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Garden Pathways
I remember well
the day I met
Brenda
Armstrong. Her
smiling face lit
up the room and
her laughter
drew you in. It
was with heavy
heart that I,
along with other Master Gardeners, filed
into ‘Brenda’s Church’ today to say goodbye.
It was obvious that “Miss Brenda” was loved,
not just by her family, but by her church
family as well as her Master Gardener
family. At the close of the service, we
decided to drive by the cemetery, as it was
“just down the road”. Travelling down the
one good wide lane, winding among the
buckeyes in bloom, past the ditch lilies, over
the wooden bridge across the creek, up the
hill, past the stand of pine trees, just over
the rise…lay a quiet little countryside
cemetery. We decided not to stop, and just
rode by, not knowing where this narrow
little country road would take us. We came
to the end, “do we go left or do we go right…
no road signs!” We found the GPS and in
just a few moments, it told us we were on
Armstrong Loop. With a little research we
learned we were “about 5 houses” from
Brenda’s home. So we rode by…and
stopped…and we visited her garden. It was
askew with every plant that could be
squeezed in, and then some. Pots of rootings
for a plant sale, chimes tucked away in
nooks of the garden, the goldfish pond
almost hidden by plants, and a quiet place to
sit with a view of the lake…Brenda’s garden.
And we said goodbye again. I know my life
was blessed to know her as have so many
other Master Gardeners across this state.
Brenda served as Secretary and President of
Blount County Master Gardeners. She was
always available to help…whatever the task,
whenever the need. Brenda served a three
year term on the AMGA Board of Directors,
was co-chair of the 2015 Conference and at
the time of her death, serving a two year
term as Secretary of AMGA. She was active
in her church, serving on multiple
committees and a member of the choir. I am
sure the choir of angels welcomed her as she
made her passage from this life to the next
and her beautiful smile radiates from the
heavens above. We will miss you Brenda.
Rest in Peace - Jeanon
Editor Garden Pathways [email protected]
p2 President’s Message AMGA Endowment p3 AMGA Awards AMGA Treasurer p4 AMGA Communications Committee AMGA Nominating Committee p5 Kerry Smith p6 AMGA Fall Seminar P8 AC Chair Note from Editor P9 –21 Happenings p22 Board of Directors
AMGA Website
www.alabamamg.org
Brenda’s Garden Photo by Jeanon Massien
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President’s Message Jeanon Massien [email protected]
Happy summer, my Friends! I trust your spring work is paying off with summer beauty in your gardens. Work among
Board Members this spring has produced great results for AMGA. This newsletter is being produced by our new Editor…MG Patricia Peoples (St. Clair). My sincere thanks to the AMGA Communications Committee, and to a wonderful team of judges who participated in selecting a new editor. Thank you, too, for all who submitted entries and to longtime editor, Ona Garwood (Wiregrass). Ona’s commitment to AMGA is greatly appreciated. I am happy and pleased to make several announcements. MG Michael Thomason (Shoals) has accepted an appointment to the BOD as Chairperson of the Records and Retention Committee. Michael has made great headway with “the boxes”. We’re moving forward with digital storage of 30 years of AMGA records and documents! MG Ann Vaughn (Morgan) has accepted an appointment to the BOD as Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee. Ann has served as a fundraising committee member for several years so she is ready to take on this important challenge. The
entire BOD joins me in thanking Kathie Bass, (MGNA) for her commitment to Fundraising for AMGA over the past years. Kathie set the standard high. MG Mary Howe (MGNA) has accepted an appointment to the BOD as Membership Chairman. MG John Baker (Shoals) has done an outstanding job over the past few years, bringing our number of reported MGs and paid MGs into reconciliation. Mary has aided and assisted John in her previous position as AMGA Treasurer, so this should be a smooth transition for Mary. Upon recommendation of the AMGA Nominating Committee, MG Cathy Canant (Shelby) has accepted the position of AMGA Secretary, and I will seek your approval at the next AMGA business meeting. AND, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ON LINE REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL SEMINAR is available. You will find the link for on-line registration at alabamamg.org . A big thank you to AMGA Treasurer, MG Roger Clarke (Jeff. Co.) for getting the job done! WHEW! Your Board of Directors is moving forward…addressing the needs of AMGA. Thank you one and all for your assistance and support. Thank you to all those mentioned here for your commitment to AMGA. I wish all of you a wonderful summer. See you at the Fall Seminar!!
Jeanon
AMGA Endowment Cathy Canant, AMGA Endowment Committee Chair [email protected]
As mentioned in the last Garden Pathways, the AMGA Board of Directors met immediately fol-lowing the Blount/Cullman conference. The first order of business was signing the documents and presenting a check to Auburn University for $10,000 establishing the new AMGA Graduate Endowment. You, local Master Gardeners, have seen to it we are well on our way to funding this
new endowment with your additional contribu-tions of $2,960 since the 2015 conference. We only need a little over $17,000 to reach the fund-ing requirement of $30,000. Mr. Mark Wilton, of Auburn University informed us of an interesting fact. Our new Endowment is only the seventh ev-er established for Graduate support at the College of Agriculture. On behalf of AMGA, I thank you for all of your hard work and commitment to the Master Gardener Program.
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AMGA Awards
Jane Trawick, AMGA Awards Chair [email protected]
Award Program for Conference 2015, Cullman
A recap of participation by associations around the state for the 2015 AMGA Conference is outlined below. Award winners, based on 2014 hours and criteria for nominations, are as follows:
Top Hours of the Year: The winner was Lamar Glover of Wiregrass with 1,188 hours.
Outstanding Newsletter Award: This is the first year to award in two categories. The winner for an association with 60 members and below went to Autauga County’s Dirty Digs, Anthony Yarbrough, editor. The winner for an association with 61+ members was The Dirt, edited by Alice Marty for Mobile County.
Jean Lee Lifetime Hours Award: The winner was Sybil Burnett of Mobile County with 8,522.5 hours; she was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the AMGA.
The Gary Murray Outstanding Service and Dedication Award: James Miles, REA, of Mobile County won this award.
Mary Lou McNabb Master Gardener of the Year: The winner for the Mary Lou McNabb Master Gardener of the Year was Karin Carmichael, submitted by Capital City.
Reach for the Stars and Badges Award: Twenty one associations had qualifying members for awards of 58 gold badges, 38 platinum badges and advanced stars including twelve ruby, three emerald and one diamond star. Kudos to the Awards Committee for their hard work and insight provided during this awards process.
**The new contact information for Badges, Stars, etc. is: Andria Cummings, 309 Brevard Blvd. Huntsville, AL 35811 C: 256-698-3506.
AMGA Treasurer My 2 Cents Roger Clarke, AMGA Treasurer [email protected]
With the June board meeting we officially changed treasurer’s, from Mary Howe to me. I look forward to fulfilling this role, and from what I have seen during the last few months, I will be pretty busy. I want to thank Mary for all the help she has given me since March in preparing to assume the treasurer’s role, and to express many thanks from all the board for a job well done!
You can contact me: Roger Clarke 527 Greenbrier Way Birmingham, AL 35244 Home 205-871-7470 preferred Cell 205-533-4961 [email protected]
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AMGA Communications Committee Brenda Tapp, AMGA Communications Chair [email protected]
The Communications Committee’s role has changed over the last few months. Revision of the AMGA Manuals and Handbooks is an ongoing project, but the Board decided to redefine the website and Garden Pathways as sub-committees of Communications.
AMGA website The website is up and running and up-to-date. In fact, we finally have online registration beginning with the 2015 Fall Seminar. Go to: alabamamg.org, select 2015 Fall Seminar, and try it out.
Now we need information from you. Please send information on local events such as plant sales, tours, seminars, anything that might be
of interest to members of other local associations to John Baker ([email protected]). It can be listed on the up-coming events page.
Garden Pathways
After a detailed search, a new editor has been named for Garden Pathways. Patricia Peoples from St. Clair MGA will be filling this role. Guidelines have changed and may continue to be modified as we refine the process, but if you check the website, under AMGA PUBLICATIONS & FORMS, Newsletter Submission Criteria, you will always find the latest information.
We welcome Patricia and thank her for taking on this task. Please remember, the cooperation and support you have always given to our editors is essential to the continued success of Garden Pathways.
AMGA Nominating Committee Pam Olson, AMGA Nominating Committee [email protected]
Searching for Nominees The AMGA Nominating Committee is in the process of accepting recommendations to fill two positions on the Board of Directors and one on the Nominating Committee. These vacancies will be filled at the Annual Conference to be held in Dothan, May 2016, but nominees must be announced in the Winter Garden Pathways.
We are looking for candidates with outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to the Master Gardener program. Candidates must be willing to attend quarterly meetings, participate in committee activities, and travel at personal expense. Directors serve
three-year terms, and Nominating Committee members serve two-year terms.
Election of AMGA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee members is a very important component of our state association and its success. The Nominating Committee is now in the process of evaluating candidates, so it needs your input ASAP. Please contact any member of the committee. Thanks for your participation!
Pam Olson – Chair, Email: [email protected] 334-462-1629 Karin Carmichael, Email: [email protected] 334-271-3084 Tom Boyle, Email: [email protected] 334-794-2094
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Disease Alert – Boxwood Blight Kerry Smith, State Master Gardener Program Coordinator, [email protected]
Boxwood blight is the newest disease we should all know and watch for in landscapes. This devastating fungal disease causes leaf blight and shoot dieback of boxwood. Once infected, disease management is time intensive. Prevention and avoidance are the only cure. It is particularly destructive on American (Buxus sempervirens) and English boxwoods (B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’) as well as their hybrids. Confirmed in Alabama – This fungus is widely distributed from New England, to North Carolina, and in the west, Oregon. During 2014, boxwood blight first appeared in Georgia and Tennessee landscapes, and now in 2015, in Alabama landscapes. The cool weather seasons of both 2014 and 2015 were perfectly favorable (extended rains and temperatures in mid-60° to 70° F) to disease development. Diseased plant material was brought into Alabama and sold primarily thru one big-box retail chain this spring. This disease has not yet been confirmed in nursery stock grown in Alabama. Diseased landscape plantings have been confirmed in the Birmingham metro area, and in Huntsville’s historic district. Diseased boxwoods were recovered from several retail stores across Alabama this spring and were destroyed after a confirmed diagnoses. Symptoms – The causal fungus Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum (syn. C. buxicola) readily sporulates on leaves and shoots. Dormant structures of this fungus can also persist in soil without a host for 5 years or more. Early symptoms appear as light to dark brown leaf spots (see link below). Eventually, diseased leaves
are shed leaving the plants almost completely defoliated. Brown to reddish-brown colored lesions with tan to light brown centers form on the shoots and stems. Later these infected stems turn black. Established plants don’t typically die. They re-sprout, but are weakened by repeated infections. Distinctive from other boxwood diseases is the combination of all three symptoms: leaf spots, stem lesions, and defoliation. Disease Management – The easiest management strategy is avoidance. Disease spores move via rain or irrigation splash, contaminated clothing, shoes, hoses, equipment and tools.
Purchase boxwoods that originate from states where the disease is not found.
Inspect plants at time of purchase for symptoms; especially winter/spring.
Monitor newly established boxwood plantings; especially those planted between fall 2014 to present; and during favorable weather.
Sanitation is critical. Remove diseased plants and plant debris, and bag them for disposal.
Use surface rather than overhead irrigation in established boxwoods.
Should suspicious symptoms appear on boxwood, submit a sample for diagnosis to the Plant Diagnostic Laboratories in Auburn or Birmingham.
Do not replant boxwood in beds where diseased plants were removed. Replace with selections of Dwarf Yaupon, Japanese (little leaf) holly varieties, or dwarf inkberry holly.
Clean tools with a surface disinfectant like isopropyl alcohol after trimming or removing diseased boxwood.
For highly valued boxwood, apply protective fungicide (chlorothalonil, or tebuconazole) when plants are vulnerable to attack and weather favors disease spread. For more information and images go to: http://tinyurl.com/omc2ybm
Boxwood Blight - Adria Bordas, VT Institute and State University, Bugwood.org
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ALABAMA MASTER
GARDENER
ASSOCIATION 2015
FALL SEMINAR
September 9, 2015
8:30a.m.-3:00p.m.
Clanton Conference &
Performing Arts Center
Jefferson State
Community College
1850 Lay Dam Road
Registration: $25
Payable to
Chilton County Master
Gardener Association
(CCMGA)
Send Registration and
Check to:
CCMGA
P.O. Box 30
Clanton, AL 35046
Registration end date
August 24, 2015
Partner hotels:
Holiday Inn Express
815 Bradberry Lane,
Clanton, AL
205-280-1880
Discounted rate $105
Best Western
801 Bradberry Lane,
Clanton, AL
205-280-1006
Regular rate $85.00
For more information
call:
Pat Farmer
205-755-2879
or Sondra Henley
205-567-3333
“SEASON’S
ENDING OR
JUST
BEGINNING”
EVENT DETAILS
8:30 - 9:15 Registration
9:15 - 9:30 Welcome
9:30 -10:30 Bulbs, Tubers, & Corms,
Oh My! (Jason Powell)
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:45 Gardening Insights From
Permaculture (Will Sheftall)
11:45-12:45 Lunch (Provided)
12:45- 1:45 Seed Saving &
Propagation (Dani Carroll)
1:45 - 2:00 Break
2:00 - 3:00 Sex in the Garden-
Pollination (Sallie Lee)
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“SEASON’S ENDING OR JUST BEGINNING”
Name: MGA Affiliation:
______________________________________________________________________
Email:_____________________________ Phone:__________________________
Registration forms must be received by August 24, 2015
The $25 fee will include morning snack, lunch and drink.
Lunch Selection: Meat (circle1- 4 choices) Ham
Includes condiments, salad, fruit, & dessert Turkey
Roast Beef
Cheese
Bread selection (Circle 1) Sub bun
White bread
Wheat bread
Address:
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Advisory Council Ginny Holland, AC Chair [email protected]
The Advisory Council met on Tuesday, May 5,
2015 in Clanton with around 60 attendees. The
new sign-in table to register attendance is prov-
ing to be a great success. A recap of the Reach for
the Stars Award requirements was given. Only
hours earned while an MG is in good standing
with AMGA will be counted. Some of the other
topics discussed included methods of sharing in-
formation learned at AC meetings with local
memberships and plant sale problems, solutions,
and new ideas to maximize fundraising. The next
Advisory Council meeting will be held on August
4, 2015 in Clanton.
Attention Local MGA Presidents & Reporters
and AMGA Officers & Board Members
Please send all articles, reports, photos and other materials for Garden Pathways to:
Please include the name of your association, board committee or other identifying
information on the subject line.
Deadline for the Fall 2015 issue of Garden Pathways is September 15,2015.
I want to thank each association that sent a submission to Garden Pathways. They are
all great articles and I have enjoyed reading each one. I think this will continue be a
great newsletter and hope you agree. Secondly, just a reminder of the rules the com-
munication team has set before us. When you receive the reminder for the fall news-
letter, the rules will be included there also. Please take a minute or two to review
them. We have limitations on how many pages go into the newsletter and want to be
able to publish all that is important to each association. We have to be as concise as
we can without losing the meaning of the article. And one picture! I know it is very
hard to make choices, but I would rather you make the choice than me. Thanks again
for the support and cooperation. –Patricia Peoples, editor
Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.
~Lindley Karstens,
noproblemgarden.com
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Autauga County Nancy Waggoner [email protected]
Despite being on a day that started out stormy, the Autauga County Master Gardeners Association plant sale on April 25, 2015 was the best ever. Many members attended the 2015 AMGA meeting in Cullman. Our Newsletter Dirty Digs was awarded the Outstanding Newsletter for 2014 for the associations that have less than 60 members. Kudos to Editor Anthony Yarbrough! Several members received gold and platinum badges. Our Debby Boutelier was awarded an Emerald Star for 6,136 volunteer hours! Successful Lunch and Learn topics this quarter were: Tomatoes, Hydrangeas and Tree Identification. Hummingbird awards were given to second time recipients: Glenn Nichols for his presence and hard work at many of our functions. Rose McCauley received the award in May for organizing another superb plant sale. In June the award was bestowed upon Millie Ledford, who
The Country Store at our Plant Sale
HAPPENINGS
turned a few Arbor Day Japanese maple tree saplings into large, vigorous trees for our plant sale. On May 5, 2015, we toured the Jim Scott property and on June 17, 2015, we visited the Trial Garden at Young’s Plant Farm. Our Extension Agent Mallory Kelley gave birth to baby Coleman in June. Congratulations Mallory! We are proud of our current crop of Interns who graduate at our August meeting; we welcome them warmly as new Autauga County Master Gardeners!
The Country Store at our Plant Sale
Autauga County Master Gardener Members Leanne Wadsworth, Paula Seamon, and Debby Boutelier look
over items in our Plant Sale Country Store. Photo by Anthony Yarbrough.
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Baldwin County Myra Lassere [email protected]
On Tuesday, April 28th, a graduation luncheon was held for the Baldwin County 2015 Master Gardener Interns. The food, as usual, was excellent. The presentations by the Interns were spirited and enlightening. We welcome the graduates into our ranks as new Master Gardeners, and in July, they will be receiving their certificates of completed course requirements. The graduation photo to the right was taken by Honorary Master Gardener Tad Arnold. Mike McQueen, ACES – County Extension Agent is in the middle rear and MG Pam Tucker, Intern Coordinator, is pictured right front. The Interns pictured from left to right are as follows: Front Row - Verna Thwaits, Freya Sonenstein, C. Fogarty, Donna Aplin, Niki Feast and Tucker. Back Row
left to right: Mike White, Karen White, Sharon Thoele, Pat Cotton, McQueen, Kathie Whitson, James Whitson and Jere Trigg. Bernie Fogarty and Lynn White were not available.
Blount County Sherry Brewer [email protected] From Seed to Table Growing Green Summer Camp For the past five summers, Sherry Brewer and Mary Mathews, have directed a two day Growing Green Gardening Camp. Themed “From Seed to Table” third through eighth graders within the county attend, for free, thanks to the Blount County Education Foundation. Students cut lemons to make fresh lemonade for the day, many citing, “I didn’t know this is where lemonade came from.” The camp focuses on exposing kids to the garden as food and fun, using recycled materials in environmentally friendly activities, and teaching sustainable gardening techniques. The camp is held at Locust Fork High School’s outdoor classroom where vegetables, herbs, and flowers fill the raised beds. Campers learn how to read a seed packet, learn plant identification, mulching and weeding techniques, basic propagation and how to transplant for take-home pots. Students use recycled two-liter soda bottles to make and paint birdhouses, construct mosquito catchers, and create and fill plant pots. Old toilet paper holders are folded to make seed starter pots, and seeds are glued to newspaper strips as seed starters. Campers create stepping stones decorated with garden materials and rocks. They also harvest herbs and veggies and make and sample herb butters, and home-made salsas. Other
garden products include herb gardener’s hand scrub and homemade lip balm. President of the BCMG, and a Home Depot employee, Harold Deason, taught campers tool safety and how to assemble wood bluebird houses. Home Depot donated the materials and Deason provided the set-up, training, and support. The camp has been a success and has opened the eyes of many campers to just how easy and fun working in a garden can be.
L to R Sherry Brewer, BCMGA Secretary, Harold Deason, BCMGA
President, and Mary Mathews, BCMGA member stand in Locust Fork
High School's Outdoor Classroom with newly built birdhouses donated
by The Home Depot. (Sherry and Mary are also teachers at Locust Fork
High School). Photo by Jenna Berry
Article edited from Grassroots, Barbara Comstock.
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Calhoun County Sherry Blanton [email protected]
Our spring was wet and busy! We hosted three days of April Earth Day events at Cane Creek Community Gardens for 4th graders from county, city, and private schools. An extra day was added to the schedule to accommodate all the schools that wanted to participate. Cane Creek is home to our local association. Our 2015 MG training class finished their class work in April. A group of Interns have been volunteering weekly at Cane Creek to get our clubhouse grounds in beautiful condition. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed as Cane Creek was recognized by the Calhoun County Beautification Board with a Beautification Award. Lunch and Learn 2015 got off to a great start with Dr. Harry Holstein, an archaeologist from Jacksonville State University, who provided a fascinating program about a local historical site. David Doggett, Jefferson County MG, spoke to a standing room only crowd in May about hydrangeas. June’s program Fabulous Ferns presented by
Hayes Jackson was also very well attended. Our Association meets monthly for lunch and a program. Daniel Powell of the Alabama Black Bear Alliance educated us in June about bears and their status in the state. His informative program was timely as we had just had a bear sighting in our area. The summer promises to be hot and busy as well. Enjoy!
MGs lending a hand Earth Day 2015. Photo submitted by Sherry Blanton
Capital City Betsy Coley [email protected]
The ninth annual Capital City Master Gardener Association (CCMGA) Plant Sale in April was the most successful yet. We raised more money, 80% of our members participated, and the crowd was bigger. Ka-rin Carmichael was head of the hard-working group that raised a record number of plants. The Garden Shop committee, led by Anna Owen and Ginger Gam-mon, took donated garden items and created works that were scooped-up by the shoppers. Suzanne Reaves, as chair of the sale, kept everything going.
The Lunch and Learn education program is in its third year. The program on July 1, 2015, Gardens of the British Isles, was presented by Laurice Goorley, one of our members who has traveled to these gardens and created a slide presentation for this program.
CCMGA members have started work on the first garden of the new Montgomery Botanical Gardens (MBG) in Oak Park. Working on a long row of overgrown azaleas, they pruned the shrubs, stripped
out vines, and cut out small trees that had taken root in this plot. During the morning they were working, Mayor Todd Strange held a press conference concerning MBG on-site, complete with TV crews and newspaper reporters. Some of our hard-working members appeared on television that evening.
Left to right, CCMGA members Betsy Coley and Cathy Mad-dox working on the azaleas at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens. Photo by Carolyn Dorsey
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Central Alabama Iva Haynie [email protected] It continues to be a good year for our association. We are busy telling others about gardening. In April, Jane Mobley spoke to the Arrowhead Garden Club about Southern heirloom Gardens, Linda Griebel spoke to the Rumbling Waters Arts Club about growing and using herbs. Some of our folks participated in the Lanark floral day and in the plant swap at the recycling center in Wetumpka. Others worked at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens. Suzanne Sikes spoke at our April meeting on lilies. We had a successful plant sale in May. It was our best ever! In addition to the plant sale, our people worked the Help Line, the Millbrook
Farmers Market, National Arbor Day, and at the Governor's Mansion. Our May meeting presentation was given by Dr. Sue Web on using native plants in the landscape. In June, Candy Jones talked to our group about the Advanced Master Gardener Program. Some of our Master Gardeners worked the Lanark Hydrangea Fest on the 13th. Recent Lunch and Learn subjects were Herbs, Luscious Lawns, and Tough as Nails Plants for the South. Work continues at the Governor's mansion, Montgomery Botanical Gardens and in our own Learning Gardens. We are recruiting for our Fall Master Gardener Class and will graduate the previous class in August.
Cherokee County
Billy Tillery [email protected]
The Cherokee County Master Gardeners were
the recipients of the 2015 Beautification Award
presented by the Cherokee County Chamber of
Commerce. Billy Tillery, President, accepted the
award on behalf of the Master Gardeners. The
award was given for hard work in and around
Cherokee County on beautification projects. The
projects include Centre City Hall, Centre Middle
School, Yarbrough Sports Complex, Little River
Canyon Mouth Park and the Canyon Center, just
to name a few. We are proud of our Master
Gardeners for working hard on different projects
to enhance the beauty of Cherokee County.
Our Master Gardeners, in partnership with the
City of Centre, DHR (Jobs Programs), the Alabama
Cooperative Extension System’s Nutrition
Education Program, Cherokee County Sheriff’s
Office and the Cherokee Public Library will be
planting a community demonstration garden on
the site of the old Cherokee County Jail. Free
classes will meet weekly at the County Extension
Office. Master Gardeners will teach basic
gardening skills for raised bed and pot gardening.
For more information contact Mary Shewmaker,
NEP Agent Assistant (256-927-3250).
In June, Edna Jennings, Master Food Preserver,
presented a program, “Preserving the Harvest,”
for The Green Bag Program at the Cherokee
County Public Library. Drinks and dessert were
served by the Library.
13
Chilton County Pat Farmer, [email protected] The Chilton County Master Gardeners have been busy getting ready for the 2015 AMGA Fall Seminar that will be hosted by our association. The speakers and venue are booked, and the on-line registration is ready for your use. You can find the link on our web site found at alabamamg.org. You will see the tab for “Fall Seminar Registration.” We will have the manual registration form ready to send out to each association in the next few days. “Season’s Ending or Just Beginning!” September 9, 2015. Save the Date!
We are still busy working on our Demonstration Garden redesign/make-over. Thanks to all the members who are giving of their time to make this a beautiful garden! Our tool shed has been landscaped and gutters are being installed today. Come see our progress!
Several members recently landscaped a patio at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library. Audrey and
Lamar Giles, Jerry and Pat Farmer, Harriett Jackson and Lanell Baker took up dead rose bushes, tilled the soil, planted flowers, mulched, installed two hanging baskets and a water fountain…all in one day. The picture below is the end result; you should have seen the “before.”
Photo by Audrey Giles
“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. .. In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, and sportsmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.”
― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in
14
Covington County Bonnie Reed [email protected]
Watch me Grow project with Apple Our club was approached by Barbara Tyler, Apple Program Coordinator. Did our club have an interest in conducting a once-a-week class for the children of a new after school project? Sounds simple, yes? “Let the games begin!” Our club is small with only 15 members and not all are able to participate in every project. Donna Bateman was very happy to be chairman, and she put together some great projects for the children. We were prepared for three classes of 40 minutes each with 12 children in each class. What we were baptized with was 130 children coming in waves 20 minutes apart. We had five raised beds that were weed infested. We rallied around Master Gardeners Curtis Slawson, Bonnie Reed and Donna Bateman, and settled down for the long haul. Master Gardener members Susan Blair, Norma Riley, Jamie Henagan, Bertie Smith, Flora Craig, and Chuck Simon, Extension
agent, were our on call helpers. We conducted classes from January until May. We planted peas, planned and planted flower beds, a vegetable garden, and a pizza garden with each class, and had a pizza party the last day with our herb toppings we had harvested.
Bonnie Reed, President
DeKalb County MGA Dawn Earley [email protected]
Welcome to summer! I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve spent most of it just trying to keep things alive. At the end of March we visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Cofield in Boaz, AL, and toured their beautiful gardens. It was great with all the wildflowers in bloom. That was a nice respite from the rain and the preparations for the annual DeKalb County Master Gardener plant sale held at the end of April. April was busy as is normal for the DeKalb County MGs. There were loads of plants from Auburn plus all the plants we had grown ourselves. All needed to be organized, identified, and labeled. The plant sale is always a lot of work but we have such a good time doing it. At our May meeting we had Cyndia Montgomery, from Master Gardeners of North Alabama in Madison County, present a wonderful program on garden art. Our June meeting was held at Fern Ridge Farms in
Cherokee County, where Eleanor Craig spoke about the farm and many different ferns she grows. After her talk we were allowed to wander around on our own. Following our meeting, MG Ann Houston invited us to come by her place in Ft Payne for a tour of her garden and we were not disappointed.
Back: Eileen Dijkhuis, Linda Stephens, Richon Turner, Janie Lawless, Robert Wells, Mike Kercher, Celestine Darnell, Front: Donna Wells, Ann Houston, Dawn Earley, Norah Gamble, Jan Newhoff, Gerald Cofield, Betty Cofield and Burma Boyd Photo by Ronnie Lawless
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East Central Alabama Sheila Bolen [email protected] Well, this has indeed been a busy year thus far!
Volunteer opportunities have been readily
available and we’ve definitely taken advantage of
them. Our MGs worked with Wedowee
Elementary, Folsom Head Start Program, Rockville
Schools and Knight-Enloe Elementary. Now that
our school gardens are on hiatus, we finally have
time to work on our own gardens. Between tours
of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Servants In
Faith And Technology Grounds, and volunteering
at Kid’s College at Southern Union College, we
have barely had time to relax. Our annual plant
sale in April was, again, successful. We have
already started planning our fall sale. We are also
planning our fall tour of Eagle’s Roost Herb Farm
and the Medicinal Plants Garden at Auburn.
Recently, we received two Interns from Dadeville
into membership and are very excited to have
them. Welcome to Sara and Janie! Two of our
members recently toured the only tea plantation
in North America which is located outside
Charleston, South Carolina. What a wonderful
place it was to tour, and we learned so much. Fall
is bringing more volunteer opportunities at the
schools we work with, and we’re really looking
forward to seeing all the kids again!
Etowah County Carol B. Link [email protected] Recently Etowah County Master Gardener Association accomplished a great feat. In 2004, the association obtained permission from Etowah County to erect a greenhouse on the property adjacent to Etowah County’s Cooperative Extension System office. We conducted our first greenhouse sale that year. In subsequent years, we obtained permission to erect three additional greenhouses, plus a storage building on the property. A few years ago, the association was given access to a large metal building on the property that has a restroom. Then, Etowah County decided to sell the property, and because our association had no other place to erect our greenhouses, members voted to obtain a mortgage and purchase the property. Last month, the mortgage was paid and now the property belongs to ECMGA, Inc. Our greenhouses are great for teaching new Master Gardeners planting and propagation techniques, and great place for conducting workshops. Our horticultural helpline is in operation, answering horticulture
questions, and our new raised beds are available for teaching students in an upcoming MG class, in August. Recently members landscaped two new constructions for Habitat for Humanity. Thus far, we have had quite a productive year.
When the gates opened on the first day of Etowah County Association's annual plant sale, the pouring rain did not prevent customers from coming, nor Master Gardeners from selling plants. On the left, in her raincoat is veteran Master Gardener, Cooky Robertson, and on the right is ECMGA, Inc., current president, Janice Hatley. Photo by Carol B. Link
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Jefferson County Fletcher Harvey [email protected]
It would be remiss of us not to note the untimely passing of our good friend Brenda Armstrong. Though a member of the Blount County Master Gardeners, she participated in many of our Jefferson County events to the extent that some folks assumed that she lived “farther south.” She will be greatly missed. ************** After complaining about the untimely cool spell earlier in the year, many of us are wondering when there will be a break in our current long hot dry days of summer. It just goes to prove you should be careful what you ask for. You just might get it! Jefferson County Master Gardeners have been hard at work in the community at the Norwood Gardens, Grandmother’s House at Sloss Furnace and continuing participation in the Harvest for Health program, to name just a few. Members continue to devote many hours of service at both Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Aldridge Gardens. A recent event of interest was Birmingham’s Butterfly Awareness Day at the Botanical Gardens in June. Jefferson County Master Gardeners again manned the popular “Ask a Master Gardener” table. Expertly refereed by Lenora Roberson and Linda Emerson, our annual plant swap in May was a huge success. In June, Dr. Jim
Jacobi, our Extension Center Plant Pathologist, illuminated the troops as to the rising threat of boxwood blight and the problems inherent with the emerald ash borer. One of our own, tree and shrub ”guru” David Doggett, delivered a very well received evening workshop on Hydrangea Propagation. Let’s not forget that we just began a summer Master Gardener Class, and many of our folks are assisting in the mechanics of educating a new crop of Interns. Don’t forget to apply your sunscreen and wear a hat when you’re out playing in the dirt!
Jefferson Co Master Gardeners "Aware of Butterflies”, from left: Fran Brandon, Barbara Money and Pat Cosgrove Photo by Bethany O’Rear
Limestone County Joni Gruber [email protected]
LIMESTONE COUNTY has been having some
extraordinary meetings lately. Our June meeting was
at the home of MG’s Tom and Roberta Ress for a tour
of their gardens that are a certified wildlife habitat.
After a potluck dinner poolside we had two
educational programs that were enjoyed by all. The
first was given by Mr. Ress, describing how he uses
worm composting to enrich his soil. The second was
Ress’ son-in-law, Rod Wittenberg, presenting the
benefits of snakes in the garden. Wittenberg, a
herpetologist who holds a PhD, held a snake during
his presentation as we learned from his explanations
and first-hand experience. Our May meeting was at
the home of MG’s Kathryn and Jerry Davis where we
had snacks before a Walking Tour of five private
gardens in Athens. Our thanks to MG Janet Hunt, MG
Cherry Anne and Bill Ward, Barbara Daley, and Pat
and John Pepper, for opening their beautiful gardens
to us. In April, besides our regular meeting which was
held about a week before a very successful annual
plant sale, we had a field trip to Scottsboro’s Jackson
County Park for a tour of the Alabama native plant
trail. The last 3 months have certainly been an
enjoyable learning experience of varied and
interesting subjects related to gardening – just what
we all hope to get through our membership with our
local Master Gardener Associations.
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Marshall County Linda Widner [email protected]
Spring is always a busy time for our association. Several of us enjoyed attending the AMGA State Conference. Then our successful spring plant sale kept us busy. And as of June we have harvested 1,327 pounds of vegetables from the CASA garden.
Our Interns can be proud of the projects they were involved in. They worked with the Brindlee Mountain Elementary and Primary children building raised beds and planting the schools’ greenhouse. They taught students the complete process from planting through selling their tomato plants.
Our excellent speakers included Shirley Holland and Jerry Mosley from CASA explaining what CASA offers the community while sharing stories of how grateful the community is for the Garden. MG Jim Small talked about ferns with an excellent slide show. Herbalist Phyllis Light taught us more about herbs and the use of edible flowers.
The Farmer’s Market information booth began at Guntersville. Members enjoy giving out gardening information, and recruiting new MG class members. Refreshing the beds at Hospice is also another summer project.
Upcoming speakers: Max Campbell on Fall/
Winter vegetable gardening, Teresa Smith on water garden plants, And September is our picnic and plant swap. We meet the third Tuesday of each month.
MCMG Plant Sale L-R: MG Interns Kathy and Ray Barnes, Tom Andress, Mary Giles and Charlotte French Maggie is in front by the display. Master Gardener Interns who worked on the project but not shown were: Deb Douglas, Gary March-Force, Sarah Martin, and Jane Staton. Photo provided by Linda Widner.
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Master Gardeners of North Alabama Elouisa Stokes [email protected]
What a spring we have had. Lots to do, cool (for us) temperatures, and beautiful flowers galore. Our Master Gardener team taught the ins and outs of gardening to new Interns, and we are fortunate that many of them have joined us. Three new Habitat homes have been landscaped with shrubs and plants donated by our members.
In addition to supporting the Huntsville Botanical Garden spring plant sale, this year we had our own second plant sale. It brought in good revenue and allowed us to share plants not only with each other but with the general public. In July we will repeat our successful rummage (especially garden rummage) sale.
Our newest activity was participating in the Family Fun Fest held at the Von Braun Center. MG volunteers helped with the children’s tables--planting seeds and learning about butterflies. In addition, we had a rain barrel demonstration, a compost demonstration, and answered questions at an Ask a Master Gardener table. It was a great day and provided a great chance to tell about our
work. We held a well-attended workshop on weed
identification, and a Landscape Design Seminar lead by Denise Woodring is scheduled for July. Information at http://www.mginfo.org/workshopregistration.html .
May your summer not be too hot. Fall can’t be too far behind!!
MG Intern Susan Bridges (left) and MG Deb Bonkowski
help children plant seeds at the Family Fun Fest.
(Photographer: MG Sue Khoury)
Mobile County Harold Bolton [email protected]
Spring was busy! at the MBG Plant Sale, MG members answered hundreds of plant questions in the tent and on the field. Martha Rauchs’ team built a wonderful family home backyard display at the 2015 Festival of Flowers. Four of our mem-bers attended state conference with two agents, bringing home four state level awards.
President Brenda Bolton initiated a new pro-gram, “Out In The Garden,” asking our members to volunteer their gardens for member tours. Throughout May and June, we toured nine beau-tiful gardens and learned countless planting tips and tricks from our own MG “experts.”
Farm To Table was a sell-out success! Kudos to
Judy Weaver, and team, for an event promoting eating fresh and local. In June, MG Luan Akridge, presented “Hydrangea Culture,” Alice Marty pre-sented “Hibiscus Culture” at Lunch And Learn, and we toured Crenshaw’s Daylily Farm, hearing a presentation on daylily culture, amid thousands of daylily varieties.
The DREAM Garden is in phase one renova-tion, with structures raised, including a large classroom pavilion, small greenhouse, and potting shed with storage, under Jan Tanner’s enthusiastic leadership. Jackie Jenkins, with her mentorship committee, is already preparing for a new class to begin August 12, 2015. Welcome MG Interns!
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Shelby County Karen Jensen [email protected] Shelby County Master Gardeners explore, share, study, & partner. Veep/webmaster Byron Ford provided programs comparing and contrasting GMOs and Organic Farming. At the May Plant Swap, Lay Lake Home owners and Boat owners provided pontoon rides to Goat Island, the heron rookery, and an active osprey nest, while identifying invasive aquatic species. Master Gardener Events Coordinator, Jennifer Gregory, organized an April tour of Bonnie Plants, who will share tomatoes with us at our much anticipated July “Tomato Taste Testing” meeting! Organic farmer Joyce Darby will also be providing tomatoes. More partnering is anticipated this fall as we sponsor an eradication of invasive Chinese privet workshop in the woodland behind our extension office. Extension staff member Ricky Colquitt will team up with Shelby County MGA, the county, and trade school horticulture students. SCMGA will fund supplies used to teach four eradication
techniques, help coordinate the workshop, and further enhance the outdoor ‘classroom’ and bog garden (minus privet!), with guidance from member Michelle Hill and valiant MG volunteers.
Shoals Kaye Hillis [email protected] The Shoals Master Gardeners are very thankful for winning the 2014 Search for Excellence award at the State Conference in Cullman. Many people worked on this, so once again thank you. Projects have been keeping us very busy these past few months. We recently helped with the Junior Master Gardener program for the Lauderdale 4-H youth. They are busy planting in raised beds, learning about how to plant, weed and harvest. It is great to see these future Master Gardeners already learning. We were recently educated by Harvey Cotton on the importance of bees. It seems like we
once took these for granted, and now we are trying our best to keep them around. It was good to be refreshed on the many ways to maintain the bee population. Our own Barbara Wilson, state and national flower show judge, entertained us about flower arranging. Even though we all can put flowers in a vase, Barbara showed us the right way, even how to do an arrangement easy enough for a first-timer to do. Our upcoming events include going to the fall conference in Clanton, and on to Oneonta. It is always great to see other Master Gardeners from around the state.
Chuck takes gardeners to Goat Island, Heron Rockery and
Osprey Nest. Pictured L to R front: Beth Glasgow and
husband, Brenda Fitzgerald, Karen Kendall; back: Chuck
Jensen, the host driver, Meryl Schukkoske & AC Rep
Rhonda Cowan waving.
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St. Clair County Sharla Palmgren [email protected]
It is with great pleasure that I write my first report on Master Gardener activities in St. Clair County. Our much-loved Patricia Peoples has been named editor of Garden Pathways. Although I am a new MG, I will do my best to fill her shoes. Members of our 2014 Class have jumped into volunteering and learning. There is so much to learn! We are a bunch of new sprouts eager to get digging! Most of the native plants we were seeking for the Lakeside Landing Native Trail have been located and planted to maintain a "natural" look. Even in the unseasonal heat, our group has continued planting and carrying water to keep our part of the trail thriving. This has been a huge undertaking and required many volunteer hours. You will find Master Gardeners continuing into the fall and winter to make our part of the trail unique and educational. David Doggett presented a lesson on the planting, care and maintenance of various Japanese Maple species. He has an amazing knowledge, and we learned so much.
Charles Pinkston and his wife Linda were our guests at our May meeting. Pinkston has worked for the County Extension Service for 33 years. He has also managed the St. Clair County Master Gardener classes since their inception in 2007.
Until next time - Stay Cool!
Linda and Charles Pinkston Courtesy of Cullman Co Extension Center
Tallapoosa County Judy Heinzen [email protected]
Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners are proud of the twenty new Interns who participated in the 2015 Master Gardener class offered February – May this year. We look forward to their certification and continued participation. We held two fund raisers this year: Plant & Pot sale on April 10, and Mulch Sale on April 25. Proceeds from the sales funded two of our projects: the purchase of blackberry and blueberry plants for the Girls Ranch, and flowers for the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in Dadeville. Many members volunteered at the Tallapoosa County Water Festival, Classroom in the Forest, and served as judges for 4-H Contests. Our CEU opportunities were increased with presentations from Fred Bassett on Hummingbirds, and Dr. Nancy Loewenstein on Non-Native Invasive Species. Extension sponsored workshops on Pruning and Vegetable Gardening. We toured the Lanark
Nature Center in Millbrook (March), New Water Ministries in Dadeville (April), and Aldridge Gardens in Hoover (June).
Mulch and Pot Sale From left - Marian Edel, Dale Burton
Courtesy of Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners Association Facebook page
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Tuscaloosa County Octavia Miles [email protected] Tuscaloosa County Master Gardeners (TCMG) charged into spring with great enthusiasm even though the frequency of rain has had both its pros and cons. Nevertheless, Master Gardeners can be found sharing gardening knowledge and skills throughout Tuscaloosa. Our annual “Pass Along” Plant Sale was a popular and successful event. The hard work of each Master Gardener provided rewarding results for our scholarship fund to Auburn University. Also in April, a number of TCMGs worked with Hillcrest High School’s Special Needs Class to prepare and to carry out a weekend plant sale. The proceeds were a tremendous boost for purchasing classroom supplies and sponsoring field trips. A husband and wife Master Gardener team
worked with Oak Hill School to design and construct a butterfly-shaped butterfly garden. After setting the plants and mulching, there were enough edge bricks remaining to construct an herb garden on the berm of the fish pond. Several MGs participated in Earth Day activities at Tuscaloosa’s Battle Friedman Home and Gardens. They shared pertinent information on “Low Maintenance Perennial Gardens”, “Tried and True Gardening Tips”, “Houseplants for the Inside Gardener”, and “For the Child in You, Tips For Making Terra Cotta Pot People”. Although May’s weather conditions limited many outside activities, Master Gardeners began several inside activities and demonstrations for area youth and senior citizen groups that will continue long into the summer. Until next quarter, enjoy your summer’s treats and travels!
Use Baking Soda in the Garden http://www.southwestgardenguide.com/2013/01/using-baking-soda-in-garden-cost.html
Baking soda isn't just for indoor use. Baking soda is an absolute 'must have' if you’re a backyard gardener who wants to save a buck. Besides every day indoor household uses, use baking soda (bicarbonate soda) in your every day lawn and garden maintenance. Make a Spray to Prevent & Treat Powdery Mildew. Powdery mildew can be a problem for many plants. Plants proned to damaging powdery mildew include cabbages, monarda - bergamot or bee balm plants, zinnias, lilacs, mushrooms, tomato, etc. Cucumber and Squashes are particularly susceptible powdery mildew which can eventually effect the plants immune system and kill it off. There’s nothing worse than watching your plant grow to ma-turity, bloom and fruit and powdery mildew kill it off. Just makes you sick to your stomach. A simple mixture of baking soda, water, and dish detergent can really save your cucumber crop or deter the mildew from even happening. Sprinkle Baking Soda on Cabbages (and other Brassicas) to Thwart Caterpillars, Aphids, Ants, Silver Fish and Roaches and some beetles away. Put directly onto slugs to kill them. Caterpillars can wipe out an entire crop of cabbage within a few days. Aphids can multiply so fast that a cabbage can be unrecognizable. Caterpillars are the worst garden offenders. Those cute and colorful worms are like punks in a mash pit. When your cabbage begins to look like Swiss cheese.. you know you have caterpillars Make a 50/50 combination of flour and baking soda, and dust it all over whichever plants the cab-bage worms are eating. The mixture is good for most vegetable plants particularly cabbage, broccoli, and kale plants which caterpillars love. They'll eat the combo while munching on the leaves and will die within a day or so. Repeat as necessary. NOTE: The birds will enjoy the caterpillars for dinner!
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PRESIDENT Jeanon Massien (Shelby) 205-991-3125 [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT John Baker (Shoals) 256-764-5527 [email protected] SECRETARY Cathy Canant (Shelby) 205-260-7748 [email protected] TREASURER Roger Clarke (Jefferson) 205-871-7470 (prefer) [email protected] BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE TERM 2013-2016 Tom Boyle (Wiregrass) 334-794-2094 [email protected] Jane Trawick (Mobile) 251-443-9175 [email protected] TERM 2014-2017 Cathy Canant (Shelby) 205-260-7748 [email protected] Brenda Tapp (Master Gardeners of North Alabama) 256-859-8703 [email protected] TERM 2015-2018 Phil Gatlin (Blount) 256-339-1756 [email protected] Andria Cummings (Master Gardeners of North Alabama) 256-698-3506 [email protected]
Wayne VanLandingham (Wiregrass) 334-793-9143 [email protected]
NOMINATING COMMITTEE (Elected Members) Term 2014-2016 Pam Olson (Autauga) 334-462-1629 [email protected] Term 2015-2017 Karin Carmichael (Capital City) 334-271-3084 [email protected] ADVISORY COUNCIL, CHAIRPERSON Ginny Holland (Cherokee) (256) 779-6906 [email protected] FUNDRAISING CHAIRPERSON Ann Vaughn (Morgan) 256-309-7644 [email protected] CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON 2015 BLOUNT/CULLMAN Phil Gatlin (Cullman) 256-339-1756 [email protected] CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON 2016 WIREGRASS Wayne VanLandingham (Wiregrass) 334-793-9143 [email protected] CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON 2017 HUNTSVILLE Diane Campen (Master Gardeners of North Alabama) 847-772-1058 [email protected] Alice Tucker Master Gardeners of North Alabama 256-464-0091 [email protected] STATE ADVISOR Kerry Smith, State Master Gardener Program Coordinator 101 Funchess Hall, Auburn University Auburn, AL 36849 H: 334-844-3036 C: 334-329-1051 [email protected]
Alabama Master Gardeners Association
Board of Directors 2015-2016
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Deadline for Fall issue—Sept 15, 2015
? http://www.aces.edu/questions/
Have a question? Get an answer!
Garden Pathways Editor
Patricia Peoples
St. Clair MGA 205-467-0281
Copy Editor Patricia Patty
Calhoun MGA
Proofreader Carolyn Wade.
MGNA
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