Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
James Daniel has been a Master Gardener since 2005.
Growing up on a farm in Georgia, he developed an early interest in gardening. After serving in the military, his passion for gardening grew as a means of self-sufficiency.
“It started with me wanting a little garden to have something to do in my downtime. But I figured that by starting a garden of my own, I could gain a lot of knowledge. I ended up gardening a lot of what we ate, and my wife canned a lot, too,” says James.
Over the years, James’s job as an aircraft mechanic took him to various places, alternating between rural and urban environments, which limited his gardening space. However, his creativity and the vast possibilities of gardening allowed him to maintain his hobby, regardless of location.
James’s late wife was from the Parrish community, and the couple eventually settled on a large piece of her family’s land, giving him ample space for gardening. He immersed himself in vegetable and flower gardening.
In 2005, James had the opportunity to take a gardening course in Jasper, offered through Auburn University. He completed 40 hours of coursework, attending lectures by gardening professionals from around the state and engaging in hands-on volunteer projects. After graduating, James earned the title of Master Gardener, though he modestly considers himself a novice.
“They call me a Master Gardener, but that is a little bit of a misnomer,” James says, chuckling. “Because when you finish the program, you are considered a Master Gardener. To set the record straight, I’ve met people who were much more knowledgeable when they started the program than I was afterward.”
James continued vegetable gardening for many years until his wife’s passing. Without her to preserve and can the produce, he decided to shift his focus to flower gardening. He began growing wildflowers, ordering seed mixes specific to the Southeast and ones that attract hummingbirds. For nearly 20 years, he has maintained hummingbird feeders, attracting the quick, tiny birds to his yard.
“Let me tell you a quick love story,” James says, reflecting on his hummingbirds. “Several years ago, when my sister passed away, I went back to Georgia for the funeral. There was a lady I knew and had worked with, and her husband had passed away. I didn’t have anyone to take care of my birds, so I asked her to come and take care of them for me. When I came back, she said, ‘My goodness, you use a lot of sugar for those feeders!’ Long story short, we got married.”
James remains involved in various volunteer organizations, including the local volunteer fire department, and has enjoyed contributing to landscaping and gardening projects around Walker County. While helping beautify the area, James says his primary goal has always been to educate and assist others.
After nearly 10 years as a Master Gardener, James encourages community members to get involved and learn more about gardening. He concludes with a piece of advice that applies not only to gardening but to life in general: “If you stay consistent, you can do it!” WL
