2016 Expo and Demo Garden Grand Opening

Posted on August 9, 2016February 11, 2017 by audrey

The Grand Opening of the Demo Garden was held August 6, 2016, just before the Farm, Home, and Wildlife Expo. On hand for the ceremony was Eagle Scout Clay Vinson, and Girl Scout Hannah Childress. Clay’s project for Eagle Scout was the Demo Garden’s Pergola and surrounding Butterfly Flowerbed. Hannah’s project for her Gold Badge was the Keyhole Garden. The Expo is always a big event that the Master Gardeners look forward to each year. Master Gardeners are in charge of the ice cream tasting, fruit tasting, corn on the cob hut, plant sale, and of course, the Demonstration Garden. Go to Smilebox to see a slideshow of photos from the Expo and Demo Garden.

Girl Scout Demo Garden Gold Project

Posted on August 6, 2016August 31, 2016 by trisha

Hannah Grace Childress, Jemison High School ninth grader, chose the Keyhole Garden installation as her Gold Project. Hannah, along with her team, installed the wall with the broken stones left over from the Demonstration Garden. A window constructed by MG, Lee Walters, was installed on the east side of the V cut out for education on root development. Hannah’s team constructed the wall, lined it with cardboard, shredded paper, pine cones, and soil. Hannah and her mother, Terri, planted the garden with Blue Lake Bush beans. Hannah will be on-hand August 6 at the EXPO to explain her project and how it works.

Pictured right: Hannah and her mother, Terri Childress, planting beans

Team pictured above, left to right: Colin Tillery, Andy Davison, Alex Davison, Hannah Grace Childress, Benji Childress and Kinsley Davison.

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!

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 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.

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.