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Our 2020 MG Class got started yesterday with 20 enrollees! We are so excited about the vitality and interest of this group. I’m sure we will learn as much from them as they do from us. Stay tuned!
Meet Our 2020 MG Class
Announcements
President’s Letter
Well…We made it through another year! Before getting into 2020, I would like to thank the 2019 Officers and the Board for their service, you are very much appreciated!
As we start this new year, let’s not forget who we are… As it states in our MG Handbook, we are trained volunteers serving as educators in our communities. Ask yourself “where can I be of service?” So, let’s look around and see what community projects we can find. That will be our challenge for the year.
So…moving forward we have a lot to be excited about. Now that we have established a relationship with Thorsby Elementary School we will continue participating in a Spring and Fall planting with the 3rd grade classes. As with any new relationship there have been growing pains, but with each year that relationship will grow stronger.
We will be having our plant sale in April, and plan on this being an annual fundraiser for us. With any new event it will take time to establish in the community and, again, we will feel some growing pains but I’m sure in no time Chilton County will look forward to this event every year. Once again, it will take all of us to participate and make this a success. I want to thank you now for your help, your patience and your plants that you have donated to make this happen.
I will end by saying we may not all agree all the time, but one thing we can agree on, we are all dedicated to the success of CCMGA, and it takes ALL of us to make this Association successful.
Susan M Cleckler
President
Chilton County Master Gardeners
All About Gourds
For the first meeting of 2020, Chilton County Master Gardeners were treated to a program about gourds presented by Mack Gothard, President of the Alabama Gourd Society. Fellow ALGS member, James Stone, assisted Mack with the presentation. Tips on growing, harvesting and drying gourds were discussed. Gourds can be decorated in any way one can imagine using paint, woodburning, carving and more. Mack says the gourd “tells” you what it is and his usually become chickens! Many gourd varieties were on display as well as decorated gourds and musical instruments made from gourds.
March Gourd Madness will be held March 20 and 21 at the Chilton Performing Arts Center. http://www.marchgourdmadness.com
The Alabama Gourd Show will be held in Cullman in October. http://www.alabamagourdsociety.org
Mack Gothard Gourds come in all sizes! Assistant James Stone Beautiful, unusual examples Chicken gourds Strawberry gourds Eagle and watermelon gourds! Such talent! V. Pres. Charla Doucett presents speaker’s gift
2019 Christmas Luncheon and Dirty Santa
Our December meeting was held at the Barn at Petals from the Past. We had a short business meeting, presented Golda Thomas with her MG certificate, enjoyed a delicious Pot Luck Christmas Luncheon, then concluded with many of us playing Dirty Santa. There was a lot of stealing going on as you can tell from the photos in this slideshow . We look forward every year to this get together and just relaxing and having fun!
2019 Christmas Home Tour
The Chilton County Master Gardeners 2019 Christmas Home Tour is now history. But what a Tour it was!! Records were broken in the number of tickets sold.
Speaking of history, the Tour this year was held in the historic town of Verbena, Alabama. The tour included the homes of Pat Barefield, Vivian & Dalvin Johnson, Elaine & Arnold McDaniel, Janine & Chris Speaks and Verbena United Methodist Church. Each of these locations has its own piece of Verbena history. Many guests had grown up in the area or had relatives in Verbena. Other guests were most interested in seeing the homeowners’ various decorating styles. Each house and the Church had its own style of decoration, each unique and beautiful. Guests surely gained great ideas for their own seasonal decorating.
CCMGA is grateful to the people of Verbena for the excitement and exceptional cooperation displayed. With every Christmas Home Tour, one of the best parts is the new friendships we establish. This year was no different! Thanks to all the Master Gardeners, the homeowners, and Verbena United Methodist Church for making this event such a great success!
Article by Alice Broome
Photos by Audrey Giles
Congratulations Sondra Henley!
Sondra Henley has become our association’s first master gardener to obtain her Advanced Master Gardener Certification. Her advanced certification subject is Composting. In order to become certified, Sondra developed and completed a plan of specific requirements which included continuing education, volunteer time and presentations. This effort takes lots of self-motivation and commitment. Congratulations Sondra Henley!
Dr. Mitchell and Camellias
Our Chilton County Master Gardeners enjoyed an educational talk on “The Camellia, Celebrate the State Flower” presented by Dr. Charles Mitchell. Dr Mitchell is known to most Master Gardeners in this state as the Soils teacher for the MG Program. Recently retired from Auburn University, he still teaches Master Gardener Soils classes and is very involved in the Auburn-Opelika Men’s Camellia Club. We learned about the origin of camellias and tips on caring and propagting them. The lovely blooms brought from his garden varied from white to pink to red and were a treat to see. The Auburn-Opelika Men’s Club has searched for camellias with names connected to Auburn and have also named a few in honor of Auburn University. “Sweet Auburn” was named by the club and was given as a door prize to one lucky MG.
Our elections were held and congratulations go to our new 2020 Officers:
President: Susan Cleckler
Vice-President: Charla Doucet
Treasurer: Audrey Giles
Secretary: Elizabeth York
Fair Judging
Six Chilton County Master Gardeners along with three St. Clair County Master Gardeners spent November 4 judging Shelby County Fair entries. What fun it is to see and judge the entries: photographs, paintings, ceramics, sewing, quilts, crochet, knitting, canned vegetables, jellies, produce, plants and more. Items were entered by adults, senior adults and children in three age categories. Best of all was taste testing the baked goods including cakes, pies, and cookies. The most difficult part is selecting the Best of Show! Photos by Susan Cleckler
Elmore County MG Interns visit Demo Garden
On October 17, the Elmore County Master Gardener Intern class visited the Chilton County Demonstration Garden. On hand to share information and answer questions were Master Gardeners Harriett Jackson, Sondra Henley, and Betsy Smith. Also present was one of the first to sign up for our 2020 Master Gardener Class, Gail Brooks. Photos by Betsy Smith
Working hard pays off!
Chilton County Master Gardeners are pretty proud of their accomplishment of hosting the 2019 AMGA Conference this past May at Clanton Performing Arts Center. They worked hard, learned a lot, and had a “little” left over at the end! Photo by Audrey GIles.
