Perennials, Beds, Borders and Beyond

Posted on September 28, 2022September 29, 2022 by trisha

Congratulations to our newly certified Master Gardeners! Rene Day, Chip Durham, Leslie Durham, Susan Parkerson and Abby Messer have completed requirements to become certified. Certificates and badges were presented to those present: Susan, Leslie, and Chip.

Rick Cybulsky, Jefferson County Advanced MG presented an informative program on how to use and care for perennials. He told us that most perennials give 4 to 6 weeks of color but this can be extended by deadheading. He reminded us to cut back in fall and prune at appropriate times for the plant. Dividing when growth slows is important to plant heath.

Pat Farmer reminded us that our Intern class will need help with their project, asked for helpline volunteers, announced nominations for Officers and mentioned needing helpers for the bee meeting set up. Our November meeting will be at another location, TBA. Photos by Diane Clapp

Master Gardeners receive certification certificates — L-R: Susan Parkerson, Leslie and Chip Durham receiving their MG certificates

MG speaker at meeting — Speaker Advanced MG from Jefferson County presents our program.

VP giving speaker a gift. — VP Gail Brooks presents speaker Rick Cybulsky with gift

2022 Interns — L-R 2022 Intern Amy Baker and Amelia Bloomfield

Nominating committee members — L-R Nominating Committee members Lyn Webb and Harriett Jackson presenting the nominations of officers

BBG Fern Glade Tour

Posted on May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 by trisha

Birmingham Fern Society members, Ken and Alicia Hall, led a tour of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Fern Glade for a group of Chilton County Master Gardeners on May 14. One area of the glade is devoted to native Alabama ferns and other areas showcase ferns from various places. We learned about many varieties of ferns and how they multiply by spores or stolons. Ken collects spores and fronds from certain varieties and sends them to a nursery in Texas for propagation. He and Alicia told us how they create micro climates for ferns that need special growing condition. They also showed us through the fern nursery where plants are grown for the gardens as well as for the BBG Plant sale and the Fern Society sale. Thank you Ken and Alicia for sharing a wealth of information!

Members attending were Susan Cleckler, Elizabeth York, Trisha Williams, Joyce Lawson, Harriett Jackson, and Sondra Henley. Photos by Trisha Williams and Susan Cleckler.

Tour guide talking to Master Gardeners about the ferns at Botanical gardens

Fern nursery at BBG, rows of pots of ferns

April Master Gardener Meeting

Posted on April 16, 2017April 16, 2017 by trisha

Jason Powell at April meeting with Sue Webb

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

Autumn in the Demo Garden

Posted on October 11, 2016November 30, 2016 by audrey

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.

yellow flowers blooming in the Demo Garden

arbor in the Demo Garden with plants in foreground

Statue in garden with rocks and low growing plants

Pergola and butterfly garden in Demo Garden

Lunch and Learn

Posted on May 3, 2016August 31, 2016 by audrey

Native Perennials by Dr. Sue Webb

Our Lunch and Learn for April 27th was held at the Chilton County Extension Office and was all about Native Perennials. The program was brought to us by one of our members, Dr. Sue Webb, who has a doctorate in Microbiology and is a graduate of the Native Plant Certification Program at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She brought several samples of native flowers that populate Alabama and told all about growing native perennials for a beautiful, easy garden .
We will host a Lunch and Learn the 4th Wednesday of each month from 12-1:00. This month will be “Daylilies” by Trisha Williams and Audrey Giles, June will be “Salad Bowl Gardening” by Harriett Jackson, July will be “Organic Gardening” by Bill Blackwell, August TBA, September “Starting Seeds” by Lanell Baker, the rest of the year TBA. Call the Extension Office at 280-6268 to reserve your spot, seating is limited.