After a tour of Wright’s Nursery in Plantersville our group of Master Gardeners appreciate the process and work that go into getting bedding plants, herbs and tender perennials to market. Heather Wright shared the steps involved starting from a seed to a plant ready for our gardens. She showed us the trays and the machinery used in the process and walked us through several greenhouses. We saw all sizes of plants, from those that had just germinated to larger ones almost ready to sell. We were astounded that they produce 22,000 hanging baskets of plants and untold numbers of bedding plants annually.
Wrights Nursery plants are branded Alabama Grown and can be purchased at independent nurseries around Central and North Alabama.
Photos by Trisha Williams, Susan Cleckler, and Sondra Henley.
Two MG’s provide similar recipes for these holiday treats: Russian Tea Cakes and Butterfinger Cookies. The Russian Tea Cakes are shaped in balls, have fewer nuts, and bake at a higher temperature while the Butterfinger Cookies are shaped into logs or “fingers”. Give either recipe a try and you will have cookies that melt in your mouth!
Butterfingers were served at the 2017 Christmas Home Tour open house at the Chilton Extension Office.
Russian Tea Cakes
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. finely chopped nuts
1/4 t. salt
powdered sugar
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix butter, 1/2 c. powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool slightly on wire rack.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool. Roll in powdered sugar again.
Chilton County Master Gardener, Martha Gothard, presented an informative program on growing African violets at our November meeting. We learned about the sizes, making potting soil, potting with wicks, fertilizing, dividing and light requirements. The most common cause of with failure with African violets is that we do not water correctly. Martha taught us to put a tray under the plant so that the plants may be watered from the bottom and to wait until the soil is dry to the touch before watering. Thank you, Martha, for the great program and all your time preparing the Power Point.
Congratulations to four more interns that have completed their requirements for Master Gardener certification! Larry Jones received his badge and certificate at our meeting. Robin Cagle, Lattie Hardy and Spencer Hardy were presented their badges and certificates at the Chilton County Extension Office during the past month.
The December meeting on the 12th brings our annual Christmas Party that will be held at Petals From the Past beginning at 10:00. Bring a $10 gift for a fun game of Dirty Santa. Contact Elizabeth York to sign up to bring a dish.
Chilton County Master Gardeners volunteered for the Fall Landowner Tour hosted by the Chilton Natural Resources Council on October 9th at the L.C. “Foots” Parnell property near Stanton. The event was “Rain or Shine” and it was a very damp day following right after Hurricane Nate dropped over seven inches of rain on the property. Fortunately there was only a light shower during lunch.
Master Gardeners helped with parking, registration, morning snacks and serving lunch. Thanks go to Master Gardeners Rick Miller, Larry Jones, Diane Clapp, Lola Patterson, Harriett Jackson, Sherry Ray, Donna Babin and Trisha Williams.
In addition to volunteering Master Gardeners got to ride along on the wagons and attend the educational sessions.We learned about Intensive Pine Management for Aesthetics, Wildlife Openings and Management, Hardwoods and Prescribed Burning, and Longleaf Pine Management. The highlight of the tour was the Landowner Objective and History session given by property owner Foots Parnell, the sixth generation to own the property. He talked with us about his family history with the property and the steps he has implemented to grow pine trees and manage for wildlife. We also toured his weekend home.
The Chilton Natural Resources Council did a great job with the Fall Landowner Tour and those of us that attended encourage anyone interested in forests and wildlife to attend a future tour.
Photo Credit: Gay West & Trisha Williams
MGs Diane Clapp, Sherry Ray, Donna Babin, Lola Patterson, Rick Miller, Trisha Williams and Larry Jones. Not Pictured-Harriett Jackson
The Chilton County Master Gardeners met on October 10 and learned about Growing Succulents from Barbara Witt. Barbara is a member of Capital City Master Gardeners of Montgomery and has a lifelong interest in succulents, her favorite one being the Haworthia genesis. This group consist of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa. One of the most well known succulents is called Hens and Chicks. Others that many of us are familiar with are Kalanchoe and sedums. Some categories of succulents are hardy in our zone and others are not. We learned that many succulents do not grow well in our humid climate but make great houseplants. The biggest problem with growing succulents is that many people over water them; they should dry completely between watering. Did you know that to propagate you need to let the leaf stem form a callus before planting?
Elizabeth York, Trisha Williams and Sondra Henley shared information from gardening conferences that they attended this Fall: Cut and Color Seminar by Capital City MGA in Pike Road, AL and Fall Gardening Extravaganza by Tallapoosa MGA IN Alexander City, Al. Harriet Jackson told us about Autauga County Master Gardeners touring our Demo Garden and the Chilton Research and Extension Center.
Congratulations to Debbie Housner for completing requirements for Master Gardener certification. Larry Jones, Robin Cagle, Lattie Hardy and Spencer Hardy have also completed requirements but were not able to attend the meeting.
Chilton County Master Gardeners Trisha Williams, Sondra Henley, and Harriett Jackson attended the Fall Gardening Extravaganza hosted on September 29th by the Tallapoosa County Extension Office and Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners. Chris VanCleave, “The Redneck Rosarian” spoke about “Roses for the Real World”. “Slow Gardening” was presented by Felder Rushing who is always a treat to hear. We learned about “Old Daffodils in Alabama Gardens” from Sara L. Van Beck. Then Carol Reese, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension presented her program “Take a Walk on the Wild Side”. This was a great event filled with learning and fellowship with other Master Gardeners from around the state.
Have you tried gardening in the back of your truck? Felder Rushing says you can garden anywhere–even at 81 miles per hour! Check out his truck and don’t miss the bottle trees.
Photo credit: Trisha Williams
Trisha Williams, Sondra Henley, & Harriett Jackson
The Chilton County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, was recently visited by many of the Chick Chain auction participants, young and old. Children enjoyed a game of hop scotch while visiting the garden.
At the August CCMGA meeting Judy Cobb received her Master Gardener Certificate and her Master Gardener Badge. We congratulate Judy on completing the requirements for certification and welcome her to our association.
Regional Extension Agent for Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources, Andrew Baril, talked with us about methods for controlling moles, voles, gophers, raccoons, deer and other pests in the garden. He told us about traps, controlling the environment and just accepting an acceptable amount of loss. Although we were all waiting on a magic way to repel deer, Andy said the best method is double fencing or electric fencing designed for deer.
The Chilton County Extension Office recently had a new, larger sign installed. Fifteen liriope plants had to be removed to make room for installation of the sign. These same plants were re-planted after being cleaned of the dichondra that had invaded the bed. Other maintenance included weeding the beds, adding a thick layer of newspapers for mulch, and pruning the Guara lindheimeri “Whirling Butterflies” and Knock Out roses. All beds received a fresh layer of pine straw. Thanks to Chilton County Master Gardeners (left to right) Diane Clapp, Wally Walters, Alice Broome, Sondra Henley, Susan Cleckler, Larry Jones, and Lee Walters for arriving at 7 AM and sprucing up the Extension Sign flower bed and the other front beds. Photo and article provided by Sondra Henley.
Chilton County Master Gardeners presented certificates and badges to Elaine Webb, Sherry Ray and Faye C. Collins this month. We congratulate them on completing requirements for MG certification.
Our program this month was presented by Central Alabama Master Gardeners Lee and Amanda Borden. Amanda has earned her Master Gardener advanced certification in organic home vegetable gardening and Lee has earned his in organic home fruit and nut production. They practice sustainable farming on their farm in Elmore County. Their program was about fall vegetable gardening: what, when and how to plant a fall vegetable garden. The program was a timely reminder to get our fall gardens started and extend our growing season!
Lee and Amanda Borden
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