The first month of this year, 2021, is off to a slow start for Chilton County Master Gardeners. We chose not to have a meeting this month, because of COVID-19. But we will have a meeting in February at the Alabama National Guard Armory on Airport Road. And we can’t wait for spring to get back to work in the Demo Garden and the project at Jemison Middle School. In the meantime, we do want to wish all our members born in January a very Happy Birthday!
We would like to introduce our 2021 Officers, Board members, and Team Leaders. This website page is kind of hidden, along with a few others. If you will click on the three bars in the green ribbon at the top left of the home page, you will see several items listed. Click on the “About CCMGA” and that takes you to another set of sub menus. There you will see History, 2021 Officers, Board Members, and Team Leaders, etc. Each heading that has a > beside it has sub menus with more categories. I know this sounds elementary, but a few can use a little help. Please look around, you might see something you’ve never seen before!
Regretfully three of our treasured Octogenarians passed away during 2020; E.C. Lewis, who was one of the founding members of Chilton County Master Gardener Association, Bob Bates, and Margaret Ennis. This is always very hard for us, especially this year with so many having Covid-19 and having loved ones sick with that, too. They will surely be missed. But on a brighter note, we gained two in our Octogenarian group; Wally Walters and Jimmy Knowles. Now whether or not they think reaching 80 is a good thing or not remains to be seen! I guess you could say Yes or No, according to how you look at it. Anyway, we always love our 80’s members and love seeing you at the meetings!
Today was a fun day!! Some of the Chilton County Master Gardeners spent their morning helping plant a garden in the Discovery Center at Jemison Intermediate School (JIS).
The Discovery Center has been made possible by grants from Cawaco RC&D Inc., Central Alabama Electric Coop, and also from donations from state representative Jimmy Martin (who passed away last year), Jason Powell and Petals from the Past, and several other volunteers. The garden consists of a Sensory Garden, a Pollinator Garden that includes several plants that are native to the state of Alabama, and in the near future, an Analemmatic sundial. They also have several raised bed vegetable gardens and a pavilion. Areas to be added include a wildlife habitat, a walking trail, a greenhouse and a weather station.
Rachel Mims is the gifted specialist teacher responsible for the outdoor classroom. Jason Powell, owner of Petals from the Past, was also instrumental in getting this project off the ground by designing the garden and donating all the plant materials, landscaping materials and being there to help. Also present today were several current and retired teachers and parents.
CCMGA looks forward to continuing to work on this project and we are grateful to be a part of it. This is what we are all about; teaching and beautifying the community.
Photos by Audrey Giles and Susan Cleckler
Chilton County Master Gardeners met for the last time this year at the old meeting place, outside at the Little House at Chilton Research and Extension Center. There was a great turnout, with 30 members, 8 interns, and 1 guest present.
Alice Broom, nominating committee chair, presented the nominations for the 2021 officers. Nominees were President, Pat Farmer; Vice President, Charla Doucet; Treasurer, Audrey Giles; and Secretary Treasia Bennett. President Susan Cleckler asked for any nominations from the Floor and none where given. Lanell Baker made a motion to accept the nominating committee’s recommendations for 2021 Officers. Larry Jones seconded the motion. The Association agreed to the nominations, and the motion passed.
Membership chairman Trisha Williams presented Intern Linda Church, who completed the required hours for membership, her membership badge, certificate of completion, a CCMGA T-shirt and a copy of the bylaws.
Chilton County Master Gardeners are still in the process of locating a meeting place for their meetings for the second Tuesday of every month. Also, we will not be having a Christmas Luncheon this year. Due to the Pandemic, the Board felt that we could not safely serve food and socially distance ourselves. We will not have a December meeting since we do not have a large enough meeting space that would keep us out of any cold weather.
Stay tuned for bigger and better things to come in 2021!!
Chilton County Master Gardeners showed up and showed out for our Monday Demo Garden workday! There were 14 of us (one non member-Treasia Bennett’s willing spouse) to dig, divide and replant or pot up daylilies, prune roses; dig up and replant dwarf azaleas; clean out the Herb bed; trim the vines in the shade garden; put out pine straw, and prune the box woods in the Knot Garden. Several of our interns and newly certified members have agreed to be in charge of some of our beds and areas. They are Patty Frye, Gail Brooks, Joan Crocker, and Sharon Hosch (helping Betsy Smith). As always, ANY of our members are encouraged to come out and help when you can. Our work days this fall will be cut to one instead of two, which will be on Thursdays, 8-10a.m., weather permitting.
Photos by Audrey Giles (not pictured).
Masked and socially distanced, Chilton County Master Gardeners met at Goosepond Park Pavilion on October 13 for the first time since the March Covid 19 shutdown. It was a day to celebrate meeting again and a day of congratulations. Four of our Interns have completed volunteer hours for certification and three were present to receive their badges and certificates. Congratulations to Patricia Agee, Gail Brooks, Jim Rabey and Linda Church (not present)!
A highlight of our meeting was the presentation of the 2020 AMGA Garry Murray Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to our own County Extension Coordinator, Gay West. Gay has been exceptionally supportive of the ACES Master Gardener Training Program and of the Chilton County Master Gardeners Association. Thanks to Sondra Henley and Harriett Jackson for nominating Gay for this award.
Photos/ Diane Clapp
Article/ Trisha Williams
Another great workday at the Demonstration Garden! Thanks to all the interns that turned out and some of our regular members too. Got a huge yucca plant dug up, divided, and relocated (thanks to John Higginbotham and Ron Herbster); moved an aster, dug and divided some hostas and took some home to pot up for plant sales, pulled MORE nut grass (and sprayed some too), spread some mulch, pruned some roses, filled bird baths, and cleaned out the keyhole garden. A VERY good morning! Photos by Diane Clapp & Audrey Giles
A few years ago, the Chilton County Master Gardeners took over the landscape around the C.C. Extension Office. The appearance around the building (former Health Office) has really improved. Former President Sondra Henley was the one who spearheaded this project and this year she is the Extension Office Committee Chairman. Today was a beautiful day for her and some of our Interns to work on pruning and cleaning up all the landscaping around the building and around the sign. And for the interns to get some hours they’ve been missing since the COVID shutdown.
Photo by Audrey Giles
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. The ones shown below have all turned in their tests and passed with flying colors! 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.
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