Fourteen years ago, Sherry Blanton, 80, of the Calhoun County Master Gardeners was asked to be in charge of the Pocket Park located behind Rock N Rooster Saloon. Since then, she has worked on making sure the park was decorated and taken care of for each holiday.
The Jacksonville City Council renamed the Pocket Park after Blanton at Monday’s City Council meeting at City Hall.
Councilman Terry Wilson said he used to live next door to Blanton for 40 years.
“If she loves anything, she loves this town, and she loves plants,” Wilson said.
Blanton said she sees people sitting on the benches reading to their kids. She has also seen people take pictures for graduations, engagements, and family photos.
Blanton said she decorated the park for the fall season, as well as putting up flags for the 250th birthday of the city.
“We have a lot of flowers,” Blanton said. “We created a nice place for people to sit, and we have a free library where you can take a book and leave a book.”
While Blanton works on the park, she is also the “green thumb correspondent” for the Anniston Star, where she writes monthly articles under the name A Southern Gardener. She has written articles for various outlets, inc...