The Ozmer House across the bypass from the Mulerider Stables on Highway 82 may be designated with an Arkansas Historical marker sign, but as it is white and sits slightly back from the road, it is sometimes easy to overlook. The Southern Arkansas University Alumni Board is hoping to change this by adding sunflowers and zinnias in the fields east of the house and pumpkins to the west of the property.
The community is being welcomed to take part in this project which is expected to be a big hit once the sunflowers bloom and the pumpkins ripen. Robbye Taylor, who is helping coordinate the project said there are more than 7,000 sunflower seeds in 10 or 11 different varieties to be planted along with numerous pumpkin vines, some of which were grown from seeds sent from an Southern Arkansas University Alum named Ken Roblin, who lives in South Hampton, New York. Some of Roblin’s seeds are from pumpkins that grew to weigh 500 pounds!
“This is so exciting and such a wonderful opportunity for us to make a very green statement,” Taylor said. “This project is going to be good for community consensus building. We are involving the master gardeners and Danny Walker from the extension service went out and tested the soil for us.”
Volunteer gardeners are being asked to bring their garden hats, gloves and bottled water to SAU this Thursday. The gardeners will meet at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 25 in the Overstreet boardroom for an overview of the project.
Those who are unable to attend the meeting may still take part in the project and can get more information about the project from coordinators Taylor at (870) 235-5073 or Sarajane Telford at (870) 235-4290.
