Lunch and Learn

Posted on May 3, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Native Perennials by Dr. Sue Webb

Our Lunch and Learn for April 27th was held at the Chilton County Extension Office and was all about Native Perennials. The program was brought to us by one of our members, Dr. Sue Webb, who has a doctorate in Microbiology and is a graduate of the Native Plant Certification Program at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She brought several samples of native flowers that populate Alabama and told all about growing native perennials for a beautiful, easy garden .
We will host a Lunch and Learn the 4th Wednesday of each month from 12-1:00. This month will be “Daylilies” by Trisha Williams and Audrey Giles, June will be “Salad Bowl Gardening” by Harriett Jackson, July will be “Organic Gardening” by Bill Blackwell, August TBA, September “Starting Seeds” by Lanell Baker, the rest of the year TBA. Call the Extension Office at 280-6268 to reserve your spot, seating is limited.

Sue Webb presented program on Native plants — Native Perennials

group at Native perennials class — Lunch and Learn

Sue Webb teching class on Native Plants — Sue Webb

Fundraiser at Antiques in the Garden

Posted on May 3, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Fun with Fundraisers

Chilton County Master Gardeners’ first fundraiser of 2016 was a booth at Antiques in the Garden held at Petals from the Past on April 22-23rd. There were many handmade crafts including hod baskets, hypertufa planters, vine wreaths, gardening towels, planter chairs, birdhouses, and many other interesting items. This was our first time to use this venue as a fundraiser, and I think it’s a keeper! The weather turned out to be beautiful, even though several members got drenched setting up in a downpour!

2 members selling crafts — Margaret Goolsby and Alice Broome

2 members at Petals of the Past fundraiser — Harriett Jackson and Kimberly Lyn

4 master gardens at the craft sale — Lanell Baker, Jackie Hickman, Audrey Giles, and Harriett Jackson

April Meeting

Posted on April 15, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Anita McGee, our new hospitality chairman, set the theme for this month’s refreshments as Japanese, and was very well done, thanks to Anita McGee and Alice Broome. Jane Mason gave an summary of Japanese culture. Sondra Henley presented the program for April on keyhole gardening, which is one of the types of gardens included in the Demo Garden redesign project.

Demonstration Garden

Posted on April 14, 2016August 15, 2016 by audrey

The Demo Garden is open year round and is located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center on Highway 29 in Clanton. The garden’s main event is the Farm, Home and Wildlife Expo held the first Saturday in August. Master Gardeners strive to maintain its beauty and variety of plants all year. Currently the Demonstration Garden is undergoing a major redesign, led by V.P. Sondra Henley. Check out the calendar for scheduled days for volunteer opportunities. Your help is always welcome!

new sod for Demo Garden — New sod in Demo Garden

garden bed filled with rocks and sedum and succulents — Rick Miller’s rock garden

demo garden volunteers — Early morning crew

Crafting for Antiques in the Garden

Posted on April 11, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Antiques in the Garden

group putting hod baskets together for craft sale — Craft Days for Antiques in the Garden

Many of the Master Gardener members have been busy on Wednesday’s at Sondra Henley’s Craft Day. She has been hosting this in her garage for several weeks in preparation for the first fundraiser for 2016. Antiques in the Garden will be held at Petals from the Past in Jemison April 22 and 23, 2016.

Making grapevines into wreath — Pat Farmer and Sondra Henley making wreath baskets

collection of crafts for sale — Crafts for Antiques in the Garden

crating hypertufa posts for sale — Making Hypertufa pots

What’s a Chick Chain?

Posted on April 6, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Chilton-Coosa 4-H Chick Chain

By Pat Farmer

Chilton and Coosa counties in conjunction with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and Alabama 4-H sponsor a program each spring for 4-H members between the ages of 9 – 18 years called Chick Chain.

Participates receives 10 baby chicks (5 each of two breeds), and they have to take care of them for about 21 weeks. They are taught how to house and feed the baby chicks. Two of our members, Jerry and Pat Farmer assist Josine Walter, the ACES 4-H Regional Agent and other ACES staff members in handing out the 2 day old chicks (500+). They also go on many farm visits during the summer to check on the progress of the chicks.

The 4-H participants learn several things during the time of raising their chicks: how to produce healthy chickens, recordkeeping skills, poultry management skills, business management and they also achieved a sense of pride and accomplishment in a job well done.

Jr. Master Gardener Day

Posted on April 5, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Junior MG group of children leaning about gardening

On March 29th, several Chilton County Master Gardener members participated in a Jr. MG’s in Training Day held at Chilton Research & Extension Center. Josine Walter, ACES 4-H Regional Extension Agent held the workshop/training day in preparation for our organization starting a Jr. Master Gardener program in Chilton County. We really hope we can get this program up and running in the near future.

Master Gardeners teaching Propagation — Teaching Propogation

Jr. MG making Chia pets — Making rye grass Chia Pets

learning to make Chia Pets and showing them off — We all made Chia Pets

group of junior mg at Demo Garden — Demo Garden Tour

Group of children and MGs touring CREC — Orchards Tour

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Posted on April 1, 2016January 22, 2023 by audrey

When Strawberries are ripe and readily available there’s nothing like Sure-Jell’s very easy low sugar recipe for:
Strawberry Freezer Jam
You may also find the recipe in the Sure-Jell box.
It is the closest thing to fresh strawberries! Just thaw and enjoy on a hot biscuit or even on a bowl of ice cream!

Picture provided by Audrey Giles

Beekeeper’s Symposium

Posted on February 10, 2016April 16, 2016 by audrey

Several Master Gardeners helped with the 21st Annual Alabama Cooperative Extension Beekeeping Symposium held Saturday, Feb. 6 at Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center. This is one of the many events that the Master Gardeners assist Gay West and the Extension office with throughout the year.

Beekeepers Symposium volunteers — Master Gardeners at registration

volunteers at symposium — Gail Foster, Linda Hays, & Ann Baker

Installing Irrigation In Demo Garden

Posted on February 10, 2016April 16, 2016 by audrey

On Saturday, February 5th, Alabama Landscape Creations of Jemison, AL, arrived at the newly redesigned Demonstration Garden located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, which is managed by the Chilton County Master Gardeners. Jacob Boozer and Bill Lovelace with Alabama Landscape Creations met with the CCMGA members to install an irrigation system.

Alabama Landscape Creations has over 14 years of experience offering a full service landscape business, specializing in natural stone work, paver patios and walkways, landscaping, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, and aquatic gardens. Jake Beardon, owner of Alabama Landscape Creations, has not only served his customers well, but has given back to the community by donating the irrigation system, several large boulders, and a lava rock to the Chilton County Master Gardener Association.