The Chilton County Master Gardeners had their first yard sale/plant sale on April 21 at the Chilton County Extension Office parking lot. We had been cleaning out and collecting items for months. Thank you to all who donated items for this event, it was a huge success! We sold clothing, books, tools, glassware, furniture, garden items, Hypertufa planters made by the Master Gardeners and filled with succulents, and of course, plants! After the sale, we donated all the items that were left to the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center.
Article by Susan Cleckler
Photos by Susan Cleckler, Sondra Henley and Audrey Giles
Chilton County Master Gardeners toured the University of Montevallo Community Garden on April 17. The director of the garden, Holly Wadleigh, told us that volunteers and UM students plant, maintain and harvest the vegetables grown in the garden and donate them to Shelby Emergency Center. In addition to growing vegetables for SEC the garden hosts a Wise Women healthy living garden program and also rents garden plots to individuals. After a great lunch at Tavern on Main in Montevallo what gardener could resist a visit to Cedar Creek Nursery!
Our speaker for our April 10th meeting was Holly Wadleigh of the Montevallo Community Garden at the University of Montevallo. Many students work the gardens as part of class requirements. Last year about 1800 pounds of vegetables were grown in the garden and donated to the Shelby Assistance Center. The garden is supported in part by the sale of herbs and vegetables started from seed in their greenhouse.
Several members of CCMGA met at President Sondra Henley’s garage this week to finish up the hyper tufa planters and tree faces they started last month. These items will be for sale at the upcoming yard and plant sale to be held April 21st at the Chilton County Extension Office. Pictured are Pat Farmer, Alice Broome, Debbie Housner, Jackie Hickman, Treasia Bennett, Wally Walters, Susan Cleckler, and Robin Cagle.
“Gardening as We and Our Gardens Age” was the program topic for the March Chilton County Master Gardener meeting. Mike Rushing, Jefferson County Master Gardener, gave an informative and entertaining program on how we can continue to enjoy gardening as we age and experience changes in our abilities. We should evaluate changes in our gardens such as mature trees that create shade and perhaps remove a few or limb them up to provide more sun. He told us to eliminate plants that we consider high maintenance, plants that do not perform well for us, and plants that are dead or dying. Be sure to keep those plants that thrive. Another suggestion was to create smaller garden areas that one can reasonably maintain. Mike also suggested hiring someone to do the tasks you do not enjoy and to work smarter not harder.
On March 8, CCMGA members Steve McAnally, Sondra Henley, Harriett Jackson, and Susan Cleckler attended the Autauga County MGA’s evening meeting. They were asked to present how the Chilton County MGA went about obtaining their 501 (c) 3 status.
The group met several times to develop a presentation Power Point and manual. Thanks to Steve McAnally the PPT was colorful, animated and easy to understand. He went the extra mile adding links and suggested resources.
The presentation was well received, and the CCMGA group was encouraged to “get the word out”.
After a tour of Wright’s Nursery in Plantersville our group of Master Gardeners appreciate the process and work that go into getting bedding plants, herbs and tender perennials to market. Heather Wright shared the steps involved starting from a seed to a plant ready for our gardens. She showed us the trays and the machinery used in the process and walked us through several greenhouses. We saw all sizes of plants, from those that had just germinated to larger ones almost ready to sell. We were astounded that they produce 22,000 hanging baskets of plants and untold numbers of bedding plants annually.
Wrights Nursery plants are branded Alabama Grown and can be purchased at independent nurseries around Central and North Alabama.
Photos by Trisha Williams, Susan Cleckler, and Sondra Henley.
Thank you for putting your trust in me to administrate and lead another year. Having met with the Board to review the activity opportunities and the 2018 proposed budget, CCMGA’s progress amazes me.
In 2006, twelve years ago, I took the MG Class. I too wondered how and where I would achieve those 50 certification hours. When one reviews the Activities List you can understand why we say we partner with ACES. They need us and we need them. ACES will arrange education in QuickBooks, Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher and Photos for us this year. CCMGA has members that are MG representatives on various committees associated with ACES and Chilton County.
Not only is our partnership with ACES important but our CCMGA projects are too. This year we plan to put a permanent cover over the Shade Garden at the CREC site and finish Phase 5 at the Demo Garden located at the Extension Office. Phase 5 will be located at the backside of the office building. This bed will house hydrangeas and other plant material.
Our commitment to host the 2019 AMGA Conference will cost us time and energy as we begin to put plans in place. We will be building tabletops and stenciling them with checker boards. Contracts must be signed with food and other vendors. Silent Auction items must be gathered and signage made. Speakers must be scheduled. Decorations must be planned and design executed for each conference activity.
Along with our projects, we have fund raisers to organize. This spring we will host a “Garage Sale Type” event including a plant sale. As you bring in your new, don’t forget to bring us your old. Items that are gently used and in good repair are needed, including clothes and shoes. Small appliances, books, curtains, wall décor, etc.
CCMGA is as busy as the bees we all want in our gardens. I hope you will join me in expectation of this new year.
When I first wrote about our OCTOGENARIANS, we had four. Today we have nine!
“Octogenarian: Someone in his or her eighties, or in other words, between 80 and 89 years of age.”
Now that is a big word, and one that we don’t use in our every day speech, but a person that has lived for such a wonderful length of time deserves to have a special word to describe them.
The Chilton County Master Gardeners Association is blessed to have nine members that are Octogenarians. And along with this descriptive word comes a bonus of having a Lifetime Membership in CCMGA.
E.C. Lewis was one of the founding members of the Association and joined in 1999. Lindy Helton became a member in 2000, Charlotte Word in 2009, Margaret Goolsby in 2006, Peggy Harris in 2008, Margaret Ennis in 2007, JoAn Davis in 1997, Wayne Freeman in 2002, and Bettye Glass joined in 2011. We LOVE our OCTOGENARIANS!
On October 19th the Central Alabama MG Intern Class toured the CCMGA Demo Garden. President Sondra Henley was the tour guide and told the history of the Demo Garden and how the new garden was created. Mallory Kelley, ACES Regional Agent for Autauga County and facilitator of the class, accompanied the group. Chilton County Master Gardener Sue Webb was there to tell about her Native Bed in the garden. Treasia Bennett told about her Knot Garden and Susan Cleckler told about her bed “Don’t’ Bug Me” (repels insects) and a little about the Butterfly Garden. For a slideshow of photos of the tour go to Smilebox.
The Demonstration Garden at the Chilton Research and Extension Center (120 County Road 756, Clanton, 35045) is open year round. To schedule a tour for your group or organization call 280-6268 and the office will contact the appropriate person.
Photo Credit: Audrey Giles
Cookie Acceptance Needed
This website would like to use cookies to collect information to improve your browsing experience. Please review our Privacy Statement for more information. Do you accept?
Share
Menu
Search
