Our Keyhole Garden that is maintained by Chilton County Master Gardeners at the Demo Garden is ready for Halloween! There are pumpkins planted in this Keyhole Garden. These types of gardens are for people confined to wheelchairs and are just the right height for them and also have a place cut out to reach to the middle of the raised garden. The Demonstration Garden is located at the Chilton Research and Extension Center, 120 County Rd. 756, Clanton AL 35045
Volunteer opportunities are sent to members by email and posted on “Chilton County MGA Members” Facebook page. The Extension Office often request volunteers for events, 4H and SNAP-ED. The following activities are ongoing.
DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
DATE: 1st and 3rd Monday, March through November (5th Monday TBA) Rain date and Monday holidays move to Tuesday TIME: 8 AM-10 AM LOCATION: Chilton Research and Extension Center 120 Co Rd 756 Clanton, AL 35045 CONTACTS: Hugh Nichols 256-506-7953 Kerry Rush205-616-3471
CHILTON COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE BEDS
DATE: 2nd and 4th Mondays, March through November (5th Mondays TBA) Rain date and Monday holidays move to Tuesday TIME: 8am-10am LOCATION: Chilton County Extension Office 504 1st Ave. N. Clanton, AL 35045 CONTACTS: Bobby Atkinson 205-919-3115 Gail Brooks 256-366-1536
CLANTON RECREATION CENTER
Volunteers will be requested to help maintain the beds around the building and the sign and to help water all the beds throughout the summer. CONTACTS: Pat Farmer 205–933-3090 Amy Baker 205-913-4862
MASTERGARDENER HELPLINE
2024 DATES: Every Friday TIME: 9am-12pm LOCATION: Chilton County Extension Office (home option) CONTACT: Hugh Nichols 256-506-7953
Below are the GUIDELINES, PROCEDURES, & FINDING ANSWERS to guide you in working the HELPLINE. Scrool way down page. They may also be printed out.
The Herb Garden was our September featured garden for our “Talks in the Garden” series. Sharon Hosch and Betsy Smith discussed the herbs we grow in the Demo Garden and the way herbs are used for seasoning, teas and sometimes for medicines. Sharon and Betsy also presented the certificate and plaque for our Garden Bridges certification through the Herb Society of American. Garden Bridges gardens create a safe passing for plants and pollinators to thrive and migrate by incorporating native plants in harmony with nearby natural areas. For a special treat they served tea cookies with rosemary sugar and iced tea with herbed ice cubes!
Sharon Hosch (left) and Betsy Smith (right) with the certificates from the Green Bridges certifications
Pollinator Gardening was the topic for the June Chilton County Master Gardeners’ “Talks in the Garden.” Master Gardener Harriett Jackson taught us about the importance of pollinators for our gardens and discussed plants she has planted in the pollinator bed at the Demo Garden. Plants include perennials that bloom in early spring, summer, or fall and annuals that bloom all summer. The garden also has host plants for butterflies and the gulf fritillary caterpillars always enjoys the passionflower vine and devour it. Harriet suggests placing a “muddle” (mud-puddle) in your pollinator garden. A muddle is a shallow flat container with water, red clay soil and a rock for a resting spot. Butterflies love them!!
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 around daylily beds
Treasia Bennett & hubby pruning box woods
Diane Clapp digging and dividing daylilies (Audrey Giles helping and taking photos)
On October 17, the Elmore County Master Gardener Intern class visited the Chilton County Demonstration Garden. On hand to share information and answer questions were Master Gardeners Harriett Jackson, Sondra Henley, and Betsy Smith. Also present was one of the first to sign up for our 2020 Master Gardener Class, Gail Brooks. Photos by Betsy Smith
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.
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.
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.
Autumn is a beautiful time to tour our Demonstration Garden. The garden is located on the grounds of the Chilton Research and Extension Center which is located on 120 County Road 756, Clanton, AL 35046. The butterfly garden is really doing it’s job, attracting butterflies! The herb bed is also a magnet to the butterflies. There’s a shade garden with a small table and chairs and a pergola with a comfortable swing. So bring a book and a sack lunch and enjoy the garden during this pleasant time of year.
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