Our Keyhole Garden that is maintained by Chilton County Master Gardeners at the Demo Garden is ready for Halloween! There are pumpkins planted in this Keyhole Garden. These types of gardens are for people confined to wheelchairs and are just the right height for them and also have a place cut out to reach to the middle of the raised garden. The Demonstration Garden is located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, 120 County Rd. 756, Clanton AL 35045
Our CHILTON COUNTY MG group had a great May plant swap, aka Dirty Gardener! One of our members, Judy Cobb, was gracious enough to open up her home for this, or I should say her Barn! She had tables and chairs set up in the barn(built since they moved there full time) for our sack lunch meal and the plant swap. She lives in Coosa County, off of 22 East, on 200 acres that once belonged to her grandfather. The old home place is still there and is used for all their family gatherings. It is so authentic that you think you have stepped back in time! They have turned her grandfather’s old shop into their private home which they live in year round. They had a Tiny home before Tiny homes were popular! They have a 12 acre lake that a couple of our guys went fishing in this morning. She also has a fantastic chicken house, raised vegetables beds, scuppernong vines, pear trees, and young apple trees. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, Judy, and can’t wait for our next one!
Our April program was brought to us by Lee County Master Gardener Dianna Fortner. Dianna is in her final phase of earning her Advanced Master Gardener certificate. Moon gardening is what she is specializing in. A Moon garden is just what it sounds like, a garden that is meant to be enjoyed by the light of the moon. You would use plants with pale or silver foliage and white flowers that bloom in the evenings. Adding a water feature would make sitting in your moon garden just that much more enjoyable! Everyone should try growing one. Thank you, Dianna Fortner for a very interesting program!
We are so saddened to have lost 2 of our members since the meeting on April 9. On April 13, Mrs. Joan Barber lost her life in a car accident on the way home from our Plant Sale. Mrs. Barber was a very kind, quiet, free hearted lady that was known for her baking, crocheting, and making the planter chairs for our Plant Sale. Joan, you will surely be missed! On April 14, one of our charter members, Alan Reed gave up his long fight against cancer. Mr. Reed was always there to lend a hand; he always kept our irrigation system going in the Demo Garden, helped install the system at the Extension office, always helped with the Plant Sales, just too many things to list them all here. Also he was known for his dry sense of humor. We will miss you❗️R.I.P., dear Alan.
Our January meeting started off with our new President, Skip Coulter calling the meeting to order. Then member Ron Herbster led the group in the Pledge Alliance to the Flag. President Skip Coulter took a moment to thank Past President Jerry Farmer for his service and dedication this past year. Jerry was presented a gift card to Petals From the Past from all the members. He then passed the gavel to the new president, Skip Coulter
This month’s guest speaker, Mrs. Debbie Boutelier, was introduced by Vice President Betsy Smith. Mrs Boutelier currently serves as the Vice President of the Alabama Master Gardener Association. She is an herbalist and has served as the President of the Herb Society of America. She is the owner/consultant of ”Rooted in Thyme Apothecary” in Prattville) Potager Gardening was the topic of Debbie’s presentation. Potager is a French word that means “for the pot”. This type of garden (Jardin in French), is always located near the kitchen, provides vegetables, herbs, and edible & nonedible flowers “for the pot”. Compared to a standard vegetable garden, a potager garden places an emphasis on freshness (as opposed to preservation) and instead of traditional rows, incorporates small, compact areas with design principles. A most interesting program, thank you, Debbie Boutelier! The monthly business meeting was held after that and the meeting was adjourned at 11:31.
V.P. Betsy Smith presents Debbie Boutelier with speakers gift
A few weeks ago, our association committed to forming our own Conservation Group, which will be a part of the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance. Their three goals are: 1. To educate and promote conservation awareness; 2. To collect and report data of endangered or threatened plants; 3. To propagate plant material to be placed in the wild or shared with others to plant. Their first project will be to work with the Mohr’s Barbara Button species, currently a federally threatened plant.
Hugh Nichols, Chairman, and nine members of the committee met with Patrick Thompson at the Davis Arboretum in Auburn for training and a tour. During this visit the group agreed upon 5 immediate goals: 1. To be represented at the APCA fall meeting in Union Springs 2. To coordinate the INaturalist phone APP training to aid in plant identification. 3. Propagate plant matrrial provided to gain experience. 4. Identify potential habitants for rare plants in Chilton County. 5. Develop a community education plan.
Members of the committee include: Hugh Nichols, Chairman, Amelia Bloomfield, Chip Durham, Leslie Durham, Audrey Giles, Lynne May, Rick Miller, Alan Reed, and Trisha Williams.
Members and guest included L-R: Back Rick Miller, Hugh Nichols, Trisha Williams, Betsy Smith, John Higginbotham, L-R Front Lynne May, Clem Clapp, Alan Reed, and Harriett Jackson
Our April program was brought to us by our Chilton County Extension Coordinator, Lucy Edwards. Lucy is a member of the Agricultural Leaders for Alabama, which is sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Lucy’s presentation was a summary of her group’s agriculture tour to England. They visited an organic beef farm and also a row crop operation. They also visited the famous Borough Market which is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, dating back to the 12th century when at one time it adjoined the end of London Bridge. The group also visited Smithfield Market which is the largest wholesale meat market in the UK and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. It’s been at the same location for over 800 years. They are renovating it to include a new 42-acre wholesale megamarket, combining the meat market with wholesale fish, fruit and flower markets. Another day they toured the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the US Embassy, both located in London. DEFRA is responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom. In addition to the agricultural field trips, the group also toured many of the famous sites in and around London such as the Churchill War Rooms, London Eye, Tower Bridge, the Roman Baths, Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel. We also had 2 people to receive certificates that were missing from our February awards program. Congratulations Lyn Lavella Webb and Lanell Baker.
parts of content by Kerry Rush photos by Audrey Giles
Our program for March was presented by Chilton County Master Gardener Trisha Williams, who shared with us her PowerPoint, “Native Plants in Grandmother’s Garden”. Trisha shared many native plant species with corresponding photos that included, but certainly not limited to, Bird’s Foot Violets, Columbine, Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall Ironweed and Red Buckeye. She reminded the membership of the 1973 Endangered Species Act regarding the harvesting of natives from the wild, and instead recommended the use of reputable nurseries. A handout with information and resources on native plants was provided. Harriett Jackson and Hugh Nichols shared a research opportunity that’s under the guidance of ACES’s lead Dani Carroll and the Alabama Smart Yards educational program. Participants are being solicited for home vegetable variety trials. They will be provided seeds and will participate in collecting data related to plant date, quantity planted, emergence date, flowering date, first and last yield date, etc. Potential MG participation and additional information will be forthcoming. Leslie Durham talked about the need for the association to create a Fundraising Committee. Reports were given on the Demo Garden, the Extension Office Beds, and the Recreation Bldg Beds, with the last one being a work in progress. Several volunteer opportunities were discussed. Our Hospitality Committee was commended for their beautiful St. Patrick’s Day table decorations and also the volunteers who coordinated the food snacks. And many thanks to Betsy Smith for donating the Rosemary Sugar Cookie-filled coffee mug door prizes!!
Native Bloodroot Crab AppleNative ColumbineTrisha’s native woodland phloxHarriett Jackson & Hugh NicholsAmy Baker’s guestHugh Nichols and spouseSt. Patrick’s Day decor.Delicious St. Patty’s Day refreshmentsLovely AND delicious!!
Our speaker at our February meeting was Karen Mitchell, a Jefferson County Master Gardener. Karen’s program was “Got Sun, Grow Food…Growing Where Sun & Space Permit” She talked about container gardening and all the advantages it provides, different types of containers, and about drainage and portability of the containers.
V. Pres. Leslie Durham presenting speaker Karen Mitchell with an honorary MGgift
February is traditionally the month of our Awards Program.
President Jerry Farmer and V. President Leslie Durham presented the awards as follows:
The Chilton County Master Gardeners really enjoyed their December 13th meeting/Christmas Luncheon. The meeting was short, but one thing that was very important was presenting one of our interns, Sally Moore, with her certificate and badge. Also, our 2021-2022 President, Pat Farmer, introduced the new 2023 board members to everyone. There were many members there, spouses of members, sisters, and a few grandchildren! We were delighted to have our Extension Retirees Gay West, County Coordinator and Elaine Densmore, Administrative Assistant II. We also had our new County Extension Agent, Lucy Edwards there and all the new associates from Chilton County Extension Office. Lucy introduced herself and the rest of the group to all the members. Our Hospitality group did a themed decoration, I called it “Vintage Toys from Christmases Past”. They all had old toys and lovely old dolls to share for the tables. The Hospitality group did a wonderful job with ALL the decorations and the arrangements of the food stations. Thanks to everyone that volunteered to cook all the wonderful food and bake all the delicious desserts! And thanks to our member, Jim Rabey for donating and cooking the Turkey breasts, they were delicious as always!! Following the luncheon, several members stayed to play Dirty Santa. I didn’t get to stay, but it was rumored that there was lots of stealing going on! I’m sure they all had a wonderful time!! So, until next year: FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU “MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎅🏼🧑🏻🎄HAPPY NEW YEAR🥳 🎉🥂AND HAPPY GARDENING👩🌾
Photos by Audrey Giles & Lynn Webb
L-R Sally Moore is presented her certificate by MG Trisha Williams. Seated is recently retired Chilton County Extension Administrative Assistant Elaine Densmore.Standing our new County Extension Agent Lucy Edwards and seated, retired Extension County Coordinator Gay West2023 Board Members L-R Back- VP Leslie Durham,Treasurer Lyn Webb, M.A.L Judy Cobb, M.A.L. Hugh Nichols, Secretary Kerry Rush, Pres. Jerry Farmer. Front L-R Membership Trisha Williams, M.A.L. Lynne May, and Past Pres. Pat FarmerDifferent kinds of pepper jelly served with cream cheese and crackers. The jellies were made by MG Debbie Housner and they were delicious!One of Judy Cobb’s antique dolls. Her grandmother made the doll for her and her mother sewed the dress and a matching dust ruffle for her bed when she was very young.Dirty Santa fun! Trisha Williams & Treasia BennettJerry Farmer Lynne May with her granddaughter who was enjoying playing with the old toys.MG Susan Parkerson got pecans for her dirty santa gift, a well received gift!
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