Chilton County Master Gardeners will present awards in December for Outstanding Service and Dedication, Top Hours, Top Recruiter and to Friends of Master Gardeners. Deadline for nominations is the November CCMGA meeting.  Nomination forms are available on this website.

The Look of Incredulity! You cannot imagine the look of incredulity on Mr. O.J. McGriff’s face when I declared that Privet is a wonderful plant which benefits all sorts of animals and the landscape if properly managed. I had just opened Bits and Bobs in January of 1993 and I had been tending the privet when O.J. and Martha came to visit the shop. With pruners in hand, I extolled the virtues of Chinese privet as a hedge, small tree and source of bird feed and switches for naughty children. Goodness, I had even seen darling bird houses built from the wood. During the spring, honeybees and people swoon over the heavenly fragrance of privet flowers. If you happen to know a beekeeper, he will welcome a bundle of rooted plants to placate his hungry bees. I have heard that an excellent honey is produced from the flowers of the privet. My 1993 attitude towards the cultivation of privet was colored by my experience with it as a little girl growing up in Bessemer, AL. My Mother had a beautiful hedge in front of the front porch. As far as I knew, she was able to keep it trimmed into a nice boxy structure which bordered the porch quite easily. There were never any problems with the privet hedge mentioned in my presence. Do you know that we should thank the Augusta National Golf Course for the privet bushes? When the course was built, the need for a wind screen arose. Experts decided that Chinese privet would be perfect and ordered ten bushes. The bushes were a perfect wind screen and perfectly covered the South with offspring. The other fond memory of that front porch was the kudzu trained on strings to form a privacy screen behind the privet hedge. Many a summer afternoon was spent in the front –porch swing enjoying the coolness that the kudzu screen provided. The tender spring leaves provided livestock with food and the deep roots and fast growing vines kept the fields from eroding. When I came back to Alabama as an adult, I could see that kudzu growth had gotten out of bounds. We had plenty of it encroaching on the Bits and Bobs’ building—and all around. My Dad made clearing it out of the old house I use as a shop interesting. He said, “You better watch; snakes love kudzu.” Every time I heard a rustle, I jumped to the ceiling until I had the walls, floors, and ceilings clean of the trailing vines. My British friend and helper took one look at the pliable vines and said, “In England, we take such vines and make wreaths and baskets. Such was the beginning of a great part of our stock for sale during the next few years. What a great way to rid the place of kudzu. In fact, there were times I asked Dick not to cut the grass until I reaped the vines. In other parts of the world, kudzu roots are used to make a thickener similar to arrowroot; the leaves are used for tea; the flowers which resemble wisteria clusters and smell like Grapico cola make jellies. Bamboo is also one of the blessings found on the property. At first, bamboo was a novelty for us; we had never seen so much growing so tall. We put some of the stalks to immediate use. Dick cut a few of the 20-footers and built a scaffold which we covered with fabric. This structure was erected just inside the front door of the shop to keep the plaster from falling on customers’ heads as they entered. Twenty years later, the bamboo scaffold is still standing. So is the bamboo patch. This year, the copious rainfall has enabled the bamboo to spread into new territory rapidly—faster than we can cut. I have encouraged anyone needing poles for any purpose to come and cut. So far, bamboo growth is outpacing the need for bean poles, fishing poles, plants, and all other possible uses including culinary. When the bamboo first sprouts from the soil, the heart can be cut out, steamed and eaten. I read this spring that sweet potato vines were toxic to bamboo plants. I have planted sweet potatoes that were blessed with eyes a-plenty; I have planted sweet potato vines purchased from LeCroy’s Greenhouse. I am waiting for the bamboo glade to diminish! If one could keep just a nice border of bamboo, I would relish having the supply. I have plans for wall-covering, sculptures, furniture, picture frames, etc. I read recently that bicycles were being built of bamboo in south Alabama. I have saved the address; I want to offer them a great crop free. On the days when I am out pulling up out-of-place plants (weeds to some), I see that almost any plant can be classed as invasive. Oaks sprout here as if they were willows. Winged elms wing their way into every grouping of shrubs. Virginia Creeper is trying to outdo the kudzu. Beauty Berry grows in the most inconvenient places—next to narrow walkways and entrances. Blue Rug Juniper is actually crawling over and covering an arbor without benefit of soil. Red buds and dogwoods are vying to see which will have the most seedlings. With enough time, pots, and soil for the pots, I could furnish several landscape businesses with plant stock. HELP! Editors note: Privet, Kudzu, and some Bamboos are on the list of Nonnative Invasive Plants Of Southern Forests.

I live on top of a mountain in a community called Bluff Park. It’s part of Vestavia, AL and included in the Shades Mountain area. I have two daughters; Leslie, a nurse and Paula, a school teacher. Between them, I have four grandsons; Jacob and Michae
l, graduates of University of Alabama and Sam an Eagle Scout and Scott, working on becoming an Eagle Scout.

I have lived on the same property for 50 years this October. And I have loved gardening since I was 4 years old. I remember digging up my grandparent’s yard making terrariums, complete with plants, creatures and a glass cover. I would say that I have been planting flowers all my life so I could pick them, having picked several neighbors yards while growing up! My mother was a wonderful gardener and was always doing something in the garden. When I see a plant she planted I feel connected to her. I love everything about gardening; especially the beauty and the miracle of it all.

My house sits on 3.5 acres. The front property is full of azaleas, dogwoods, irises, spireas, and camellias that are as big as trees. Under pine trees are gardenias, native azaleas, sweet shrubs, irises, Ryan’s Pink Chrysanthemums, lantana, roses, day lilies, yarrow, assorted perennials, a bottle tree, peonies and a chaste tree. The back porch overlooks birdfeeders, herbs, native phlox, old garden roses including; New Dawn, Lady Banks, Cecile Brunner, Mutabulis, clematis, oak leaf hydrangeas, gladiolas, and various annuals along with summer vegetables. Hostas, ferns, variegated Solomon’s Seal, Cast Iron Plant, Ajuga, Lenten Rose, blue mop head hydrangea, Hearts a Bursting enjoy the shade of a large oak tree.

About 5 years ago the minister of my church (Bluff Park UMC), now retired, Reid Crotty,
asked me to be in charge of the Church Grounds Committee. After a discussion of what I could and couldn’t do, we agreed I would oversee the grounds, while a yard service would take care of the mowing and pruning. I plan, order and plant flowers at designated church property areas. We have a volunteer committee that helps with the flower planting and mulching that includes 3 Chilton County MG, Joan Davis, Chris Kirkland, Charlotte Word along with other gardeners, Julie Adams, Jan Rogers, and Peggy Comer.

This volunteer job has been a very happy and rewarding experience. I have learned when and where to plant and how to care for many different plant materials. Comments from our church members have been very positive. They also consult with members of our committee if they have gardening questions.
Our church sponsors “Creation Kids” program. The kids have a blast during the summer growing, harvesting, including weighing and counting, and helping to take care of 5 raised vegetable beds that are located on the church property. The kids document the weather ad rainfall every Tuesday and 9:30 to 12:30. The kids work in the gardens for an hour, then have fun activities/games for an hour an
d then our UMC women provide a wonderful meal for them. Julie Adams coordinates this with the help of a team including Chris Kirkland, Jan Rogers, Penny Burns, Rosemary Dallam and me. Rain Barrel Workshops have been well received at our church too.

Besides spending appx. 12-15 hours per week weeding, pruning, planting, watering, looking, sitting, thinking about what I need to do and what I will do tomorrow; I like to read, go to movies, and play bridge. I took the Master Gardener’s course in 2002 and have held the office of Treasurer and have written for the AMGA Garden Pathways.

Something you might not know about me; in 1986, I traveled with friends who lived and worked in Cairo, Egypt. We took a ride in a Faluka, an Egyptian sail boat down the Nile River and visited King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings and saw his gold sarcophagus. I worked for the Baptist Health Centers for 28 years and graduated from Birmingham Southern as a Cancer Data Specialist.

Words I try to live by are, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thess. 5: 16-18

and

“Just living is not enough”, said the butterfly. “One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.” Hans Christian Anderson

My favorite thing about CCMGA: The people, they are kind, interesting, funny, knowledgeable and good friends.

I first met Miss Sam in January of 2012. Who was this tiny woman with the large glasses? She was so polite and quiet spoken and knew a wealth of knowledge, whatever was she doing in the Master Gardener class? She should have been teaching it! What a wonderful relationship I have had with her since. I asked her  after her Master Gardener class experience to write her thoughts down. I found her  article and wanted to share it, so now here it is in its entirety, so sit back and enjoy!

Until August 1991, I had never performed any yard work in any of the locations where Dick and I lived. Too many other interests knocked at my door and there was always someone to do what needed to be done in the yard – our two boys, gardeners and the occasional hired  person – always with Dick’s guidance and help. As teenagers, the boys had a love-hate relationship with Saturdays when Dad would wake us all up at o-dark thirty so we could have a huge breakfast of pancakes,eggs and bacon, sausage, ham, fruit and etc. at our favorite morning spot. Breakfast was finished just at opening time of Dick’s favorite plant store – something like Petals from the Past. After loading the trunk of the car with plants, we headed home where the boys and Dick worked most of the day planting, weeding,and  cutting grass.At most of the locations, we had neighbors who won “Yard of the Month” awards, so motivation was high.

My involvement began in Verbena when Dick retired and we bought a house with 17 acres. Dick had visions of the Biltmore gardens and set to without the help of sons who had gardens of their own by this time, without the help of gardeners and mostly without the help of paid workers. The kudzu, bamboo and privet were plentiful; the oak trees and winged elm were huge and beautiful. We were blessed with sassafras, paw-paw, beech-nut, sweet-gum, hickory-nut, persimmon, mimosa and honeysuckle. Dick hired Collins Nursery to plant dozens of pine trees near the road and plant the foundation areas around the house. This added blue -rug junipers, and nandinas, camellias, Bradford Pears, several varieties of holly bushes (now trees), pyracantha, ilex, yews, and cotoneasters. You get the drift. Did I tell you about the crepe myrtles alternating with wax myrtles lining both sides of the driveway?  Their limbs reach out to welcome all vehicles.

I am and have always tended toward the “green” side of life. Rarely do I kill any living thing, choosing to move the offender to a less-offending place. Kudzu we got rid of mostly because I found a good use for the vine; I made and sold wreaths.  Too late, I learned that jelly could be made from the flowers.  The honeysuckle adorned the fences and privet grew beside. During the blooming season,the sight was beautiful   and the smell, heavenly – enough to make you swoon from pleasure. I can only imagine what neighbors thought when I naively enumerated the blessings and uses of privet in the landscape, if controlled wisely. We have both whacked bamboo down and used the poles for scaffolding, tepees for vines, fencing, plant supports, decorations, flower arranging, wall covering and fishing poles. In spite of every use, the bamboo is ahead of us. Mimosa blooms dance across the landscape. A blight has wiped out most of the trees.

Of course, I added to the mix with wisteria and trumpet vine. A dear friend brought me cuttings of roses from Randolph County, where I was born, and a potted baby magnolia. The roses are taking over the parking pad and the magnolia is now 30-40 feet tall. Mother gave me irises and arborvitaes. Because of childhood memories of my Grandma’s front porch edged with boxwood; I insisted that we have boxwood hedges lining the pool surround. Birds planted dogwood, blackberries, and red bud hither and yon. Mama, Mia!

We have a friend that took one of the first Master Gardener classes given in new Bern, NC. Her prior experience was flower arranging. She now has a beautiful garden filled with plants blooming, growing, multiplying in a very orderly , proper fashion. if a plant does not live up to her expectations, she digs it up, move it to another spot and it thrives. This kind of gardening is for me.

When I stared seeing the notices for Master Gardener classes in Clanton, I would groan because I had no time. I admired the projects around town attributed to the Master Gardeners. Newspaper pictures always showed smiling faces of the worker-bees. Looked like an interesting group of people having fun and beautifying the area. I overheard conversations about how much could be learned in the classes, but no time, not time, always running late.

This year (2012) I decided that I had better take the class while I could still garden. Dick was interested too; couldn’t be better. Couples save a little on class fees. First day, we are usually punctual, so we arrived a few minutes before 9:00 am. The classroom was full of early-birders and this was the way it was until the end. I felt like a first grader, waiting eagerly for my book. What a book! Carrying that book is great strength training by the time all the handouts have been incorporated into the book, it will certainly serve as a muscle builder for the brain and your hoeing arm.

Most of the people enrolled I had never met in  the 20 years of living in this area, but a more congenial group will be hard to find. as the class progressed, I learned that his is typical of all the classes. Our class Coordinators were responsible for our good cheer and our sense of accomplishment; they are so cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable. the speakers were excellent and stayed on topic. Even though we were in class 6  hours each Wednesday for 13 weeks , covering a chapter weekly, there’s still plenty in The Book to study because it covers almost every aspect of gardening: selecting plants, planting,fertilizing, weeding, spraying, propagating growing turf , etc.

When the Facilitator mentioned “tests” everyone froze: certainly more than I had bargained for. We lost our “deer in the headlights” look when she announced that they would be open book tests. Sometimes, you have to study more for an open-book test!

Not only did previous students, now Master Gardeners, prepare lunch for us for a month; they audited some of the classes and invited us (interns) to meetings which are held once a month. We enjoyed wonderful programs and speakers on coffee beans, hummingbirds and poultry,not to mention the food. The Army is said to travel on its stomach;Master Gardeners do their best work around lunch and snacks prepared by a roster of volunteers. We should have been weighed before and after the classes.

There were and are plenty of opportunities to put our new knowledge into practice; in fact, there is a requirement for 50 hours of volunteer work. Plants had to be potted; plant sales manned, clean up performed at the Experiment Station, pruning – beginning to sound like serous gardening- but the camaraderie made it fun gardening. Does this strike you as a little bit like Tom Sawyer?

The highlight of the classes and the end was the Interns’ Garden Tour Day when we visited five interns’ gardens and one of the Facilitators’ garden. All were absolutely amazing, gorgeous, different and made me want to come home and start GARDENING. The requirement for volunteer hours has eased the separation pangs we class members have suffered. we had so much fun, we did not want the classes to end. thank goodness for the opportunity to get together to make things pretty. Future meetings and activities will keep us busy. Master of the garden? some are, most especially , the interns who shared their gardens; some are aspiring to be. Me? Still having a hard time calling some plants ‘weeds’. That’s like saying “off with their head!”