Tri-County Master Gardener Training
Limestone - Madison - Morgan
Growing in the Heart of the Valley
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Ken Creel, Regional Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Phone: (256) 532-1578, ext. 18
Cell: (256) 382-1554
E-mail
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This site was last updated on September 1, 2008.
View a map to the Belle Mina Research Station.
Got a question or need some help? Contact your county Team Leader if you are going to miss a class or have questions about anything in the program. Go to your county's website for more information about projects and volunteer opportunities.
Tri-County Class Coordinator - Alice Lawler, E-mail, Phone (256) 539-2815
Limestone County - Kathryn Davis, E-mail, Phone (256) 350-2431. Website
Madison County - Suzie Jones, E-mail, Phone (256) 430-1409. Website
Morgan County - Stan Addyman, E-mail, Phone (256) 350-9425. Website
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) maintains a very large library of informational publications on many topics. A number of these are listed below as reading assignments or additional resources. You will need a PDF viewer to read the files online. A free copy is available for download from Adobe
Acrobat. Click here to search the ACES library for other brochures of interest.
Another great source of information is the online Tri-County Calendar of Events. Kathie Bass, Chair of the Communications Committee, posts information about meetings, projects, and continuing education opportunities of interest to Master Gardeners in Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties. It is kept current by volunteers in each county. Anyone with information about an upcoming event can email it to Kathie and she will get it added to the calendar.
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Weather Note: The blue bar at the top of the weather link will turn RED when severe weather is forecasted in the area of the Tennessee Valley Research Station at Belle Mina, Alabama.
View the syllabus for this AMG training course. Some rearranging of the class sequence is necessary for each course due to availability of the guest speakers.
Invite a friend to be a Master Gardener. Print and mail this MG application to: Kenneth W. Creel, Regional Extension Agent, 819 Cook Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801.
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August 21, 2008
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Plant Physiology - Dr. Rudy Pacumbaba. We learned that an 8-year old Apple tree may have a root system that, laid end to end, would reach to Scottsboro and back. We heard about growth regulators, plant hormones, and how we get a ripe banana to the market. Who would've guessed that there was so much science behind a 'Green Thumb'? The class on plant physiology gave us a new perspective of what is really happening in our garden. All that stuff going up the xylem and down the phloem and, also, in & out of the leaves. It's not easy being a plant.
Trees and Pruning Techniques - Ken Creel. Ken gave us insight to how a tree survives and thrives.., and how easily it can be damaged or killed. He told us what to look for when selecting trees for our yard and how to plant them. We learned to recognize bark ridges, branch collars, forks, included bark, and true branches. He expalined how extensively damaged or rotted a tree can be inside and not exhibit any outward signs. This presents a real hazard in urban areas as large branches can fall without warning and have tragic results. All of this we must keep in mind when we speak with homeowners. The potential danger a tree presents may far exceed the sentimental value.
"If only I could grow green stuff in my garden like I can in my refrigerator!"
Reading Assignment for Plant Physiology
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 1: pages 33 – 47
Reading Assignment for Trees and Pruning Techniques
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 6, pages 9 - 11.
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August 28, 2008
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Vegetable Gardening - Doug Chapman. A Limestone County Extension Agent since 1994, Doug presented an excellent class on home vegetable gardening. We learned the importance of site selection, choosing the right crops, and about the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio. And, we now know those letters on the plant tag at the garden center indicate pest resistance: V-Verticillium wilt, F-Fusarium wilt, N-Root-knot Nematodes, T-Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and PM-Powdery Mildew. Picking a resistant variety of any plant will reduce the maintenance needed during the growing season.
Reading Assignment for Vegetable Gardening
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 3.
Lawns - Ken Creel. Ken's class on lawns is always entertaining and informative. Growing turf grass can be a challenge trying to balance the various needs of warm and cool season grasses with the extremes of heat, drought, shade and pests that we experience here in the valley. We learned the characteristics of each type of grass and the environmental conditions that can aggrevate lawn deseases and insects. Lawn care always brings many questions.., from homeowners in new lots with no trees and in rural homes on lots full of tall evergreens. Full sun to deep shade makes answering lawn questions tough.
Reading Assignment for Lawns
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 7.
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit..; Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad."
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September 4, 2008
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NOTE FOR THIS WEEK This week's class will meet at the Huntsville Botanical Garden at the regular time.
PLANT SELECTION & GARDEN TOUR (4 hours)
Guest Speaker: Harvey Cotten
Objectives:
Learn what to look for in a plant, i.e. growth habit and cultural requirements
Obtain an overview of plants that perform well in our growing zone
Reading Assignment for Selection of Plant Materials
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 6.
Additional Resources for Plant Selection
ANR-0566 Herbaceous Perennials in Alabama
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September 11, 2008
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NOTE FOR THIS WEEK This week's class will meet at the Huntsville Botanical Garden at the regular time.
ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Niki Sothers
Objectives:
Learn about the selection and care of annuals and perennials
Become familiar with their growth habits and best cultural practices
Reading Assignment for Annuals & Perennials
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 5, pages 18-30
Additional Resources for Annuals & Perennials
ANR-751 Correct Installation And Establishment Of Ornamental Plants
ANR-0566 Herbaceous Perennials in Alabama
ANR-1071 Wildflower Identification
LANDSCAPING WITH ANNUALS & PERENNIALS (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Harvey Cotten
Objectives:
Gain first–hand knowledge of ways to use annuals and perennials in a home landscape
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September 18, 2008
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HOUSE PLANTS (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Drucilla Esslinger
Objectives:
Recognition of benefits of container gardening
Selection of sites, containers, materials and plants
Understand principles for designing a container garden
Reading Assignment for Container Gardening
Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 5, pages 1-8 and 13-17
Container Gardening
Home Selection and Care of Interior Foliage Plants
Additional Resources for Container Gardening
ANR-0184 Annual Bedding Plants
ANR-0566 Herbaceous Perennials in Alabama
WATER FEATURES (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Trevor Cole
Objectives:
TBD
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September 25, 2008
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SOILS AND FERTILIZERS (4 hours)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Charles Mitchell
Objectives:
Identify the five factors of soil formation
Recognize the physical components of soil
Be able to identify and explain the function of the elements essential to plant growth
Recognize types of fertilizer and their appropriate uses
Reading Assignment for Soils & Fertilizers
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 1: pages 1 – 32
Additional Resources for Soils & Fertilizers
ANR-0340 Soils of Alabama
ANR-0744 Fertilizer Basics For Home Grounds
ANR-0006-A Home Soil Testing: Taking a Sample
ANR-0006-B Home Soil Testing:
Using The Soil Test Report
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October 2, 2008
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PLANT PATHOLOGY (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jim Jacobi
Objectives:
Learn to identify the major diseases of ornamental flowers, shrubs, and trees
Acquire a knowledge of techniques for diagnosing growth problems of ornamentals
Reading Assignment for Plant Pathology
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 2, pages 1-15; and Chapter 6, pages 102-136
Additional Resources for Plant Pathology
Auburn University Plant Laboratory
Birmingham Plant Diagnostic Laboratory
ENTOMOLOGY (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Ken Creel
Objectives:
Learn to identify and control various types of common insects
Become familiar with the principles of pesticide safety
Reading Assignment for Entomology
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 3, pages 33-47; Chapter 6, pages 88-101; chapter 7, pages 15-21.
Additional Resources for Entomology
ANR-1042 Common Diseases and Insects Found in Landscape Settings
ANR-1045 Garden Bugs
Integrated Pest Management
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October 9, 2008
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NOTE FOR THIS WEEK This is a hands-on class. Bring your garden gloves. We will view a short video and then split into small groups to rotate through learning stations. Experienced MGs will show you how to perform various types of propagation and then you will practice them. You will keep what you plant so bring a medium-sized box to put your plants in.
PLANT PROPAGATION (4 hours)
Guest Speaker: Ken Creel
Objectives:
Be able to categorize methods of propagation as sexual or asexual
Learn techniques and methods of vegetative propagation
Learn techniques and methods of propagation by seeds
Reading Assignment for Plant Propagation
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 5: pages 8 – 12
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October 16, 2008
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ENVIRONMENTAL GARDENING (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Eloisa Stokes
Objectives:
Learn the major elements of environmental gardening
Become familiar with benefits of environmental gardening
Understand the practice of adaptive gardening for specific reasons
Recognize the basic principles of composting
HERBS (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Kathryn Davis
Objectives:
Learn the basics of herb gardening including varieties appropriate for our area
Gain an awareness of growing, harvesting, and storage and use techniques
Reading Assignment for Herbs
ANR-1037 Growing Herbs in Containers
ANR-1164 Growing Herbs
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October 23, 2008
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HOME ORCHARDS & SMALL FRUITS (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Mike Reeves
Objectives:
Identify the recommended varieties of fruit trees for our growing area
Gain an awareness of the basic cultural practices for home orchards and small fruits
Become familiar with methods to identify and control insects and deseases in home orchards and on small fruits
Learn the basic pruning techniques for home orchards
Understand the importance of site and cultivar selection for small fruits (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, brambles) in the home garden
Reading Assignment for Home Orchards & Small Fruits
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 4.
WEED SCIENCE (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Ken Creel
Objectives:
Learn to identify and classify weeds
Become familiar with the four general methods of weed control
Understand the importance of proper selection of herbicides and safety procedures for their use
Reading for Assignment for Weed Science
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 2: pages 16 – 29
Additional Resources for Weed Science
ANR-1128 Weed Identification for Horticultural Crops
ANR-0854 Weed Control in Residential Landscape Plantings
ANR-0322 Weed Control in Home Gardens
Auburn University Weed Identification
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October 30, 2008
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LANDSCAPE DESIGN (4 hours)
Guest Speaker: Kerry Smith
Objectives:
Gain an awareness of the basic principles of “good” landscape design
Understand the process of analyzing a site to be landscaped
Become familiar with the steps involved in developing a landscape design
Reading Assignment for Landscape Design
Read Alabama Master Gardener Handbook, Chapter 8
Additional Resources for Landscape Design
ANR-0813 Residential Landscape Design
Auburn University Landscape website
Auburn University Landscape Plant Database
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November 6, 2008
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BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT (2 hours)
Guest Speaker: Herb Lewis
Objectives:
Illustrate incorporating water into a backyard wildlife habitat
Focus on the key element of flowing water
Demonstrate associated benefits within a small backyard setting
Additional Resources for Backyard Wildlife Habitat
For the Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, March 2001
Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume One, Donald Stokes; Little Brown and Company, 1979
The Practical Rock & Water Garden, Peter Robinson, Hermes House, 2002
Garden Stone, Barbara Pleasant, Story Books, Stone Publishing, 2002
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Heart of the Valley Regional
Master Gardeners Ken Creel - Regional Master Gardener
Coordinator
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Limestone
County
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Madison
County
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Morgan
County
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