News

Great Workday in the Demo Garden.

Posted on by audrey

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).

Alice Broome and Larry Jones working in the Storage Shed Garden
  • Joan Crocker & Jane Rabey trimming vines
  • Patty Frye helping prune roses
  • Sharon Hosch cleaning out Herb Bed
  • Alan Reed & Harriett Jackson pruning roses
  • Gail Brooks digging and dividing daylilies
  • Susan Cleckler ready to rake leaves
    Susan Cleckler ready to rake around daylily beds
  • Treasia Bennett pruning box woods
    Treasia Bennett & hubby pruning box woods
  • Members working in Demo Farden
    Diane Clapp digging and dividing daylilies (Audrey Giles helping and taking photos)

Finally Back Together!!

Posted on by audrey

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

Congratulations MG Class

Posted on by trisha

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. 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. Congratulations to Patricia Agee, Gail Brooks, Linda Church, Joan Crocker, Julie Garris, Sharon Hosch, Peggy McGraw, Ruby Moberg, Jane Rabey and Jim Rabey for completing and passing all their tests!

Helping With the Beef Cook-Off

Posted on by audrey

Last Friday, March 6, Chilton County Master Gardeners and interns helped with registering the participants at the 4-H Beef Cookoff, which is sponsored by the Chilton County Extension Office and the Chilton County Farmers Federation.
L to R- Interns Linda Church, Karol Collier M.G. Harriett Jackson, Interns Jane Rabey, Jim Rabey, and Julie Garris. Not pictured, MG Pat Farmer.

Soils and Plant Nutrition

Posted on by audrey

Our Feb. 19th speaker was Dr. Charles Mitchell, retired Ph.D., CCA, Professor Emeritus, Dep. Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University. Dr. Mitchell taught “Soils and Plant Nutrition” to our Master Gardener interns. His program is always very interesting and most informative. Thanks, Dr. Mitchell!!

The Interns paying attention!

Awards Day

Posted on by trisha
Collage of photos 2-2020 meeting

Our Chilton County Master Gardener February meeting is our Awards Meeting. Our Master Gardener of 2019 went to the duo of Wally and Lee Walters, two very active MGs who rarely say no to any Master Gardener event. The Demo Garden addition of reused monkey bars for growing climbing plants was selected as the Project of 2019. Top hours volunteer was Sondra Henley (1155), second place was Alice Broome (549.5) and third place was Pat Farmer (538). Top Continuing Education Hours were earned by Betsy Smith (100.7). Stars * for hours were presented and badge earners were announced. Helpline pins were awarded to Lyn Webb and Benita Cahalane for working 3 or more days.

Gary Gray, Regional Commercial Horticulture Agent, presented a program on the easiest fruits we can grow as home gardeners. He discussed several varieties of fruits, their culture and pest problems. Some of the easiest fruits for home gardens are muscadines, blueberries, figs, apples, blackberries, and Japanese persimmons. Several unusual native fruits were discussed such as pawpaws, mulberries and passion fruit (Maypops).

*Stars and Badges
Bronze Star (100-299): Joan Barber, Clem Clapp, Cheryl Herbster, Ron Herbster, John Higginbotham, Sarah Justiss, Karen Mims
Silver Star (300-499): Debbie Housner, Betsy Smith
Gold Star (500-999): Lyn Webb, Elizabeth York
Gold Badge (1000-1999): Treasia Bennett, Susan Cleckler, Linda Hand, Jane Mason
Platinum Badge (2000-3999): Alice Broome, Jerry Farmer
Ruby Star (4000-5999): Audrey Giles
Diamond Star (8000-9999) Sondra Henley

Click Here for a slideshow of photos from the awards program.