Author: trisha

Heavenly Cake

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Several Master Gardeners requested the recipe for Heavenly Cake, a sheet cake with pineapple, that was provided by Trisha Williams at our May Plant Swap.

Heavenly Cake

1/2 total batter from a yellow cake mix, mixed according to box directionsPhoto of Heavenly Cake
(remainder can be made into cupcakes or a single layer for later)
1 –  3 oz. instant vanilla pudding
1  – 8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups cold milk-
15 oz. crushed pineapple, drained
1 large cool whip
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Grease and flour a 9″x 13″ pan. Preheat oven according to cake mix directions. Mix cake as directed on the package, pour approximately 1/2 batter into prepared pan. Decrease baking time as your cake will only be about 1/2 inch thick. Cool completely in pan. Blend pudding and cream cheese and milk (it will have some lumps). Pour over the cake and let set for 5 – 10 minutes. Spread pineapple over the pudding mixture. Spread cool whip over previous layers and sprinkle with nuts. Must be kept refrigerated.

The Gardens of Clanton

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The Gardens of Clanton Assisted Living facility approached two Chilton County Master Gardeners for advice and assistance on planting annual pots for the entrance and front porch and an existing vegetable bed and pots on the back patio. The Gardens obtained donations of annuals, vegetables, and herbs and provided potting mix and pine straw. The entrance pots were planted with vinca, calibrachoa (million bells) and ornamental grass. Tomatoes, yellow squash, bell peppers and sweet banana peppers, radishes and basil were planted in the existing 8×8 vegetable bed after it was weeded and amended with compost. An herb pot with flat leaf parsley, oregano, thyme, chives, basil and garden sage was added to the patio along with pots of rosemary, lemon balm and chocolate mint. Other pots on the patio hold  cherry tomatoes and vinca for a pop of color. The vegetables and herbs will be used in preparing the residents’ meals and the herbs can be also be enjoyed just for their scents.

This project enhanced the entrance, front porch and the back patio of The Gardens of Clanton and will be enjoyed by the residents and visitors alike.

Thanks to Audrey Giles and Trisha Williams for implementing this project and thanks to both for donations of herbs. Thanks also to Alice Broome for the donation of the beautiful rosemary plant.

University of Montevallo Community Garden Tour

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Chilton County Master Gardeners toured the University of Montevallo Community Garden on April 17. The director of the garden, Holly Wadleigh, told us that volunteers and UM students plant, maintain and harvest the vegetables grown in the garden and donate them to Shelby Emergency Center. In addition to growing vegetables for SEC the garden hosts a Wise Women healthy living garden program and also rents garden plots to individuals. After a great lunch at Tavern on Main in Montevallo what gardener could resist a visit to Cedar Creek Nursery!

Gardening as We and Our Gardens Age

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“Gardening as We and Our Gardens Age” was the program topic for the March Chilton County Master Gardener meeting. Mike Rushing, Jefferson County Master Gardener, gave an informative and entertaining program on how we can continue to enjoy gardening as we age and experience changes in our abilities. We should evaluate changes in our gardens such as mature trees that create shade and perhaps remove a few or limb them up to provide more sun. He told us to eliminate plants that we consider high maintenance, plants that do not perform well for us, and plants that are dead or dying. Be sure to keep those plants that thrive. Another suggestion was to create smaller garden areas that one can reasonably maintain. Mike also suggested hiring someone to do the tasks you do not enjoy and to work smarter not harder.

Gardening as we age

 

Touring Wright’s Nursery

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After a tour of Wright’s Nursery in Plantersville our group of Master Gardeners appreciate the process and work that go into getting bedding plants, herbs and tender perennials  to market. Heather Wright shared the steps involved starting from a seed to a plant ready for our gardens. She showed us the trays and the machinery used in the process and walked us through several greenhouses. We saw all sizes of plants, from those that had  just germinated to larger ones almost ready to sell. We were astounded that they produce 22,000 hanging baskets of plants and untold numbers of bedding plants annually.

Wrights Nursery plants are branded Alabama Grown and can be purchased at independent nurseries around Central and North Alabama.

Photos by Trisha Williams, Susan Cleckler, and Sondra Henley.
Plants at Wright’s Nursery
Master Gardeners touring nursery

Russian Tea Cakes and Butterfinger Cookies

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Two MG’s provide similar recipes for these holiday treats: Russian Tea Cakes and Butterfinger Cookies. The Russian Tea Cakes are shaped in balls, have fewer nuts, and bake at a higher temperature while the Butterfinger Cookies are shaped into logs or “fingers”. Give either recipe a try and you will have cookies that melt in your mouth!

Butterfingers were served at the 2017 Christmas Home Tour open house at the Chilton Extension Office.

Russian Tea Cakes

  • 1 c. butter or margarine, softenedIMG_20150102_153138
  • 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 c. finely chopped nuts
  • 1/4 t. salt
  • powdered sugar
  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Mix butter, 1/2 c. powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
  3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool slightly on wire rack.
  5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Butterfinger Cookies

Follow  recipe above except for these changes:

  1. Use  1 to 1 1/2 c. nuts
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Shape dough into 2 x 1/2 inch logs.
  4. Bake until lightly browned-about 10-15 minutes.
  5. Transfer to wire rack .
  6. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

Recipes provided by Pat Farmer and Diane Clapp

November CCMGA Meeting

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Chilton County Master Gardener, Martha Gothard, presented an informative program on growing African violets at our November meeting. We learned about the sizes, making potting soil, potting with wicks, fertilizing, dividing and light requirements. The most common cause of with failure with African violets is that we do not water correctly. Martha taught us to put a tray under the plant so that the plants may be watered from the bottom and to wait until the soil is dry to the touch before watering. Thank you, Martha, for the great program and all your time preparing the Power Point.

Congratulations to four more interns that have completed their requirements for Master Gardener certification! Larry Jones received his badge and certificate at our meeting. Robin Cagle, Lattie Hardy and Spencer Hardy were presented their badges and certificates at the Chilton County Extension Office during the past month.

The December meeting on the 12th brings our annual Christmas Party that will be held at Petals From the Past beginning at 10:00. Bring a $10 gift for a fun game of Dirty Santa. Contact Elizabeth York to sign up to bring a dish.

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2017 Fall Landowner Tour

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Chilton County Master Gardeners volunteered for the Fall Landowner Tour hosted by the Chilton Natural Resources Council on October 9th at the L.C. “Foots” Parnell property near Stanton.  The event was “Rain or Shine” and it was a very damp day following right after Hurricane Nate dropped over seven inches of rain on the property. Fortunately there was only a light shower during lunch.

Master Gardeners helped with parking, registration, morning snacks and serving lunch. Thanks go to Master Gardeners Rick Miller, Larry Jones, Diane Clapp, Lola Patterson, Harriett Jackson, Sherry Ray, Donna Babin and Trisha Williams.

In addition to volunteering Master Gardeners got to ride along on the wagons and attend the educational sessions.We learned about Intensive Pine Management for Aesthetics, Wildlife Openings and Management, Hardwoods and Prescribed Burning, and Longleaf Pine Management. The highlight of the tour was the Landowner Objective and History session given by property owner Foots Parnell, the sixth generation to own the property. He talked with us about his family history with the property and the steps he has implemented to grow pine trees and manage for wildlife. We also toured his weekend home.

The Chilton Natural Resources Council did a great job with the Fall Landowner Tour and those of us that attended encourage anyone interested in forests and wildlife to attend a future tour.

Photo Credit: Gay West & Trisha Williams

October CCMGA Meeting

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The Chilton County Master Gardeners met on October 10 and learned about Growing Succulents from Barbara Witt. Barbara is a member of Capital City Master Gardeners of Montgomery and has a lifelong interest in succulents, her favorite one being the Haworthia genesis.  This group consist of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa. One of the most well known succulents is called Hens and Chicks.  Others that many of us are familiar with are Kalanchoe and sedums. Some categories of succulents are hardy in our zone and others are not. We learned that many succulents do not grow well in our humid climate but make great houseplants. The biggest problem with growing succulents is that many people over water them; they should dry completely between watering. Did you know that to propagate you need to let the leaf stem form a callus before planting?

Elizabeth York,  Trisha Williams and Sondra Henley shared information from  gardening conferences that they attended this Fall: Cut and Color Seminar by Capital City MGA in Pike Road, AL and Fall Gardening Extravaganza by Tallapoosa MGA IN Alexander City, Al.  Harriet Jackson told us about Autauga County Master Gardeners touring our Demo Garden and the Chilton Research and Extension Center.

Congratulations to Debbie Housner for completing requirements for Master Gardener certification. Larry Jones, Robin Cagle, Lattie Hardy and Spencer Hardy  have also completed requirements but were not able to attend the meeting.

Photo credit: Elizabeth York

 

Fall Gardening Extravaganza

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Chilton County Master Gardeners Trisha Williams, Sondra Henley,  and Harriett Jackson attended the Fall Gardening Extravaganza hosted on September 29th by the Tallapoosa County Extension Office and Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners.  Chris VanCleave, “The Redneck Rosarian” spoke about “Roses for the Real World”.  “Slow Gardening” was presented by Felder Rushing who is always a treat to hear. We learned about “Old Daffodils in Alabama Gardens” from Sara L. Van Beck. Then Carol Reese, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension presented her program “Take a Walk on the Wild Side”.  This was a great event filled with learning and fellowship with other Master Gardeners from around the state.

Have you tried gardening in the back of your truck? Felder Rushing says you can garden anywhere–even at 81 miles per hour! Check out his truck and don’t miss the bottle trees.

Photo credit: Trisha Williams