Chilton Master Gardeners planted 60 baskets for the City of Jemison. Pictured left to right is: Alan Reed, Lee Walters, Wally Walters, Margaret Goolsby-Chair, Pat Farmer, Susan Cleckler and Sondra Henley. Those that helped but not pictured were: Lanell Baker, Linda Hays, Rick Miller and Harriett Jackson. Baskets were hung throughout the City of Jemison.
Photo and article by Sondra Henley
Chilton County Master Gardeners held their annual Plant Swap on May 9th at the home of Lee and Wally Walters on Lake Mitchell. The weather was perfect for our meeting and lunch on the patio overlooking the lake. We enjoyed BBQ pork provided by our hosts and side dishes and desserts our members brought. We drew numbers to swap plants and had a great variety of plants to share including tomatoes, ginger lilies, daisies and daffodil bulbs. As usual we all went home with lots of new plants for our gardens. Now to convince someone to dig those holes–oh, I guess that is me! A huge thank you goes to the Walters for hosting our Plant Swap this year.
Photos and article by Trisha Williams
Chilton County was honored to have the Harvest for Health Training Program held at the Alabama Power Building in April . This study helps determine the benefits of home gardening for cancer survivors and is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The program not only provides a raised bed vegetable bed, soil, plants and other needed items, it pairs a Master Gardener with the participant to help mentor them has they develop gardening skills.
If you are interested in becoming a participant, call 1-844-476-9478.
From left to right; Elizabeth York, Assistant to Outreach Coordinator – Harvest for Health Study, member of Chilton County and Shelby County Master Gardener Associations, Renee Thompson, Outreach Coordinator for Harvest for Health, Evan Ware, assistant and AU Master’s Program in Horticulture Studies, and Kerry Smith, State Master Gardener Program Coordinator.
Kimberly Lyn, Chilton County MGA member, Secretary to association and Clanton resident, gathers supplies for her participant’s vegetable garden.
Kerry Smith, State MG Coordinator, educates Master Gardeners on their responsibilities and expectations for mentoring a surviving cancer participant.
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Article and photos by Sondra Henley
On May 1-3 several Chilton County Master Gardeners attended the Alabama Master Gardener Association Conference at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Jackson Center in Huntsville. Classes included Ferns, Orchids, Roses, Hummingbirds, Landscape Design and Miniature Landscapes. We especially enjoyed Traditional Folk Herbalism, Seeds of the South (Heirloom Seeds) and Protecting our Pollinators. Some of our group also made a Papercrete planter. This year the conference included a Seed Swap for the first time and we were able to select some seeds that were new to us. Of course no conference is complete without great vendors with lots of plants and unusual crafts.
Article and photos by Trisha Williams
John Manion, Director of the Kaul Wildflower Garden at the Birmingham Botanicals Gardens, led a guided tour of the gardens for several Chilton County Master Gardeners on April 20. He told us of the history and construction of the Kaul Wildflower Garden and shared great information on native plants and stories that go with many of them. He has started an area of eight plants that are only found in the wild at the Bibb County Glades. We learned the difference between the Bigleaf Magnolia and the Ashe Magnolia, two native deciduous magnolias. Some of the native plants we learned about included Indian pink, trillium, May apples, ferns, yellow root, bluebells, Mt. Laurel, climbing hydrangea and many more. Our group also visited many other areas of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and enjoyed lunch on the terrace. Many thanks go to Sue Webb for planning this tour and for providing the delicious chicken salad sandwiches. Attending were Catherine Williams, Essie Edel, Harriett Jackson, Sue Webb, Sondra Henley, Dianne Clapp, Trisha Williams, and Bonnie and Bill Hairrell. Photos and article by Trisha Williams.
Nineteen Master Gardener Interns completed the 2017 class today with “Small Fruits” taught by Edgar Vinson, and a tour of the Chilton Research and Experiment Center. They celebrated with a salad bar furnished by class members and a fantastic “garden” cake made and decorated by class facilitator Trisha Williams! They will receive their certificates as soon as they complete the required hours to become a member.
Chilton County Master Gardeners met at Petals From the Past in April and thirteen of our Master Gardener Class members joined us. Jason Powell presented a program on Tough as Nails Plants for the Southern Garden. He discussed bulbs that bloom in spring or summer, lose their foliage, survive in place and reappear the next year. Reseeding annuals drop their seeds and need no care through the summer. He also discussed some tough roses, perennials and shrubs that can withstand drought conditions. Photo by Trisha Williams
In early April Chilton County Master Gardeners had the pleasure of a guided tour of June Mays’ garden in Mt. Brook. June is a retired landscape designer, author and speaker. Her garden starts in the parking area and covers every part of her property. From the driveway our eyes followed the line of the driveway to an arbor covered with Lady Banks roses. Gravel pathways meander throughout the property and lead to special features such as a small water feature, a bench to enjoy the garden, or the potting shed. There was even a muscadine arbor and two raised vegetable beds. June has included many native plants such a blood root, sweet shrub, partridge berry, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, and May apples. We could tell that she is a plant lover from the variety of plants she has included, many that are unusual cultivars. We enjoyed hearing her say that she had moved plants because they did not do well where she first planted them–seems that all gardeners do that! She also told us of her garden challenges that included the recent loss of a large shade tree. She was in the process of recreating that area of the garden. The shade was gone and and many plants were damaged. We really enjoyed our visit with June Mays and her garden. Photos and article by Trisha Williams
On March 27th, CCMGA members and several interns met with Gay West, ACES coordinator at the Extension office in Clanton to work on the 2017 improvements to the site’s landscape. Irrigation was installed to the flowerbeds. A vegetable bed site is being planned along with a Hydrangea bed.
The March 22nd MG class was held in the educational building at Petals from the Past. The morning class was presented by Dr. Jim Jacobi on Plant Diseases. Dr. Jacobi is an Alabama Cooperative Extension System Specialist at the C. Beaty Hanna Horticulture and Environmental Center at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. The afternoon class was presented by Dr. Sue Webb on Native Plants. Dr. Webb is also a member of the Chilton County Master Gardener Association.
The March 15th MG class covered Home Lawns and Weed Management and was taught by Chilton County native, Taylor Boozer Hatchett of Boozer Farms. Taylor previously worked with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Home Grounds, Gardens, and Home Pests. The members enjoyed the class and said they learned lots about their yards and lawns and how to care for them.
Our MG class for March 8th was “Basic Botany” taught by Dr. Dan Jones. Very informative class! Thanks, Dr. Jones.
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