Selma residents will have one more reason to be proud of their city if the Rotary Club and Master Gardeners have anything to do about it.

Both groups gathered Saturday morning, braving the chilly weather, to clean up the Highway 80 entrance to Selma at the Crossroad Exxon.

“We’re getting ready for all the company,” Master gardener Fran Pearce said, referring to the upcoming Jubilee and Pilgrimage celebrations.

The combined groups decided to trim the crepe myrtles on the highway, Pearce said. Soon after, another group, the Interact Club at Morgan Academy, joined in to help with cleanup.

“These (crepe myrtles) have not been tended for over 10 years,” Pearce said.

Tim Bjelke, of the Master Gardeners, showed up to help demonstrate the proper way to help trim the plants.

The plants were originally donated in memory of Tommy Powell in 1992. Powell was the President of the Rotary Club when he died, Pearce said, and the plants were his idea.

“It was his vision before he died to help beautify one of the entries into Selma,” she said.

The Master Gardener program holds regular classes to teach area residents about caring for plants and gardening. For more information, Pearce said to contact the Dallas County Extension Agent Callie Nelson at 875-3200.

Pearce said she hoped other volunteer groups in the area would make similar commitments.

“We’d love it if other groups might see areas and partner to help clean up the county and city we all love and appreciate,” she said.