October “Gardening in Small Spaces”

Posted on October 12, 2018October 16, 2018 by audrey

Our program this month was presented by Mr. Glenn Huovinen. Mr. Houvinen, a Master Gardener in Autauga County, is working on his Advanced Master Gardener certification in “Gardening in Small Spaces”. His program was very informative, outlining the process of drawing a plan, getting a soil test, deciding what you like to eat and want to grow, and whether to grow in a raised bed or containers. He also explained about hooking up a rain barrel to your gutter system to help with watering. Mr. Huovinen talked about how to air prune and irrigate pots. He even touched on the art of Espalier for growing fruit trees, since this is a very space saving technique. I think everyone enjoyed his program on Gardening in Small Spaces.

Autauga County is partnering with Chilton County, along with Shelby County, to host the AMGA Conference at the Clanton Performing Arts Center in May 2019. Mr. Huovinen set up our scrolling banner displaying the activities and speakers we have lined up for the Conference. He talked about the great venue for the conference without having to change rooms or choose which speaker you want to hear.

We are excited and working hard on getting everything scheduled and set up. We have some excellent speakers, one being Joe Lamp’l from the television series “Growing a Greener World”, which is an award-winning PBS series. He was also host of Fresh from the Garden on DIY Network, and has been on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and the Weather Channel. The Conference is open to the public, but you must pre-register to attend. Registration starts in January, more information will follow.

An Unexpected Gift

Posted on September 12, 2018September 15, 2018 by audrey

Our September 11 meeting was well attended. Martha Thornburg, who was a Chilton County Master Gardener a few years ago, dropped by to give us some of Ms. Jewel Robinson’s poppy seeds that she has religiously saved over the years. Many of us remember Ms. Jewel, and a JEWEL she was! She was just an amazing woman who could garden, cook, and work circles around most of us! And she was known for old fashioned poppies. Thank you, Martha for such a wonderful gift! Other guests included Nelson Wynn, our ACES regional agent, and Diane Clapp’s husband, Clem Clapp.
Our program today was presented by our own Rick Miller. Rick has relatives in Southeast Asia and has visited there twice in the past two years. He has many photos, so he presented a PowerPoint of all the many wonderful places he visited while there, and of course, many beautiful flowers! Thanks, Rick, it was a very interesting program.

Year Round Color in the Garden

Posted on August 27, 2018November 6, 2018 by audrey

Chilton County Master Gardeners met August 14 for their monthly meeting. Gay West, Chilton County Extension Coordinator, visited to announce 2 upcoming workshops that the Chilton County Extension office will be hosting. Dr. Robert Tubbs from Montgomery is having two business seminars on September 5 at the Alabama Power Conference Center. The first one is “Should I be a Business Entity: Which One?” starting at 9:00 AM until noon. The second is “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” starting at 1:30 until 4:40 PM. There is a $15.00 charge for each seminar, so call and reserve your spot. For more information please call the CCEO, 205-280- 6268.

Another guest was Derric Scott, a member of the Sesquicentennial Celebration committee. Mr. Scott talked about all the events coming in October to celebrate Chilton County’s 150 birthday. These celebrations will be held October 21-27, 2018.

Our program was presented by Terese Goodson. Terese is from Montgomery, AL and is the current Alabama/Mississippi Daylily Society President. She is a retired educator and she and her husband farmed beet cattle for 40 years. She became a Master Gardener in 2012. She gave a very colorful and interesting program on plants that you can use in your landscape that will provide year around color. She shared a “Bloom Times” chart by Anne Waldo showing when many plants will be blooming during the year for this area. She also brought many plants from her own garden to show color and texture.

We had a total of 35 present.

Update on 4-H Jr. M.G. project at YMCA

Posted on July 9, 2018July 12, 2018 by audrey

The children at the YMCA have kept the garden they planted a few weeks ago weeded and watered. They have picked yellow crookneck squash, eggplants, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and dill. The pole beans they planted are not big enough to harvest yet. When Harriett Jackson was there recently, they had vegetables in the kitchen to prepare and cook so they could taste what was grown in their garden.

The Master Gardeners that worked with the children on this project were Pat Farmer, John Wallace, Joyce Lawson, Jackie Hickman, Robin Cagle and Harriett Jackson.

Update on the Library Patio Project

Posted on June 3, 2018 by audrey

In the spring of 2015, one of the Master Gardeners was approached by some of the library personnel about redoing the landscape of the library patio. The request was voted on by the Board and the work was done. Several members helped with the work. Also one member donated flowers she had started from seed, and another bought and donated a wall water fountain for the patio. Recently I went by and checked on the outdoor reading room (that’s what they call it). I’m happy to say all was alive and well! The fountain was working with water flowing through it. There were 2 hanging baskets of blooming red geraniums and pots of red begonias on the tables. I found out there is a volunteer from Maplesville who donates her time one day a week. She has added a raised bed for vegetables and pots of tomatoes and cucumbers. My hat’s off to all the ones who have made good use of the outdoor reading room. It looks great! Below are NOW (top photos) and THEN photos.

A collage of library project before photos

May Plant Swap

Posted on June 1, 2018 by audrey

Our May Meeting and Plant Swap was held at Chilton Research and Extension Center at 120 County Road 756, Clanton, 35045. Autauga and Shelby County members were invited to attend. Michael Thomason, who is the Vice President of AMGA this year, was our speaker. Mr. Thomason spoke about the planning and organizing of the 2019 AMGA Conference, which is being hosted by Chilton County Master Gardener Association. He compared it to putting a puzzle together, the progress, the completion of the puzzle, and enjoying the fruits of your labor when your done. He commended CCMGA for the progress and efficiency of the planning done so far.

Our guest included our speaker Michael Thomason from Shoals MGA and Extension Regional Agent II Nelson Wynn. Other guests included Kate Vogel, Merle Schukoske, Myra Healy, and Heidee Vansant from Shelby County and Ofie McCoy, Tim McCoy, Lanell Tatum, Patti Teel, Cheri Cook, and Lee Thomas from Autauga County. Everyone enjoyed the food and fellowship. We had a total of 44 present.

Planting Downtown Jemison

Posted on May 15, 2018 by audrey

Master Gardeners planted 55 baskets and 22 planters for the City of Jemison on Thursday, May 10. Over the course of 2 days, baskets were lined and plant material was divided along with the planting of the flowers.

Master Gardeners Diane Clapp, Alice Brooms, Robin Cagle, Debbie Housner, Rick Miller, Alan Reed, Lee and Wally Walters, Harriett Jackson, Linda Hays and Sondra Henley were the worker bees for this spring project. Photo by Robin Cagle.

Cement planter in Jemison with pink and white flowers

Hummingbird Cake

Posted on May 12, 2018December 11, 2021 by audrey

Here’s another cake recipe that was requested at the 2018 May Plant Swap.

Hummingbird Cake

* 3 c. all-purpose flour
* 2 c. sugar
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. baking soda
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 1/4 c. vegetable oil
* 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
* 2 c. mashed bananas
* 1-8 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained
* 2 c. toasted, chopped pecans, divided

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 3 – 9” cake pans. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, add beaten eggs and oil; stir just until dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Do not beat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, and bananas. Spoon batter equally into prepared cake pans. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until done (toothpick stuck in middle comes out clean). Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto paper towels spread on counter, cool completely before icing. Spread cream cheese Continue reading “Hummingbird Cake” →

Members Attend the 2018 AMGA Conference

Posted on May 6, 2018 by audrey

The ALabama Master Gardener Association Annual Conference was held May 3,4, and 5th at the Sheraton in Birmingham. Several Chilton County Master Gardeners attended. They got the word out about the 2019 AMGA Conference which their Association is hosting at the Clanton Performing Arts Center. They had a display table set up with pamphlets for the conference and a rolling banner displaying the conference logo and activities that will be going on. They expect to have a great turnout of Master Gardeners from all over the state for the 2019 AMGA Conference, which will be held May 8, 9, and 10th, 2019 in the heart of Alabama, 🍑🍑 country, Chilton County❗

Photos by Susan Cleckler and Trisha Williams

Intern Classes Tour Demo Garden

Posted on May 3, 2018May 4, 2018 by audrey

On Thursday, April 26, the Chilton County Master Gardeners welcomed Mallory Kelly and her intern class from Lee and Montgomery counties as they visited the CREC and CCMGA demo garden. Despite the rain and chilly breeze, the interns toured the CREC by wagon and then visited our demo garden. Harriett Jackson, Susan Cleckler, and Alice Broome enjoyed meeting the group, telling them the history of the garden and showing them the various plant beds. The interns were very complimentary of the garden and showed much interest in the designing of the beds, and plant identifications. As usual, the mutual enthusiasm of gardening led to many sharing new tidbits related to their own experiences. We look forward to a return visit from this great group!

Article by Alice Broome

Photos by Susan Cleckler