entrance to Ellington Agricultural Center is on the right.
Finding a Building
To the Ed Jones Auditorium: Enter the front gates from Hogan Road. Bear to your right. The Moss Building (antebellum style mansion) will be on your left at the top of the hill. Follow the drive until you reach the auditorium (a large white barn-like structure that sets at the end of the lawn behind the mansion.) It is located at 416 Hogan Road.