Turning Point Men’s Ministry graduates help in Demo Garden

Posted on July 18, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Curtis Grace and Matthew Kemp, graduates of the Turning Point Men’s Ministry, kept the gravel coming as Chilton County Master Gardeners finished spreading and tamping the fines in all walk areas of the newly designed Demonstration Garden. The garden beds will receive fresh pine straw and weeding will continue as August 6 fast approaches. The Grand Opening of the Chilton County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden will be at 11:30 on Saturday, August 6, 2016. Everyone is invited to attend and stay afterwards for the Farm, Home and Wildlife EXPO held annually at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, located on Highway 29, Clanton, AL.

Demo Garden Grand Opening

Posted on July 14, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

The Chilton County Master Gardeners Association’s newly designed Demonstration Garden will have its Grand Opening on August 6, 2016 at 11:30 at the Chilton Research and Extension Center off of Highway 29.

Afterwards the Farm, Home and Wildlife EXPO will start with free tastes of fruit, ice creams, peach salsa and other culinary delights. Many presentations are offered for home and farm, along with exhibits for all ages.
Everyone is invited to attend!

(Photos by Sondra Henley)

garden with rocks and low growing green plants

Knot Garden in Demo Garden green shrubs and white flowers

Demo Garden Phase I, II, and III almost complete!

Posted on June 13, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

The Demo Garden redesign continues to be a work in progress, but is right on schedule as far as Phase I, II, and III are concerned. The Grand Opening is scheduled for August 6, 2016, the day of the EXPO at Chilton Research and Extension Center. The public is invited to attend.Watch for upcoming information.

new sod for Demo Garden — New sod in Demo Garden

garden bed filled with rocks and sedum and succulents — Rick Miller’s rock garden

demo garden progress display — Progress display board for AMGA conf.

wrought iron gate leading into garden — Wrought Iron gate into Garden

one of a kind garden tool arbor into garden — One of a Kind Arbor

Demonstration Garden

Posted on April 14, 2016August 15, 2016 by audrey

The Demo Garden is open year round and is located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center on Highway 29 in Clanton. The garden’s main event is the Farm, Home and Wildlife Expo held the first Saturday in August. Master Gardeners strive to maintain its beauty and variety of plants all year. Currently the Demonstration Garden is undergoing a major redesign, led by V.P. Sondra Henley. Check out the calendar for scheduled days for volunteer opportunities. Your help is always welcome!

demo garden volunteers — Early morning crew

Installing Irrigation In Demo Garden

Posted on February 10, 2016April 16, 2016 by audrey

On Saturday, February 5th, Alabama Landscape Creations of Jemison, AL, arrived at the newly redesigned Demonstration Garden located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, which is managed by the Chilton County Master Gardeners. Jacob Boozer and Bill Lovelace with Alabama Landscape Creations met with the CCMGA members to install an irrigation system.

Alabama Landscape Creations has over 14 years of experience offering a full service landscape business, specializing in natural stone work, paver patios and walkways, landscaping, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, and aquatic gardens. Jake Beardon, owner of Alabama Landscape Creations, has not only served his customers well, but has given back to the community by donating the irrigation system, several large boulders, and a lava rock to the Chilton County Master Gardener Association.

Demo Garden Selected As Eagle Scout Project

Posted on January 14, 2016April 16, 2016 by audrey

Sondra Henley, Demo Garden Project Manager, discusses Phase 3 of the Demo Garden Redesign with Eagle Scout Clay Vinson. Clay has selected Phase 3 of the Demo Garden as his Eagle Scout Project, which will include the Pergola and the perimeter butterfly bed designed by Harriett Jackson. Development will begin in February after the irrigation lines are laid.

Demo Garden Update

Posted on November 22, 2015September 13, 2019 by audrey

By Sondra Henley

This past week Ann Moore and Julie Soileau lined the tool shed flower bed at the Demo Garden with rocks. With this improvement the shape of of the bed is much better defined.

Paula Blevins Russell, Don Burdette, Diane Clapp, Alice Broome, Harriett Jackson and not pictured, Sondra Henley planted 32 hollies at the Demo Garden. This planting completes the four corner circles of the new Demonstration Garden.

Gathering Stones

Posted on November 19, 2015September 13, 2019 by audrey

By Sondra Henley

Several Chilton County Master Gardeners met at Rick Miller’s Lake Mitchell home to gather rocks for the rock garden that he is developing at the Demo Garden. Members that helped were left to right: Lee and Wally Walters, Don Burdette, Bill Hairrell, Jimmy and Mildred Knowles, Rick Miller, Sarah Saunders, Michelle Thomas, Linda Hays, Diane Clapp, Harriett Jackson, and not pictured, Sondra Henley. They toured Rick’s greenhouse and were given some of the Ponderosa lemons that he grows. He also shared his shop project; a full size electric boat. Members were treated to a Chili/Hot dog lunch with all the trimmings. Lee and Wally Walters gave members a boat ride and tour of their lakeside property. The relaxed setting gave all that attended a great time of fellowship. The delivery date and building of the rock terrace at the Demo Garden will be announced later.

Redesigning The Demo Garden

Posted on September 20, 2015September 13, 2019 by audrey

Redesigning the Demo Garden

Progress is being made! Walls are going up! CCMGA members helped transport donated stones to the Demo Garden at CREC on Monday July 8th. This material will be incorporated into the new garden design as garden edging, path edging capstones and flooring for the shade garden. Master Gardeners who helped were: Lanell Baker, Lee Walters, Ira Jones, Steve McAnally, Harriett Jackson, Jerry Farmer and Sondra Henley. Spouses of Master Gardeners that helped were Treasia Bennett’s husband, Dennis and Sondra Henley’s husband, Gary. Gary saved us many trips by bringing his company’s 20 foot box truck with a pallet jack. All materials were transported and stacked by 10:00 a.m. The next week Dennis Bennett was in charge of the digging and pouring the cement for footings for the quadrant walls and now the walls are going up! Click here for a an updated slideshow of the progress being made.

A “One-Of-A-Kind” Arbor

Posted on August 23, 2015September 13, 2019 by audrey

By Sondra Henley

A “One of a Kind Arbor” is being constructed at the Chilton County Master Gardener Association’s Demonstration Garden located on the Chilton Research and Extension Center site. The arbor sides are 2 ft. wide and it is about 8 ft. tall. We plan to cover the rebar and chicken wire structure with as many rusty farm and garden tools as we possibly can.

If you would like to donate your rusty discarded tools to be included on the arbor, items are being accepted at two locations:

The Chilton County Extension Office located at 504 1st Ave, Clanton, Alabama

The Chilton Research and Extension Center located off of Highway 29. Place items in the garbage can located on the carport of little red brick house. The can is marked “GARDEN ITEMS”.

Please do not donate anything that you want returned.