Alice’s Bean-Corn Casserole

Alice Broome brought this casserole to our 2019 MG Class that was held at Petals from the Past on March 6. It was such a hit we asked Alice to share the recipe. Chilton County Master Gardener members always provide lunch for the class held at Petals from the Past.

1 can French style green beans
1 can yellow whole kernel corn
1 can Cream of Celery soup
1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1 roll Ritz crackers
1 stick butter

Drain liquid from beans and corn. Mix vegetables and spread in a greased dish (9″x9″). Mix soup, cheese, sour cream and chopped onion. Spread mixture over corn and beans (or mix 6 first ingredients together and spread in pan). Melt butter, crush crackers and mix with almonds. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Linda’s Raisin Bran Muffins

Linda brought these muffins to our first Master Gardener Class this year and everyone loved them. They are very much like Cypress Inn muffins. This is a large batch and the batter will last in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.

1 15 oz. box of Raisin Bran cereal
3 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 qt. buttermilk
5 c. self-rising flour
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. ground cloves
2 t. salt
1 c. vegetable oil
2 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Fill greased or lined muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

Linda’s Raisin Bran muffins

March 13th Class

The CCMGA Intern Class for March 13th was presented by Tracy Britnell on landscape design. Tracy is a certified Master Gardener, works in the landscape industry, and also works at Petals from the Past. We also had one of our Master Gardeners, Harriett Jackson, come by and demonstrate to the class how to prune the knockout roses planted in front of the Extension Office.
Thank you, Gay West and Elaine Densmore for these photos!

Plant Diseases and Propagation

Our MG class was held this week in the Barn at Petals from the Past in Jemison. The Master Gardener members provide lunch for everyone for this class and we always look forward to this. The instructors were Dr. Jim Jacobi from Auburn on “Plant Diseases” and Dr. Arlie Powell, owner of Petals from the Past on “Plant Propagation”. I can’t believe we are half-way through this year’s Master Gardener Class! We have a very enthusiastic group!

Dr. Jim Jacobi from Auburn University teaches “Plant Diseases”
Dr. Arlie Powell, owner of Petals from the Past, teaches “Plant Propagation”

Early Registration Winner

At the February 28, 2019 meeting of the AMGA Conference Volunteers, anticipation was building as Tracey Britnell, a Conference tour speaker and employee of Petals from the Past, drew the winner’s name from the early registrants. Registration Chairman Alice Broome held the bag for Tracey. AND THE WINNER OF EARLY REGISTRATION IS…….Laura Fields from Tuscaloosa Master Gardener Association!! Congratulations, Laura, your registration to the 2019 AMGA Spring Conference is paid for!

drawing early registration winner

Demo Garden Clean-up

This past Monday, Feb. 25 was a gorgeous day and perfect weather for working in the Demo Garden. We had several interns helping out as we pulled weeds, cleaned bird baths, put out a little pine straw, and transplanted some things that were getting too crowded. We will have several more days to get it all looking good for the Demo Garden tours that are a part of the 2019 AMGA Spring Conference coming up May 8, 9, and 10 of this year.

Feb 2019 in demo garden
cleaning up demo garden

Starting Seeds, Home Lawns and Vegetable Gardening

Our Master Gardener Lanell Baker did a presentation for the Intern class today on starting plants from seeds. The class members were eager to help. Then following that were the Master Gardener Classes “Home Lawns” by Taylor Hatchett and after lunch, “Vegetable Gardening” by our own Master Gardener, Larry Jones. These were 2 great subjects for study.

MG Lanell Baker showing Intern Betsy Smith transplant seedlings
Teaching  about lawns
Teaching Home Lawn
Taylor Hatchett teaching Home Lawns
Teaching Vegetable Gardening
Larry Jone teaching Vegetable Gardening