MORGAN COUNTY

Morgan County

Master Gardeners Association

SEPTEMBER MEETING

The September meeting of the Morgan County Master Gardeners will be on Monday, September 20th at 6 pm at Fort Decatur, 610 4th Ave., Decatur The program will be on Lasagna Gardening, presented by Janie Hartsfield.

MG WEB LOG

From Kathie Bass, AMGA Fundraising Chair: A national Master Gardener web log launched on May 3rd. It is hoped that Master Gardeners across the country will use it to 'talk shop' and comment on weekly webposts. Through the new extension Master Gardener website:

http://extension.org/mastergardener or at http://blogs.extension.org/mastergardener

AMGA CONFERENCE

The 2010 AMGA Conference was hosted by the Capitol City MGers at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, March 18 - 20. Kathie Bass walked away with two of the four major awards, Mary Lou McNabb Master Gardener of the Year and Jean Lee Lifetime Hours. Congratulations, Kathie -- well deserved!!! Alice Lawler from MGNA, who coordinates the Tri-County MG Classes received the Gary Murray Outstanding Service and Dee Hubert from the Shoals, the Top Volunteer of the Year Award. Kathie spearheaded the drive for a Master Gardener license plate. Two designs were voted on at the conference. The winning design will be posted here when received along with instructions how to obtain yours. Over 400 attended the conference. We also met Sister Schubert's sisters, Charlotte and Lesa, who sat with us at the banquet. Sister Schubert did one of the Thursday workshops. Fascinating family.

Rita Baker, Pam Linville, Jim Allen, Liz Glaze, Nancy Guire, Nancy & Darryle Waldron -- Sissy Sparkman, Anita Buckley, Nancy Guire, Kathie Bass, Barbara & Larry Meyer, Rita Baker -- Rita Baker, Steve Bender, Senior Editor, Southern Living, Nancy Guire

The 2011 AMGA Conference will be in Mobile, March 24 - 26 at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel. The theme will be "Gardening For Life". In 2012, the conference will be in Birmingham, followed by Auburn in 2013.

The International Master Gardener Conference will be October 11-14, 2011 in Charleston, WV, "Color It Green In A Wild and Wonderful Way", http://imgc.ext.wvu.edu

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WHAT DO MASTER GARDENERS DO?

Hope you will let me add your activities to it if you are a member of MCMGA -- send them to the email address below:

Working in the MCMGA greenhouse:

This is a year round project that includes all facets of plant care. In addition to our annual plant sale,

these plants are used for nursing homes, get-well and farewell gifts, etc.

A dozen or so plants are taken each month to Hospice of the Valley to be given to the patients.

Master Gardener Flower Bed:

MCMGA is responsible for flower beds at the Morgan County Extension Service Center. This involves planting,

dividing, transplanting, weeding, mulching, pruning, irrigation and lots of elbow grease and loving care.

Call Mabel Smartt if you can help out.

Annual Plant Sale:

Plants from the greenhouse and donated from members' yards are offered for sale each spring.

The sale not only means selling the plants, but answering questions about those plants and others

the customer may already have or is interested in.

Horticulture Exhibit, Morgan County Fair:

Volunteers check in plants, arrange them by category, set up the educational project and answer horticulture

questions from the fairgoers.

Helping Senior Citizens:

Working with neighbors who can no longer do it themselves. Planting some annuals, pruning and answering

questions about indoor and outdoor plants means a lot to those friends.

Working with the Tri-County Master Gardener Classes:

Twice a year, 12 week Master Gardener classes are conducted. Each of the counties is expected to do its

part and volunteers are needed to help with registration, testing, administrative duties and food.

This is a good way not only to get required hours, but to refresh your knowledge and get some of the required CEUs.

Delano Park Rose Garden:

One of our members works in the newly revamped Rose Garden at Delano Park twice a week in

spring and fall, helping to keep the roses in showcase condition.

Plant Care at Hospice of the Valley:

One of our members has taken on the care and feeding of the houseplants and memory garden at

Hospice. She spends about 170 hours per year on her project. The staff thinks she must have been sent

from heaven and all the plants are thriving because of her involvement.

Plant Care at Church:

First Presbyterian Church is fortunate to have one of our members who waters

all their plants each week and fertilizes them when needed. Takes about an hour a week of her loving care.

Programs for Club Meetings:

Several of our MGs are especially knowledgeable on certain subjects and are regularly

asked to speak at garden or other club meetings.

The Tree Lady:

This individual's project has been ongoing since 1999. She teaches kindergarten and first graders

n the Decatur school district about trees - what they do and provide for us and what we can do for them

and she's dressed like a tree. The program is also given at Education Day at the County Fair

and other appropriate functions.

Docents for Huntsville Botanical Garden:

These individuals are trained to conduct tours of the garden, answer questions and act as hosts to visitors.

Scholarship for Wallace State Horticulture Student

MCMGA uses some of its resources from the annual plant sale to fund a scholarship for a second year horticulture student. The scholarship is administered by the college

Tell me about YOUR projects

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2010 CALENDAR:

Wednesday mornings except meeting days -- 9:30 am --

Work Sessions in Greenhouse and Flower Bed

June 25 - September 6 -- Star Wars, Where Science Meets Imagination US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville. Includes props from all six movies; along with interactive exhibits. Sun - Thurs: 9 am - 9 pm; Fri & Sat: 9 am - 11 pm www.spacecamp.com Admission charged.

September 20 -- MCMGA meeting, Monday, 6 pm, Fort Decatur, 610 4th Ave., SE. The program will be Lasagna Gardening, presented by Janie Hartsfield

October 8 -- Fall Festival, Morgan County Farmers Market, 1st Street SE, next to Decatur Daily

October 27-- MCMGA meeting, Wednesday, 9 am at the Morgan County Extension Service Center, west of Hartselle on Hwy 36

TBA -- MCMGA Christmas Party

Link to the Tri-County Master Gardener Calendar:

http://calendar.yahoo.com/tricountycalendar

To record your hours online: Go to www.aces.edu/mg On the left side of the page, click "Volunteer Area". On that page, click "Volunteers Service Report". The first time you use it you will have to create an account and you will use "MGA04" for the password to establish it. After filling out a short questionaire, you will have your own password for the next time. Be sure and write your username (probably your email address) and your password down somewhere, unless your memory is better than mine. Keep a hard copy of your hours and CEUs for to turn in at the end of the year to Kathy Gray.

The Tri-County Master Gardener class -- If you know someone who might be interested in taking the next Master Gardener class, encourage them to contact Ken Creel at the Huntsville Extension office to get their name on the list. They can download the applications (thanks to Jim Markestadt of Limestone County): http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1155/ The next class will be an evening class and start in August

DUES AND HOURS

Your 2010 dues ($15 - $10 local and $5 state) should be sent to Stan Addyman, 4414 Willow Bend Road, SE, Decatur 35603.

2009 Volunteer Hours and CEUs should be sent to Kathy Gray, 253 Cedar Creek Road, Hartselle 35640.

Volunteer Hours Report form -- *Word*

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The revised Constitution & ByLaws and Policies & Procedures

ByLaws Policies & Procedures

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Volunteer Opportunities

If you can fill any of these needs or if you have others to list, please email me at morgancountymastergardeners@yahoo.com ,

or contact the person in charge of the project.

Morgan County Extension Service Center -- We will have Work Sessions every Wednesday morning

except meeting days at 9:30 am to work in Greenhouse and in the Center's Flower Beds. We need your help! Interns are welcomed with open arms.

For work in the center, call 773-2549. There are work opportunities of all kinds.

Currently, organizing 4H materials is a prime concern.

The Delano Park Rose Garden needs volunteers to help maintain its newfound beauty.

If you're interested, call Barbara Kelly, 355-2758 or Nell Standridge, 350-6836 (9-08)

Huntsville Botanical Garden- There are always opportunities for your time.

Call Jana Payne at 256 430-3572 ext. 238 or jpayne@hsvbg.org Opportunities include: Gift Shop,

Greenhouses/Horticulture, Galaxy of Lights, Docents (tour guides), Education Assistants, Luncheon Hostesses,

Administrative, Plant Sale, Special Event Assistants, Spring Festival of Flowers and Tea Room. (12-06)

ONGOING PROJECTS:

MCMGA Greenhouse-- Contact Floyd Mims or Brenda Close

MCMGA Flower beds -- Contact Mable Smartt or Helen DeButy

MCMGA Rose bed -- Sandy Blackard or Tom Braunshausen

2010 Officers and Chairs

President Barbara Meyer	Special Projects:
Vice President: Darryle Waldron	Greenhouse Plants/Plant Sale Brenda Close 751-2022
Secretary: Tom Braunshausen	Greenhouse Facility Floyd Mims 778-8097
Treasurer: Stan Addyman	County Fair
Advisory Council: Stan Addyman	Volunteer Hours: Kathy Gray
Hospitality: Linda Russell 355-7828	MG Bed Mable Smart 353-4246
Parliamentarian:	Rose Garden Sandy Blackard 350-3034
Programs:
Public Relations Jan Hooper 351-8685	Website/Email: Rita Baker 353-6783