Congratulations MG Class

Due to the Covid-19 Stay at Home order, the 2020  Chilton County Master Gardener class members have been studying and completing tests on the remaining class topics at home. Once we can hold classes again we will reschedule the remaining classes. We look forward to the time when they can join our association members in MG and Extension activities and complete certification requirements. Congratulations to Patricia Agee, Gail Brooks, Linda Church, Joan Crocker, Julie Garris, Sharon Hosch, Peggy McGraw, Ruby Moberg, Jane Rabey and Jim Rabey for completing and passing all their tests!

Wonderful Japanese Maples

Japanese maples, what a wonderful topic for a rainy March day! Our speaker for our Chilton County Master Gardener meeting was David Doggett, a Jefferson County Master Gardener and volunteer at Aldridge Gardens, who grows over 70 cultivars of Japanese maples at his home in Irondale. He discussed choosing a site, selecting a variety, companion plants and planting. David has donated and planted 51 (48 cultivars) Japanese maples at Aldridge Gardens.

There are cultivars to meet the needs of most gardeners: small or taller, upright or weeping, fine leaved or more coarse, textured leaves or smooth. Colors often vary from season to season but include reds, pinks, light greens, apricot, yellow, darker greens and more.

Weed Science and Propagation

Our Master Gardener Intern class on March 4 started with a visit from Renee Thompson,  ACES Outreach Coordinator for the Harvest For Health program. She told us a little bit about the program and how she loves working with the people involved in it. For more information about this amazing program, go to https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/harvest-for-health-making-an-impact-on-cancer-survivors/

Our first speaker for the day was Shane Harris, Tallapoosa County Extension Coordinator, on Weed Science and Control. 

After lunch, Dr. Arlie Powell, owner of Petals from the Past, Ph.D. in Agriculture, University of FL, and former Auburn Professor, taught Propagation. Both speakers kept your attention! We also had Master Gardeners Lamar Giles and Karen Mims there auditing the classes. It’s always good to refresh your memory!

Growing Tomato Plants From Seeds

Master Gardener Lanell Baker did a short program February 26 on starting plants from seeds at the 2020 Intern Class. She did a hands on demonstration of transplanting tomato plants grown from seeds. She explained how to get them ready to plant outdoors. ‘Hardening off‘ is the process of gradually acclimatizing indoor-sown plants to outdoor conditions. For most plants, begin hardening off a week before the final frost date for your area. Water plants before they go outside.

Bethany O’Rear was the main speaker, teaching “Plant Care and Management Pruning.

Thanks, Gay West for these photos.

Master Gardener Lanell Baker
Bethany O’Rear teaches Plant Care and Management Pruning

Tree Giveaway

Brian Smith with the National Forestry Commission and members of the Chilton Natural Resources Council held the annual tree giveaway Tuesday in the City Hall parking lot. There to help and provide information on planting the trees was Chilton County Master Gardener Lamar Giles. Retired Director of Chilton Research and Extension Center Jim Pitts was also there. This event is one of the ways that Clanton keeps its certification as a Tree City USA.
Photos by Gay West.

Giving away trees at City Hall
Jim Pitts and LAMAR Giles at tree giveaway

Soils and Plant Nutrition

Our Feb. 19th speaker was Dr. Charles Mitchell, retired Ph.D., CCA, Professor Emeritus, Dep. Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University. Dr. Mitchell taught “Soils and Plant Nutrition” to our Master Gardener interns. His program is always very interesting and most informative. Thanks, Dr. Mitchell!!

The Interns paying attention!

Home Lawns, Ornamentals, and Invasive Plants

Our Master Gardener class on January 29 was a good one, with the morning session by Taylor Hatchett of Boozer Farms in Thorsby on “Home Lawns” and the afternoon session by Extension Agent Sallie Lee from Jefferson County on “Woody Ornamentals and Invasive Plants”. Thanks to both of these ladies for two very interesting classes!

Taylor Hatchett teaches Home Lawns
Taylor Hatchett from Boozer Farms teaching “Home Lawns”
The class was taking it all in!
Sallie Lee, Regional Extension Agent, Jefferson County, teaches “Woody Ornamentals and Invasive Plants”. Photo by Gay West.

Meet Our 2020 MG Class

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!

2020 Intern class group photo
Trisha Williams Facilitator
Mother-Daughter Interns from Wilsonville and Mountain Brook areas.
Intern Gail Brooks has been attending meetings and waiting on a MG Class since last year.

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