Shelby County, Alabama Extension Office

10/27/2026

An apple a day keeps the doctor away … or does it?

Apples aren’t a cure-all, but they bring plenty to the table! Fiber, water and beneficial plant compounds make this crunchy favorite a nutritious addition to your day.

Get more from every bite:
Leave the skin on for more fiber.
Pair apple slices with peanut butter for a satisfying snack.
Add chopped apples to salads or gently cook them with cinnamon for a cozy fall treat.

October is Apple Month. It is a great time to find a new favorite variety! Get the facts behind the familiar saying and learn more ways to enjoy apples: https://www.aces.edu/go/7045

10/20/2026

A sweet taste of Alabama fall!

The American persimmon is Alabama’s only native persimmon species, and its ripe fruit offers plenty of delicious possibilities.

The key is patience! Harvest only fully ripe, soft fruit. Unripe persimmons are intensely astringent and unpleasant to eat.

Use a sieve or fruit pulper to separate the sweet pulp from the seeds and skin, then enjoy it in puddings, jams, fruit butters, pies or ice cream. Freeze the pulp to save some sweetness for later.

Ripe persimmons don’t store well, so process them promptly or refrigerate until you’re ready.

Learn more about this native fruit here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6992

10/16/2026

🌱 Two Counties, One Great Day of Learning! 🌱

Shelby County and Chilton County Master Gardener interns joined forces for this week’s lab, and what a great day it was!

We had the incredible opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes into keeping Calera’s parks, sports fields, and community spaces running smoothly. From turf management to maintaining fields for everyone from Little League to high school sports, we learned just how much planning, teamwork, and hard work happen behind the scenes to make it all possible.

We left with a much deeper appreciation for the dedicated team at Calera Parks & Recreation, as well as all the Parks & Rec staff around the state. We also left with plenty of new knowledge to put to use in our own lawns, too!

There’s something special about bringing counties together, learning from one another, and building relationships with great community partners. 🌿

A huge THANK YOU to Calera Parks & Recreation for welcoming us and giving us such a valuable and enjoyable learning experience!
Chilton County - Alabama Extension

10/01/2026

Don't miss out on Shelby County's free Landfill and Recycling day this weekend!

Mark Your Calendars – Free Landfill Day Is Coming Up this Saturday, October 3rd, 2026!

Shelby County residents -- Take advantage of this opportunity to get a fresh start and clean up those spaces you've been putting off!

Help spread the word and share this post with your friends and neighbors.

09/24/2026

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a fast-growing native shrub known for its eye-catching clusters of vibrant purple berries that ripen in late summer and fall. 🌿💜 Beyond its ornamental appeal in landscapes, this resilient plant provides exceptional wildlife value. The moisture-rich berries serve as an important food source for over 40 songbird species—including the American Robin, Brown Thrasher, and Eastern Towhee—as well as mammals like white-tailed deer, foxes, and squirrels. Historically, crushed beautyberry leaves were even used as a natural insect repellent against mosquitoes and biting flies. Read the full USDA NRCS plant fact sheet to learn more about American beautyberry's ecological benefits, wildlife value, and propagation techniques:

09/23/2026

Fall is just around the corner! Add seasonal beauty to your landscape with plants that bring vibrant fall color to your yard.

Join Alabama Extension Home Horticulture agents Megan Jones and Emily Wismer for the next Smart Yards Webinar, Fall Color for Your Landscape.

Register to receive the Zoom link and view upcoming webinar dates: https://www.aces.edu/go/2414

Hosted by Alabama Extension’s Home Horticulture team on the fourth Wednesday of each month, the Smart Yards Webinar Series covers gardening, fruits and vegetables, lawn care, wildlife, home pests and more.

09/18/2026

Learning, diagnosing, and growing together!

Yesterday, Master Gardener Interns from Shelby, Chilton, and Cullman Counties came together at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for our weekly hands-on lab focused on plant disease and diagnosis.

This week’s lab was a little different. We mixed the groups together so our interns had the opportunity to meet, learn alongside, and get to know fellow interns from other counties. They rotated through three hands-on learning stations:

Station 1: ACES Plant Diagnostic Lab
Interns spent time with Dr. Jacobi and Caroline at the ACES Plant Diagnostic Lab located at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, learning more about plant diagnosis and the work that goes into identifying plant problems.

Station 2: Landscape Design
Extension Agent Jacob Turner led a station focused on landscaping design, giving interns an opportunity to think about plants and landscapes from a design perspective.

Station 3: Plant Diagnosis
Cullman County Extension Director Kira Sims shared pictures and examples to help interns learn more about identifying and diagnosing issues affecting plants and trees.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with our fellow Extension offices and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to provide our interns with an even broader learning experience.

It’s not just about learning how to grow better plants. It’s also about growing connections, sharing knowledge, and building relationships across our Extension family.

Three counties. One learning experience. Lots of growing happening!
Cullman County - Alabama Extension Chilton County - Alabama Extension

09/09/2026

We are well underway with one of our favorite classes we offer each fall: Extension Master Gardener.

Each Thursday, our Master Gardener Interns come together for an in-person lab where they get to dig a little deeper into what they have been learning throughout the week. These labs are always hands-on, practical, and, most importantly, fun.

The pictures below are from our recent Plant Propagation lab at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens with Extension Agent Bronson Lubresky. Our interns had the opportunity to propagate their own elderberry plants, and some even collected seeds and cuttings from beautyberry to take home and grow.

We love watching our interns take what they are learning in the classroom and put it into practice. This year's class has been such a fun group. They are eager to learn, ask great questions, get their hands dirty, and are already excited about the opportunity to give back through volunteer service.

We can't wait to see where this group goes throughout the rest of their Master Gardener journey!

09/01/2026

Hey Shelby County pond Owners!

This is not too far and a great workshop. The best part is it is FREE! Don't forget to sign up.

🐟💧 Got a Pond? We've Got Answers! 💧🐟

Join us for a FREE Pond Management Workshop and learn practical tips for maintaining a healthy, beautiful pond.

📅 September 17
⏰ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
📍 St. Clair County Extension Office

Whether you're managing a farm pond, fishing pond, or simply want to learn more, this workshop is for you!

✅ Free to attend
✅ Expert information
✅ Helpful resources

📞 Call 205-338-9416 to reserve your spot today!

08/27/2026

🐝🌼 Pollinator Palooza was a buzzing success! 🌼🐝

We had SO much fun at our Pollinator Palooza last Friday that we forgot to take enough pictures! 📸😂 But trust us, there was plenty happening!

Our afternoon included:
🐝 Pollinator Bingo
🎁 Fun prizes
🌻 Time exploring our pollinator garden
🔎 Counting pollinators for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census
🍯 And a fantastic presentation about bees from Master Gardener Intern Herb Caillouet!

A huge thank-you to everyone who came out, learned with us, played along, and helped us be citizen scientists by counting pollinators in our garden. 💛

We may not have a ton of photos, but we definitely made some great memories and helped shine a little spotlight on the incredible pollinators working hard all around us! 🐝🌸