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.
Photo credit: Gay West
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.
SPRUCING UP EXTENSION OFFICE FLOWER BEDS
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!
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 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
The interns in the 2017 CCMGA Master Gardener Class are stepping up and volunteering with many activities these days. One of the recent events was an ACES Nutrition Education Program presented by Lisa McCullough at the YMCA for soccer sign-up day. Intern Zuly Lemus served as Spanish interpreter for the event. Pam Ousley held a Chef 4-H program at the ACES office and her helpler was MG intern Joyce Lawson. Joyce also serves on the 4-H Advisory Council, along with CCMGA members Pat and Jerry Farmer.
Photos by Gay West
We have just finished up our 6th class for our 2017 Intern Class this year. Boy, time flies! We have had Nelson Wynn on Vegetable Gardens; Bethany O’Rear on Plant Care and Management, and Pruning; Dr. Charles Ray on Insect Management; Sallie Lee on Woody Ornamentals, and Invasive Plants; Dr. Charles Mitchell on Soils and Plant Nutrition; our own Trisha Williams on Indoor Plants, and Carol Beard on Annuals and Perennial Bedding Plants. It has been a fast paced, cram a lot in a short period of time! And we still have 6 classes to go. We will meet at Petals from the Past March 22nd, and the association will be providing the lunch for that day. We have a great class this year, with 19 in attendance. We look forward to having them in our association and being a part of all our activities in the coming years! Here’s an updated Smilebox slideshow of our class photos up through this week.
Chilton County Master Gardeners held their Awards program this year at the February meeting. Refreshments and decorations were provided by the members, with a Valentine theme. The Helpline Top Hours were: 4+ Days – Pat Farmer(Chairman), Sarah Saunders, Lanell Baker, & Ann Moore; 3+ Days – Bonnie Hairrell. The Top Hours Category was awarded to: Harriett Jackson, 905.50, Audrey Giles 581, and Alan Reed, 480.50. The Top CEU hours went to Jimmy and Mildred Knowles with 46.50. The Service Project of the Year was the Demonstration Garden Redesign. The Master Gardener of the Year award went to Audrey Giles.
Silver Stars were awarded to Bob Bates, Paula Blevins-Russell, Lamar Giles, Kimberly Lynn, Anita McGee, and Ann Moore. Gold Stars were awarded to Treasia Bennett, Linda Hays, Lee Walters, and Wally Walters. A Gold Badge was awarded to Alice Broome (1000+ hours), and a Platinum Badge to Harriett Jackson (2000+ hours). The badges themselves will be presented at the AMGA conference.
The program was presented by MG Harriett Jackson on Butterfly gardening. Old and new business discussed was the upcoming Water Festival, items needed for Silent Auction basket for the AMGA conference, advisory council update, correctly reporting hours to service report site, fundraising ideas, upcoming tours, walking trail to be built at Minooka Park, propagation class at Petals, upcoming “Ask a Master Gardener” days at Garrison’s Farm and Home Supply, progress of 2017 intern class, update on registration for AMGA conference in Huntsville in May, and CCMGA being FIRST association in Alabama to use the e-newsletter! Here’s a SMILEBOX slideshow of photos from the program that day.
Our December Christmas meeting was a change from the norm, we had soup, salad, and different kinds of cornbread. The dessert was homemade cookies and rainbow sherbet. We had several guests in attendance and a few of the members played Dirty Santa afterwards.
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