Chilton County Master Gardeners Association

05/22/2026

Check this out!

4-H COLONIAL DAY CAMP
Registration happening NOW!
In honor of America 250, Chilton Co. 4-H will host a 4-H Colonial Day Camp to celebrate history & learn about it.
When: June 23rd
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Where: Chilton Co Extension Office, 504 1st Ave. No., Clanton, AL
Cost: $15/ Ages 9-14
Register online: v2.4honline.com
Payments must made by check or money order at the office or by QR code. Payments are NOT accepted in 4h online and NO CASH will be accepted.
Call 205-280-6268 for questions.

05/22/2026

Owls Eye Ginger seed collection for the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This is a newly identified population.

05/21/2026

Master Gardener volunteer program classes coming soon. Registration is in June!

DO YOU LOVE PLANTS, GARDENING, AND LEARNING NEW THINGS?
Do you enjoy helping others and making a positive impact in your community? If so, the Chilton County Master Gardener Association invites you to join them!
The Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program registration opens in JUNE.
Registration Rate: Early bird discounted rate is June 1-15, $150.
Regular rate: June 16-30, $175
Classes are offered each Thursday at the Chilton Research & Extension Center, Aug. 6-Nov. 5. 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
How to apply? aces.edu/go/mgapply
*Background check is a requirement
*Course fee is non-refundable.
Questions? Call Jacob Turner at 334-401-9164 or the Chilton Extension Office at 205-280-6268.

05/20/2026

Get ready for our next Master Gardener class, this year held at the Chilton Research and Extension Center. Read the poster below for all the info and mark your calendar for this! We’d love to have you join us!!

05/20/2026

Our May meeting, which is our annual plant swap, was held May 11. Master Gardener Judy Cobb invited us again to her beautiful family farm in Coosa County. The farm was Judy’s grandfather’s home and the house and outbuildings have all been beautifully preserved. There is a huge pond for fishing, a delightful chicken house, duck house, raised bed gardens, scuppernong vines, and fruit trees. Everyone brought a sack lunch, several members brought desserts, and Judy and her husband supplied the drinks, water, and ice. Some fished and some just walked around looking at the beautiful landscape. After a very brief business meeting everyone ate and then we had a special announcement from our county agent, Jacob Turner. He told us that our member, Sonja Johnson, was nominated by him and a couple more from their office for the AMGA state Intern of the Year award and she won! Sonja was certified in 2025. So our congratulations to Sonja for such an honor! After many congratulations, the fun began, the dirty plant swap!! Almost every plant was stolen twice and then frozen, except for 3-4. I was #20, so it was slim pickins’ when my turn came. But I actually got my first choice, after changing my mind several times🤣🤣. I got Trisha William’s Bottlebrush Buckeye, aka White Buckeye, in the horse chestnut family. So I was happy! And I think everyone that came was happy too! Thank you, Judy Cobb for allowing us to enjoy your farm and for helping make our plant swap a huge success again!!

05/18/2026

In 1981, the first class of Alabama Extension Master Gardener intern volunteers began working toward certification thanks to the vision and dedication of Mary Lou McNabb. Known as the mother of the Alabama Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, McNabb passed away April 20 at the age of 98.

Since the program began, more than 10,000 Alabamians have earned Master Gardener volunteer certification and have shared their knowledge and passion for gardening in communities across the state.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that thousands of people are grateful to Mary Lou for bringing this Extension program to Alabama,” said Kerry Smith. “And many other people who may not have ever heard her name benefit from the ongoing efforts of today’s Extension Master Gardener volunteers.”

Read more about her how her lasting legacy here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6356

05/16/2026

Our 8th and last Chilton County 4-H Jr. Master Gardener class was held on April 27. Our Master Gardener, Beverly Williamson taught the class, which was “Harvesting and Eating What You Grow”. Beverly discussed with the class “You Are What You Eat….Eat Healthy, Be Healthy”. Assisting Beverly were MG Teresa Freeman and ACES 4-H Extension Agent, Krystal Vaith. Beverly talked about the food pyramid and how you should have vegetables, fruits and proteins and watch your sugar intake. She also discussed how to read the nutrition information on the labels on food packages. Afterwards came the fun part😊, they all got to help in making some fresh salsa and then they got to eat what they made with tortilla chips. How fun is that??!!
We feel that all our 4-H Jr. M.G. classes were a huge success and hate to see them end. We hope to carry this on further in the county.

05/15/2026

Friday, May 1, 4 of our Master Gardeners went to Sugar Hill U-Pick Farm in Verbena to pick some strawberries. Owner Keith Evans did a program for us earlier this spring about their business, how it started, how it operates, how it has grown to what it is today. That day he invited everyone to come out to see them and get some strawberries. The technical stuff that goes on to keep that farm going is amazing. And the scope of the fields and rows and rows of strawberries is amazing also! They grow other fruits and vegetables, so you probably can find what you want!! Kerry, Sonja, Hugh, and Peggy picked some fantastic strawberries, along with Sonja’s husband, Henry, who took this photo😊. So look up their page for an address and pay them a visit!

05/15/2026

Several of our Master Gardeners made a trip to see Wally and Lee Walters on April 23 at their place on Lake Mitchell. Lee had extended the invitation for us to visit them and take a boat ride to see the wildflowers along the banks of Lake Mitchell. We also wanted to celebrate Wally’s birthday, so Betsy Smith brought huge cookies with a large candle on one of them! We visited with Wally for a while, then we looked at her beautiful landscaped yard, then took the boat ride. It was a great ride, and the weather was perfect for us, cloudy so not too hot. We saw some beautiful native rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain Laurel, and native American wisteria. And as they say, pictures are worth a thousand words and I have plenty!
Wally seemed to be feeling pretty good that
day. We all really enjoyed our visit with them and seeing the wildflowers.

05/15/2026

The 2026 AMGA annual conference was held in Huntsville, AL May 6-8. The theme “Gardening to the Moon and Back” was highlighted by a message from 2 astronauts on a space station. They welcomed AMGA to Huntsville and showed how they grew plants in space. WOW! What an awesome addition to the conference!
The Chilton County Master Gardener Association was recognized several times during the Conference. During Patrick Thompson's (Coordinator of the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance) speech, he shared pictures and activities from the CCMGA Conservation Group and told the audience that Hugh Nichols would be happy to speak to their groups if they wanted to learn more about what we do and how they can get involved in saving endangered plants.
Trisha Williams was one of seven included in 2025 Top Hours of the Year nominees. Congratulations Trisha!
Sonja Johnson was named Intern of the Year! Sonja was honored for her persistent and passionate involvement in CCMGA including the Youth Project at the Jemison Library, Master Gardener Helpline, Demo Garden work, Numerous youth/4-H activities and many more things! Congratulations Sonja!
Betsy Smith was elected to the AMGA Board of Directors as a member of the nominating committee. She joins Harriett Jackson (Board Member At-Large). That means Chilton County has 2 members on the state board!
We are a small but mighty group doing great things! Go CCMGA