SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

Christmas ornaments and gifts are again displayed and for sale at local libraries.

The Shelby County Master Gardeners have decorated Christmas trees with beautiful ornaments at the libraries in Chelsea, Columbiana, Montevallo and North Shelby.

This is the seventh year of the project that benefits the libraries.

Gardening books for adults and children are purchased with the proceeds of the sale.

All of the materials and labor in making the ornaments is donated by the Master Gardeners and one-hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to the libraries.

Presently, approximately 130 gardening books bought from the proceeds of the project are in circulation in the Shelby County libraries.

These interesting ornaments are made of acorns, peanuts, seed pods, pine cones, oyster shells, leaves and other natural materials.

One of the favorites in the past has been a pine cone teddy bear. Available gifts include flower bulb kits, small containers of potting soil, pine cone fire starters and mixes for delicious bean soup.

This sale runs from Thanksgiving until Christmas each year.

The Shelby County Master Gardeners Association is affiliated with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services.