The Cullman Tribune is celebrating the Alabama Bicentennial (1819-2019) with statewide field reporting by Alabama Master Gardener/Botanical Artist Ben Johnson South. This year-long feature, “The 67-County Alabama Garden Party,” will spotlight different counties each week. Each county will get its own “quilt block,” along with a historical profile, and we’ll share a recipe specific to the area. At the end of the year, all 67 counties will be put in a book to commemorate the Bicentennial.
Talladega County
IT’S FUN TO GO FAST! And, Talladega County, Alabama is synonymous throughout the world for speedy fun. The Talladega Superspeedway was built in the 1960s and is still the largest and longest racetrack in the NASCAR circuit.
For a full, fast-fun year, I managed a NASCAR driver, car and team. I had pitched a marketing idea to a major corporation that it could reach its target audience through stock car racing, though at the time it was not something I’d ever witnessed live. However, the market research on demographics supported it.
Before I hung out at the tracks, stock car races mostly seemed overly loud, overly long, with a lot of left turns. One of the quotes collected in Talladega was, “If the driver isn’t about to lose control of the race car, he’s just not going fast enough.”
Kix Brooks of the country duo, Brooks & Dunn, was celebrating with me and others after a NASCAR race in Tennessee and he said, “Son, you gotta drive the car like you stole it!”
The corporate executives said they’d back a NASCAR campaign if I agreed to manage it. So, the client selected a driver to champion, we designed the race car and the driver and team uniforms and the branding campaign. And, for a year it was off to the races from Daytona to Darlington and lots of tracks in between.
All this to say, THE BEST RACING AND RACETRACK FOOD IN AMERICA IS AT TALLADEGA.
Talladega County was established in 1832 and was fast-growing from the “git go.” It was as if some announcer at the Alabama-Georgia line and the Alabama-Tennessee line had said, “Gentlemen (and ladies) start your wagons!” Eager settlers rushed into this beautifully green land of promise to join the winners’ circle.
IT’S FUN TO GROW FAST! I’m not talking about those HGTV shows where a garden-ish backyard is populated in a day from sod grass and designer-y containers. There are some plants that simply thrive on expeditious, hypersonic, greased lightning—FAST!
In Alabama, we’ve all heard the jokes of the invasive Japanese import, kudzu. Kudzu grows so fast you can plant it in your back yard, and it will outrace you to the porch.
Kudzu has its fans but many more foes. In fact, some towns hire goat herders- goats will eat ANYTHING- to have the goats control rampant kudzu.
10 GREAT, FAST-GROWING PLANTS FOR ALABAMA- Let’s give these the starting flag (Note: the racy descriptors are mine):
*BRISK BUTTERFLY BUSH (Buddleja davidii)- One of the goals of “THE 67-COUNTY, ALABAMA GARDEN PARTY” project is to establish a “Pollinator Garden” in every county in the state. This butterfly-adoring bush would be an ideal addition for any gardener who loves seeing butterflies flit and float as they help keep Alabama beautiful for another 200 years.
*JUMPSTART ASIAN JASMINE (Trachelospermum asiaticium)- A genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family. The name is derived from the Persian “Yassameen” meaning “gift from God,” and the fragrant blooms are indeed heavenly.
*NIMBLE NASTURTIUMS (Tropaeolum)- Related to watercress, most varieties are edible and nutritious while adding beautiful color to salads and pastries.
*ACCELERATED ALABAMA BLACKBERRY (Rubus occidentalis)- Alabama’s state fruit (I know, you thought it was your funny uncle.) produces small, dark purple sweetness and is perfect for homemade jams and cobblers. In this PLANTS + PEOPLE series we’ve shared a number of recipes that call for berries; search the series for a delicious, 1819 Alabama Bicentennial Berry Pie.
*PRONTO PRIVET (Sunshine Ligustrum)- It’s an evergreen, ornamental shrub that grows well in warmer climates and flourishes in full sun. This is a better choice for Alabama gardeners than the more common North Privet (Ligustrum ibolium) and promises greater, faster “greening” success than boxwoods.
*FLEETFOOT (actually BIGFOOT) CLEYERA (Ternstroemia gymnanthera)- This heat-loving, drought-resistant, winter-hardy evergreen grows up to 20 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It’s ideal as a privacy border and soundbreak.
*MERCURIAL MARIGOLDS (Tagetes)- These herbaceous, low-to-the-ground beauties are in the sunflower family and delight with a variety of colors: gold, yellow, orange, bronze and white. Native to both North and South America, these plants will grow in most soils but prefer well-drained terrain.
*UP-TEMPO THUJA GREEN GIANT ARBORVITAE (Thuja standishii x plicata)- Choose this swift-grower instead of the oversold Leyland Cypress which is riddled with disease issues. The Green Giants grow 5 feet taller per year and in 10 years will add a 50-foot evergreen to your landscape. Find out more at www.conifersociety.org.
*WARPSPEED WAVE PETUNIAS (Petunia x hybrid)- Since early this century, this plant, which spreads beautifully across flower beds with stems up to 4 feet long, has taken the gardening world by storm. These peppery-scented petunias prefer a sunny location in humus-rich, well-drained soil and will bloom from spring to frost.
*BREAKNECK SPEED BLUE HYDRAGEA (Hydrangea macrophylla “Nikko”)- Native to Japan, these big, bold, blue-blossoming plants are hugely popular in landscapes in the American South where their broad leaves and cool blue color refresh the eyes. They are not considered difficult to grow and can bloom from spring until fall.
Lastly, one fast-growing plant we do not need in Alabama unless it is grown in a barrel or bucket, so it doesn’t overwhelm native plants, is BAT-OUT-OF-HELL BAMBOO. Our state has welcomed and loved many Asian plants, even our state flower, the camellia, arrived in America with the “tea trade,” but we must vigilantly corral highly-invasive plants like bamboo and kudzu. I’m thinking of Hank Williams and sangin’, “My bucket’s got bamboo in it. My bucket’s got kudzu in it.” Both of these are great plants with lots of attributes, but if you want either in your Alabama plant collection, tuck it in a bucket.
Now, let’s slow down a quick minute and salute other positive and pleasurable ways PLANTS + PEOPLE come together in this fast-growing part of Alabama, including a recipe for Talladega County Racetrack Pizza Hot Wheels, Garden Fresh (But, FAST!):
*HELEN KELLER FARMERS MARKET AT JOE TOM ARMBRESTER CENTER- West McMillan Street, Talladega, AL 35160; Thursdays 9-11 a.m. starting in September
*SYLACAUGA FARMERS MARKET- 423 North Norton Ave., Blue Bell Park, Sylacauga, AL 35105; Fridays 7 a.m.-noon, June-August and October-November
*TALLADEGA FARMERS MARKET- 210 E St. South, parking lot next to Chamber of Commerce, Talladega, AL 35160; Tuesdays 3-6 p.m., June 5- Aug. 14
*TALLADEGA COUNTY FARMSTANDS- Four Mile Farms (Sylacauga), Huckleberry Hills Farm (Alpine), Kelley Cates (Childersburg), Comet Grove Community Garden (Sylacauga)
*TALLADEGA COUNTY BLUEBERRIES- Craft’s Blueberry Farm (Talladega)
*THE ALABAMA INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND BLIND- (Talladega) I worked here after college and while completing a master’s degree with a focus on blindness and vision impairment. Founded in 1858, the leafy, beautifully landscaped campuses of AIDB in Talladega headquarter the world’s most-comprehensive education, rehabilitation and service program, helping individuals of all ages who are deaf, blind, deafblind and multi-disabled. AIDB serves more than 24,000 people with hearing and vision loss throughout Alabama each year.
*TALLADEGA COLLEGE- It has 50 beautifully landscaped acres in the city of Talladega and 32 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1865 by former African slaves, this is Alabama’s oldest historically Black college. My favorite building on this impressive campus is the DeForest Chapel, built in 1903, named for Reverend Henry Swift DeForest, D.D., president of the college from 1879-1896.
*PLANTING AN IDEA- Talladega County would be an ideal place to create a horticulture program with a focus on fast-growing plants. This could involve rehabilitation and plant nursery job skills taught at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and the award-winning, natural science programs at Talladega College. Global warming seems to indicate we need more focus on drought-resistant plants and quickly “re-greening” parts of Alabama with intelligently selected, non-invasive vegetation.
EXTRA! EXTRA!! SPEEDING METEORITE HITS TALLADEGA, ALABAMA WOMAN!!—This “real news” happened in 1954 to Ann Hodges, the only known survivor of such an event. I wanted to end this visit to Talladega County on your 67-County Alabama Garden Party tour with a quick note about something speedy. Y’ALL COME! HURRY!!!
Many thanks to Laurie Johnson for her original, delicious, healthy and FAST recipe for Talladega County Racetrack Pizza Hot Wheels.
Talladega County Racetrack Pizza Hot Wheels, Garden Fresh (But Fast)
Alabama’s Talladega 500, like other world-class NASCAR races, is beloved by millions of fast, fun fans. Whether at the track or at home in front of the 65-incher, fans love race day food almost as much as the race itself. As we learned from Ricky Bobby, favorites include pizza, fried chicken, big ole Wonder bread sandwiches, pork rinds and (now Talladega famous) huge fried meatballs. But race day food doesn’t have to be fat- or salt-laden to be fun and fast. These garden “hot wheels” combine fresh veggie pizza toppings with some heat from jalapenos and red pepper flakes and the convenience of prepared dough and a jar of pizza sauce. They’re SPEEDY to bake, FUN to eat with familiar pizza flavor, but lots lighter so you can go FASTER!
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 sweet onion and 1/2 each green red and yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced (For more heat, keep the seeds and inner membrane.)
- 1 tube of refrigerated “crescent” dough sheets (or crescent rolls)
- One 14 oz. jar of garden-fresh pizza sauce (Or make your own from fresh tomatoes and herbs.)
- 1 lb. shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Ground black pepper, dried Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes
- 1 small can of sliced black olives, well drained (use green olives if preferred – or both)
- 1/2 lb. baby spinach leaves, pull off extra-long stems and tear
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped or torn
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Very lightly sauté the onions, peppers, mushrooms and jalapenos in a swirl of olive oil. Leave them just barely softened. Remove onto paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Lay out the dough sheets on a layer of parchment paper. (If using crescent roll dough, press the seams together to create a sheet.) Cut sheet into four, roughly 4 x 6 inch, rectangles.
- On each rectangle, brush with olive oil and spread with a thin layer of pizza sauce and then cheeses. Season with black pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes (as hot as you want your hot wheels!) You will have some sauce left over for serving.
- Scatter on the sautéed veggies and drained olives and then a layer of spinach and basil leaves.
- Top with another thin layer of cheeses.
- Roll up the dough from the 4-inch side as tightly as you can and pinch the seam together.
- Using a sharp serrated knife, slice each roll into 3 or 4 slices, depending on your preference. Use a slow sawing motion to cut through the tender dough without smashing them. Place onto a parchment paper-covered pan and bake for 12 – 15 minutes until browned.
- Serve hot or even at room temperature with warm pizza sauce and snips of fresh basil.
Also, check out Alabama Bicentennial: 200 ways to save Alabama for the next 200 years.
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