August CCMGA Meeting

Posted on August 20, 2017October 8, 2017 by trisha

At the August CCMGA meeting Judy Cobb received her Master Gardener Certificate and her Master Gardener Badge. We congratulate Judy on completing the requirements for certification and welcome her to our association.

Regional Extension Agent for Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources, Andrew Baril, talked with us about methods for controlling moles, voles, gophers, raccoons, deer and other pests in the garden. He told us about traps, controlling the environment and just accepting an acceptable amount of loss. Although we were all waiting on a magic way to repel deer, Andy said the best method is double fencing or electric fencing designed for deer.

Sprucing up Extension Office flower beds

Posted on July 26, 2017October 15, 2018 by trisha

SPRUCING UP EXTENSION OFFICE FLOWER BEDS

The Chilton County Extension Office recently had a new, larger sign installed. Fifteen liriope plants had to be removed to make room for installation of the sign. These same plants were re-planted after being cleaned of the dichondra that had invaded the bed. Other maintenance included weeding the beds, adding a thick layer of newspapers for mulch, and pruning the Guara lindheimeri “Whirling Butterflies” and Knock Out roses. All beds received a fresh layer of pine straw. Thanks to Chilton County Master Gardeners (left to right) Diane Clapp, Wally Walters, Alice Broome, Sondra Henley, Susan Cleckler, Larry Jones, and Lee Walters for arriving at 7 AM and sprucing up the Extension Sign flower bed and the other front beds. Photo and article provided by Sondra Henley.

July CCMGA Meeting

Posted on July 15, 2017July 15, 2017 by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners presented certificates and badges to Elaine Webb, Sherry Ray and Faye C. Collins this month. We congratulate them on completing requirements for MG certification.

Our program this month was presented by Central Alabama Master Gardeners Lee and Amanda Borden. Amanda has earned her Master Gardener advanced certification in organic home vegetable gardening and Lee has earned his in organic home fruit and nut production. They practice sustainable farming on their farm in Elmore County. Their program was about fall vegetable gardening: what, when and how to plant a fall vegetable garden. The program was a timely reminder to get our fall gardens started and extend our growing season!

Speakers Lee and Amanda Borden — Lee and Amanda Borden

June CCMGA Meeting

Posted on June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardens enjoyed the June program presented by Central Alabama MG and horticulturist Jane McCarthy on efforts to create a historically correct garden at the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery. The first step was to educate the inmate workers that help with the gardening. Cleaning the garden and a lot of renewal pruning was done. Her group is trying to ID existing plants, create a plan and plant with emphasis on plants that would be historically correct. Jane is also involved in the Old Alabama Town Herb Society and the creation of Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park. All the projects are in progress. She invited us to set up a tour of the Governor’s Mansion garden and she would even welcome us to her personal garden.

The highlight of our meeting was the presentation of badges and certificates to three interns that have met the requirements to become certified Master Gardeners. Congratulations to Joyce Lawson, Susan Cleckler, and Donna Babin!

Article and photos by Trisha Williams

Ebenezer Swamp Tour

Posted on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 by trisha

On May 25th, several of the Chilton County Master Gardeners went on a guided tour of the University of Montevallo’s Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve. Our guide, Mike Hardig, Department Chair at UM, discussed the history and importance of swamps as he walked the boardwalk with us. He pointed out the native trees and plants and told us no visit to the swamp was complete unless you spot a snake and we did!

Mike showed us plants native to the swamp including Tupelo gum trees, sycamore trees, Lizard’s Tail, Swamp Dogwood, Arum, Virginia Sweetspire, Leatherflower(native clematis) among others. He told us that the swamp is home to water moccasins, timber rattlesnakes, copperheads, beavers, turkey, and deer.

The swamp is used by UM for hands on science classes. It also features abstract sculptures of a frog, a heron and a dragonfly made from recycled steel by students in UM art classes.
Article and photos by Trisha Williams

Lizard's Tail is a white blooom that looks like a tail — Lizard’s Tail

CCMGA members and Mike Hardig, tour guide — CCMGA members and guide Mike Hardig

Frog sculpture made by Montevallo students — Frog Sculpture made by Montevallo students

Native clematis with bell shaped lavendar flower — Leather Flower (Native Clematis)

5 members on Ebenezer Swamp tour — Sue Webb and members

Swamp Dogwood with a cluster of white blooms — Swamp Dogwood

May Plant Swap

Posted on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 by trisha

Chilton County Master Gardeners held their annual Plant Swap on May 9th at the home of Lee and Wally Walters on Lake Mitchell. The weather was perfect for our meeting and lunch on the patio overlooking the lake. We enjoyed BBQ pork provided by our hosts and side dishes and desserts our members brought. We drew numbers to swap plants and had a great variety of plants to share including tomatoes, ginger lilies, daisies and daffodil bulbs. As usual we all went home with lots of new plants for our gardens. Now to convince someone to dig those holes–oh, I guess that is me! A huge thank you goes to the Walters for hosting our Plant Swap this year.

Master Gardeners hold plant swap — 2017 Plant Swap

Master Gardeners attend plant swap — 2017 Plant Swap at Lee and Wally Walters house on Lake Mitchell

M.G.'s have plant swap — Members enjoying Plant Swap

Photos and article by Trisha Williams

AMGA Conference

Posted on May 6, 2017May 6, 2017 by trisha

On May 1-3 several Chilton County Master Gardeners attended the Alabama Master Gardener Association Conference at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Jackson Center in Huntsville. Classes included Ferns, Orchids, Roses, Hummingbirds, Landscape Design and Miniature Landscapes. We especially enjoyed Traditional Folk Herbalism, Seeds of the South (Heirloom Seeds) and Protecting our Pollinators. Some of our group also made a Papercrete planter. This year the conference included a Seed Swap for the first time and we were able to select some seeds that were new to us. Of course no conference is complete without great vendors with lots of plants and unusual crafts.
Article and photos by Trisha Williams

CCMGA interns at 2017 Conference — Faye Collins, James Talley, & Judy Cobb

CCMGA members at 2017 Conference — Pat, Faye, and Rick

Kaul Wildflower Garden Tour

Posted on April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 by trisha

John Manion, Director of the Kaul Wildflower Garden at the Birmingham Botanicals Gardens, led a guided tour of the gardens for several Chilton County Master Gardeners on April 20. He told us of the history and construction of the Kaul Wildflower Garden and shared great information on native plants and stories that go with many of them. He has started an area of eight plants that are only found in the wild at the Bibb County Glades. We learned the difference between the Bigleaf Magnolia and the Ashe Magnolia, two native deciduous magnolias. Some of the native plants we learned about included Indian pink, trillium, May apples, ferns, yellow root, bluebells, Mt. Laurel, climbing hydrangea and many more. Our group also visited many other areas of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and enjoyed lunch on the terrace. Many thanks go to Sue Webb for planning this tour and for providing the delicious chicken salad sandwiches. Attending were Catherine Williams, Essie Edel, Harriett Jackson, Sue Webb, Sondra Henley, Dianne Clapp, Trisha Williams, and Bonnie and Bill Hairrell. Photos and article by Trisha Williams.

native shrub covered with white cluster blooms — Mt. Laurel

Wildflower fire pink at wildflower garden — Fire Pink

Magnolia ashe in wildflower garden with large white bloom — Ashe Magnolia

Amsonia at wildflower garden.small blue flower clusters — Wild Amsonia

May apple at wildflower gardens — May Apple

Pitcher plant at wildflower garden — Pitcher Plant

Tour of wildflower garden — Touring the gardens

Master Gardeners tour wildflower gardens — CCMGA members and intern on tour

April Master Gardener Meeting

Posted on April 16, 2017April 16, 2017 by trisha

Jason Powell at April meeting with Sue Webb

Chilton County Master Gardeners met at Petals From the Past in April and thirteen of our Master Gardener Class members joined us. Jason Powell presented a program on Tough as Nails Plants for the Southern Garden. He discussed bulbs that bloom in spring or summer, lose their foliage, survive in place and reappear the next year. Reseeding annuals drop their seeds and need no care through the summer. He also discussed some tough roses, perennials and shrubs that can withstand drought conditions. Photo by Trisha Williams

June Mays Garden Tour

Posted on April 11, 2017April 11, 2017 by trisha

In early April Chilton County Master Gardeners had the pleasure of a guided tour of June Mays’ garden in Mt. Brook. June is a retired landscape designer, author and speaker. Her garden starts in the parking area and covers every part of her property. From the driveway our eyes followed the line of the driveway to an arbor covered with Lady Banks roses. Gravel pathways meander throughout the property and lead to special features such as a small water feature, a bench to enjoy the garden, or the potting shed. There was even a muscadine arbor and two raised vegetable beds. June has included many native plants such a blood root, sweet shrub, partridge berry, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, and May apples. We could tell that she is a plant lover from the variety of plants she has included, many that are unusual cultivars. We enjoyed hearing her say that she had moved plants because they did not do well where she first planted them–seems that all gardeners do that! She also told us of her garden challenges that included the recent loss of a large shade tree. She was in the process of recreating that area of the garden. The shade was gone and and many plants were damaged. We really enjoyed our visit with June Mays and her garden. Photos and article by Trisha Williams