Don’t forget our plant sale, April 13 at Goose Pond Park!
Announcements
March Gardening Activities
Daffodils, forsythia and flowering quince are among the flowers making an appearance this month. For some of us they may have started blooming in mid to late February.
FLOWERING QUINCE
- Fruits and Nuts–Continue strawberry and grape plantings. Start planting blackberries.
- Bulbs–Plant cannas, amaryllis, gladiolus and zephyranthes in South Alabama; delay planting a few weeks in North Alabama.
- Shrubs–Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias) according to a soil test. Plant transplants. Watch shrubs for harmful insects.
- Lawns–Fertilize established lawns.
- Roses–Watch new growth for aphids. Begin a spray or dust program. Begin fertilizing.
- Vegetable plants– Plant cabbage, onions, lettuce, broccoli and Brussels sprouts in North Alabama, and plant tomatoes and peppers in lower South Alabama
Source: Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Alabama Gardening Calendar
Awards and More
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!
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.
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!!
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.
Trisha Williams presented the STARS awards for volunteer service
BRONZE STARS 100-299 hours)
Bobby Atkinson, Amy Baker, Margariette Hoomes(absent)
SILVER STARS (300-499)
Leslie Durham, Peggy McGraw, Hugh Nichols, Susan Parkerson (absent) Kerry Rush
GOLD STARS (500-999)
Clem Clapp, Judy Cobb, Cheryl Herbster, Ronald Herbster (absent)
DIAMOND STAR (8000-9999)
Trisha Williams
Certificates were presented for:
TOP INTERN HOURS: Bobby Atkinson:
TOP CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS: Lyn Webb (absent)
THIRD PLACE VOLUNTEER HOURS: Hugh Nichols
SECOND PLACE VOLUNTEER HOURS: Pat Farmer
FIRST PLACE VOLUNTEER HOURS: Harriett Jackson
PROJECT OF THE YEAR: Clanton Recreation Center Phase II
For the first time there was a tie for MASTER GARDENER OF THE YEAR! Congratulations goes to Lanell Baker and Hugh Nichols❗️❗️
We also want to give a BIG shout out to our HOSPITALITY TEAM! They always do a great job with the decorations and delicious food❗️❗️
Congratulations to our award winners and a huge thank you to all our Master Gardener volunteers for all they do!
These are just a few of our members that helped make 2023 a great year!!
A New Year
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.
Christmas Time in Master Gardener World
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
The Gift of Herbs: Our November Program
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
October Meeting
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!
Native Plant Conservation
Patrick Thompson, the Curator of the Davis Arboretum at Auburn University and Coordinator of the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance was our September speaker. He spoke to us about the importance of conserving our native species and establishing more sites where these plants can thrive. Alabama and Chilton County have many plants that are specific to us and are worthy of saving. One plant, the Alabama Canebreak Pitcher Plant, has only been found in Chilton and Autauga counties and only at eight sites. Our local CCMGA Conservation Group will be working to propagate some of the threatened plants and to provide educational programs to the public.
Square Foot Gardening
Our July speaker was Henry Lucas from Capitol City Master Gardeners who presented a program on ‘Square Foot Gardening’. Gardening using this technique saves space and results in less weeding, less watering and less less work. He recommended the book ‘All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition by Mel Bartholomew and an online course at: http://www.SquareFootGardening.com These resources will provide information on building beds, how to plant and what to do and not do in a Square Foot garden. Thank you, Mr. Lucas for a great program on how to plant in a small footprint!
CCMGA will hold plant sales at the Chilton Research and Extension Center on the days the CREC is selling fruit or vegetables.
Happy July Birthday to Gail Brooks, Clem Clapp, Jimmy Knowles, Claire Sluyterman van Loo and Lyn Webb.
Our New Conservation Group
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.
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