Try forcing bulbs such as amaryllis, paper whites or tulips as a way to enjoy gardening during the winter. December is a great month for armchair gardening. You can enjoy the seed and perennial catalogs and start planning your spring garden.
Fruits and Nuts–Plant young pecan and other deciduous fruit trees and grapes. Select budwood. Start dormant pruning of established fruits. Protect all young trees from rabbit damage by placing wire around the base of the tree. Put on dormant oil sprays for scale.
Shrubs–Planting is still the main activity but delay in case of freezing weather.
Lawns–Control wild garlic, chickweed, poa annua, dandelion, and other weeds. Read label on each weed control product used.
Annuals and Perennials–Plant hardy annual seed without delay. Have you tried violas?
Bulbs–continue spring bulb planting.
Miscellaneous–Shrubs, trees and indoor plants make excellent gifts.
Our CCMGA November meeting featured programs given by two of our very own Master Gardeners, Beverly Williamson and Amy Baker.
Beverly Williamson’s program was All About African Violets. Beverly has been growing award-winning violets for many years. There is great variety in African violets: sizes, leaf shapes, leaf edges, bloom color and some are even trailing. Blooms can be smooth edged or ruffled and can be double. Violets should be kept moist but not soggy wet; they can be set on a tray of rocks with water to increase humidity. They need indirect light and morning light is best. The pot should be 1/3 the size of the width of the plant from leaf tip to leaf tip. To propagate: select a healthy leaf, cut the stem at an angle, place in a mixture of 1/3 each soiless potting mix, vermiculite and perlite, place under florescent or grow lights and keep damp. For more information go to Ball State University or the African Violet Society of America.
Amy’s topic was Soil Blocking for Seed Starting. What is soil blocking?
To do soil blocking you will need soil blocking tools and Amy uses the 3/4 inch 12 cell size to start seeds and then moves the seedlings up to the 2 inch 4 cell size. Amy sets the soil blocks in shallow trays, adds water as needed to the tray to keep the soil moist and places them under grow lights until the seedlings have their first true leaves and are ready to move to the large soil block.
Soil Mixtures: A general mixture has 1/3 part each of coconut coir or peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. For acid loving plants the mixture is 1 1/4 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1/4 part vermiculite. Amy has had great success with this method and all of her seeds germinated this year.
Both programs were very well presented and so very interesting!
CCMGA elected officers for 2025. Thanks to each for agreeing to serve our group. We will have photos next month.
Plants bulbs this month for spring color. Other gardening tasks for November include planting hardy annuals such as larkspur, poppies, pansies and candytuft. This is also a great time to plant trees, shrubs, vines, and roses. Take a drive and enjoy the glorious fall colors.
Ginkgo leaves in the fall
Fruits and Nuts–Select sites for plantings, start mulching strawberries, blackberries, and grapes.
Shrubs–Plant shrubs, trees, and vines.
Lawns–Some homeowners like lawn paints. Have you thought about having a green lawn this winter? Use proper herbicide to kill germinating winter weeds.
Roses– Get rose planting underway. Use a soil test as a basis for fertilization. Look for new varieties.
Annuals and Perennials–Plant hardy annuals such as larkspur, poppies, pansies, and candytuft. Get sweet peas into the ground.
Bulbs–Continue spring bulb planting. Put lilies of the valley in a shady place.
Miscellaneous–Plant screen plantings for a privacy on patio.
Vegetable Seed– Plant cabbage and lettuce in a coldframe.
On a beautiful October day, several Chilton County Master Gardeners toured Recreative Natives, a native plant nursery in Cropwell, Alabama. Jessica Thompson, the owner of this one woman nursery, has a background in landscape design and used many natives in her designs. When she moved to Alabama 15 years ago she discovered there were no nurseries in Alabama that grew only native plants. She began to propagate natives for her own landscape and this led to a full time nursery and a passion. In 2024, she grew over 15,000 native plants mostly from seeds. She focuses on native plants of Alabama and the Southeast.
article by Trisha Williams; photos by Audrey Giles
Jessica Thompson tells about how she got started with her nursery, Recreative Natives in Cropwell, ALLanell Baker, Harriett Jackson, Harriett Jackso , Hugh Nichols, Skip Coulter, and Betsy Smith L-R Harriett Jackson, Hugh Nichols, Trisha Williams, Lanell Baker, Audrey Giles, hostess, Jessica Thompson, V.P. Betsy Smith and Pres. Skip CoultedJust browsing😊 learning from the best!Our Pres. Skip Coulter, loves to present each hostess with a small gift, this time, a $2.00 Bill?!!L-Right Betsy Smith, Harriett Jackson, Trisha Williams, Lanell Bakes, Hugh Nichols, and Skip Counter. Not pictured, Audtey Giles Eating lunch at the old Rexall Drug store, which is now a Mexican Resturant.Enjoying lunch at El Cazador restaurant in downtown Pell City
The speaker for the October Chilton County Master Gardener meeting, Alisha Millican, spoke on Fungus Among Us-About Mushrooms. Alisha is an Advanced Master Gardener and her area of expertise is mushrooms. She is active in the Alabama Mushroom Society. Her program was an introduction to types of mushrooms, not an ID COURSE! Alisha recommends training with knowledgable experts, such as members of the Alabama Mushroom Society if you want to forage for wild mushrooms. Identification apps on your phone are not reliable sources. Never eat wild mushrooms unless you are positive of the identification! Alisha said all edible mushrooms should be cooked as some people cannot tolerate them raw.
Many photos of various mushrooms were shared including puffballs, lobster, chanterelles, oyster, cauliflower, lion’s mane, chicken of the woods, shoehorn, bird’s nest and more. We learned that mushrooms can be spicy, sweet, bitter, earthy, or licorice flavored, among other flavors.
The announcements for one upcoming tour and 2 volunteer opportunities are: Oct 14 Tour to Recreative Natives Nursery Oct 26 MG table at Humane Society Family Day at Ollie Park 2-6pm Oct 30 MG table with Shelby County MGs at Alabama Power Stewardship Event Beeswax Park, 245 Beeswax Park Road Columbiana, AL 35051 – 2-5pm
V. Pres. Betsy Smith presents speaker Alisha Millican with handmade pen made by one of our MG’s!Speaker Alisha MillicanWally Walters, Sharon Hosch, and Pres. Skip CoulterHospitality Chairman Judy Cobb does a great job!Halloween goodiesWe are ready for Halloween!BOOOO❗️❗️
The June Chilton County Master Gardener meeting was a time to celebrate and remember. We celebrated Betsy Smith for earning her Advanced Master Gardener degree. Betsy’s specialty area is Herb Gardening. Regional Extension Agent Jacob Turner presented her with her certificate and pin.
Jason Turner and Betsy Smith
Our President Skip Coulter, lead the association in a time of remembrance for three of our recently passed members, Joan Barber, Rick Miller and Alan Reed. Members shared stories and special recollections during a slide show of photos.
Alan ReedJoan BarberRick Miller
Special guests were Kerry Smith, Master Gardener State Coordinator; Devonne Ellis, AMGA President; and Debbie Boutelier, AMGA Vice President. They are visiting MG Associations around the state. It was a treat for members who have never met them.
Kerry Smith and Devonne EllisDebbie Boutelier, and Devonne Ellis
This month’s program was presented by three of our association’s Conservation Group members, Hugh Nichols, Betsy Smith and Trisha Williams. Our Conservation Group was officially formed in May 2023 and one of the CG’s mission statements is, “To promote education and awareness of native plant species growing in, or around, Chilton County”. To fulfill that mission, the CG has created a presentation template for use in community educational and awareness settings. The presentation identifies the coordinating partners (Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance, U.S. Forest Service, Auburn University Davis Arboretum, to name a few) and begins with the relevance of biodiversity in Alabama. Complete with corresponding photos, topics include native, non-native, and invasive plants. Endangered or at-risk plants are discussed, and the three focus plants of our CG (Mohr’s Barbara Button, Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant, and Owls Eye Ginger) are detailed along with accompanying photos of the group on field trip locations. An extensive list of resources that support the group’s goals is provided within the presentation.
Hugh NicholsBetsy SmithTrisha Williams
Byline: Trisha Williams and Kerry Rush Photos by Audrey Giles
Our February Master Gardener Meeting featured the presentation of an American flag to our association by Ocie DeVaughn, President of Lodge 322 of Woodmen of the World. Thanks to Hugh Nichols for contacting them about how we needed a large flag for our meeting place. We’ve went from a little bitty hand held flag to a nice large flag and a stand alone pole! Thank you, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance for such a nice donation!
Mr. Ocie DeVaughnPresident of Woodmen of the WorldLodge #322
Elizabeth York, current Shelby County MGA President and a former Chilton County MGA member, taught us about growing cool season vegetables. Elizabeth told us that in Alabama we can have select vegetables growing nearly the entire year. The main concern for growing from seeds is the correct soil temperature for germination. For more information on growing vegetables check the Alabama Cooperative Extension System website: www.aces.edu.
V. President Betsy Smith presents the speakers gift to Elizabeth York
FEBRUARY is the time of year for our annual awards presentations and there were many honored this year!
This year we had the privilege of presenting Perfect Attendance certificates to Harriett Jackson and Judy Cobb. Congratulations ladies for attending every meeting in 2023!!
L-R Harriett Jackson and Judy Cobb
Pins for working the MG HELPLINE were presented by the Chairman, Hugh Nichols. Diane Clapp earned a pin for 3 days. Amy Baker, Amelia Bloomfield (absent) Pat Farmer, and Lynn Webb (absent) earned pins for 4 or more days.
L-R Pat Farmer, Amy Baker, Diane Clapp, Hugh Nichols
Trisha Williams presented the STARS awards for volunteer service
BRONZE STARS 100-299 hours) Bobby Atkinson, Amy Baker, Margariette Hoomes(absent)
The Chilton County Master Gardeners celebrated Christmas at their December 12 meeting. After a brief business meeting, Master Gardener certificates and badges were presented to our new certified Master Gardeners. Congratulations to Bobby Atkinson, April Oakes and Kathy Oakes for completing the requirements for MG certification.
In addition to our members we had many guests including several spouses, Chilton Extension retirees Gay West and Elaine Densmore, CEC Lucy Edwards and our Chilton Extension agents and staff. We enjoyed a wonderful covered dish dinner with all the traditional Christmas casseroles, turkey, dressing, ham, salads and desserts. Thanks to our Hospitality team for the Christmas Village decorations and to all our set up and cleanup volunteers.
Then the fun started with a spirited Dirty Santa gift exchange! photos by Audrey Giles and Lyn Webb
Bobby Atkinson, April Oakes, and Kathy Oakes receiving their MG certificates2024 President Skip Coulter and wife Carol Coulter2023 President Jerry Farmer slicing the turkey he cooked for the dinner. Thank you, Jerry!!L – R Master Gardeners Imogene Bresse, Mildred and Jimmy Knowles and Lamar GilesAmy Baker sports her Christmas Ugly Sweater! Her words, not mine!Staff of Chilton County Extension OfficeL-R Trisha Williams watching Gail Brooks open her Dirty Santa giftTrisha Williams says to Kathy Oakes, ” Here, let me help you😊❗️”Christmas Village
Our own Dr. Betsy Smith, current Vice President of the Herb Society of America, presented Open the Gift of Herbs…for use and Delight. Betsy taught us that herbs are plants that are valued for flavor, fragrance, economic or industrial use, medicinal or insecticidal qualities. We learned that there are five herb families: mint, aster, carrot, amaryllis and laurel. Did you know that various parts of the plants are used? This incudes leaves, sap, bark, flowers, bulbs, roots and even seeds. Betsy also discussed growing, harvesting, cooking and preserving herbs.
November is officer election month for CCMGA. Our 2024 officers are: President, Skip Coulter; Vice President, Betsy Smith; Secretary, Kerry Rush; and Treasurer, Judy Cobb. Congratulations to our new group of officers!
Post by Trisha Williams; Photos by Lynn Webb and Trisha Williams
Betsy Smith presents November program.Herbs That Grow in the South.L-R Secretary Kerry Rush, President Skip Coulter, Treasurer Judy Cobb, V. President Betsy SmithV. President Leslie Durham (Right) presents Betsy Smith with presenters gift.
Our October meeting featured Lee County MG Dennis Pinkard and his program on Snake Awareness. Dennis has combined his love of gardening with his desire to do no harm to snakes. He discussed snake myths such as a snake will chase you. He says the snake has an escape route and you just happen to be in the way. He shared photographs of snakes and talked about how to identify specific snakes such as venomous Timber Rattlesnake, Water Moccasin (Cottonmouth) and Copperhead. He also shared photos of several non- venomous snakes. To minimize snake encounters keep your hands and feet out of areas you can not see and keep debris picked up. When you encounter a snake outside leave it alone and let it go on its way.
Our own Betsy Smith, a certified yoga instructor, led stretching exercises during our break. She encouraged us to do these exercises to improve flexibility, balance and posture. What a fun break! Thank you, Betsy!
Dennis Pinkard presenting ”Snake Awareness”MG Betsy Smith leads yoga stretching during break.Members doing yoga stretching
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