The Public is invited to our Monthly Programs
12:30 - 1:30 PM, 1st Wednesday of each month, unless a date change is indicated.
Always check Meeting & Program Location as it can change monthly.
Frequent locations include:
Harris Center (across from the Auburn PO)
425 Perry Street, Auburn, AL
&
Lee County Cooperative Extension Office, (ACES)
600 S. 7th Street, Ste 4, Opelika, AL
Note: Each program follows our monthly Association meeting which begins promptly at 11:30 AM and ends at 12:20 PM.
There is a short break between the meeting & program.
12:30 - 1:30 PM, 1st Wednesday of each month, unless a date change is indicated.
Always check Meeting & Program Location as it can change monthly.
Frequent locations include:
Harris Center (across from the Auburn PO)
425 Perry Street, Auburn, AL
&
Lee County Cooperative Extension Office, (ACES)
600 S. 7th Street, Ste 4, Opelika, AL
Note: Each program follows our monthly Association meeting which begins promptly at 11:30 AM and ends at 12:20 PM.
There is a short break between the meeting & program.
SAVE THE DATE!
2018 MG Class Graduation Celebration
& Pot Luck Dinner
6:00 PM, January 15th, 2019
Grace United Methodist Church, Auburn
(in lieu of the regular January meeting & program)
2018 MG Class Graduation Celebration
& Pot Luck Dinner
6:00 PM, January 15th, 2019
Grace United Methodist Church, Auburn
(in lieu of the regular January meeting & program)
Upcoming 2018 Program
December 5
Audubon in the Garden
Location: Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 South College Street
Presented by Scott Bishop, JCSM Education Curator.
Something to think about: Lunch together afterwards at the Museum Cafe to celebrate our newly elected Board Members!
Audubon in the Garden
Location: Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 South College Street
Presented by Scott Bishop, JCSM Education Curator.
Something to think about: Lunch together afterwards at the Museum Cafe to celebrate our newly elected Board Members!
Completed 2018 Programs
November 7
Grant Recipients' Report & Give Back
Location: Harris Center
Presented by 2018 Grant Recipients who explain how they used our LCMGA grants to further their worthwhile projects this year. This program is one of our most enjoyable presentations all year, so come listen as they share their passions for gardening. You'll develop an even better understanding of how our Garden Tour, Native Plant and Mulch Fundraising proceeds are distributed back into the Lee County, AL community.
The following recipients are showcased:
1) Rene Thompson, Outreach Coordinator for Harvest for Health Program, will speak to us about the difference our Master Gardeners are making in the lives of cancer survivors as they mentor patients and teach gardening techniques and offer all-inclusive gardening kits.
2) Tara Barr, County Extension Coordinator for Lee County, will speak to us concerning the importance of additional staff to allow more hands-on office assistance during our upcoming 2019 MG Intern Class.
3) Margaret Holler, one of our own valuable MGs who has passionately devoted years to projects at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, will explain the soon-to-be Kids Sensory Garden to be built at the facility. And finally,
4) Collin Adcock, Opelika High School Agriculture Science teacher, and outstanding student in the program, Lily Ledbetter, will describe their latest accomplishments that include purchasing a 16 x 24 cold frame for raised beds, starting seeds and other ground garden endeavors. They also intend to create an equal sized nursery area for additional raised beds.
5) Patrick Thompson, Davis Arboretum, spoke on new signage being developed to highlight the diversity of oak trees in Alabama.
October 3
The New Roadside Garden: Researching and Designing an Ecologically Performative and Aesthetically Valuable Right-of-Way
Location: ACES
Presented by Jessica Nielsen, graduate student at Auburn University studying landscape architecture. Her interests include ecological design, the importance of public space in civic dialogue, and mending bridges between those who are ecologically minded verses "people focused." When not at school, she enjoys reading, writing, and all outdoor activities. After graduating she hopes to pursue a landscape architecture career in Boston, get at least two cats, and spend too much time outside in a garden.
Presented also by Alejandro Ramos, graduate student in the masters of Landscape Architecture at Auburn University. He hails from Quito, Ecuador, where he received his bachelors in Architecture from San Francisco de Quito. After graduating, he hopes to return to Quito, his favorite place on earth, to pursue a career engaging both his architecture and landscape architecture interests.
September 5
Sustainability in our Gardens & in our Lives
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. Nanette Chadwick, Professor in the Dept of Biological Sciences and Director of Academic Sustainability Programs for the Office of the Provost. Her focus will be on three areas--environmental, social and economics systems. The discussion will look at ways of enhancing our abilities to 'go green' by use of sustainable practices in gardening and landscaping.
August 1
Auburn to become a Bee Campus?
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. Charles Ray, Research Fellow in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. Dr. Ray will explain what this means to the campus and how pollination occurs in our environment, Also, Gavin Shotts, graduate student in the Dept of Biological Sciences will present an opportunity to participate in a study of spigelia grown in a city environment compared to a rural environment.
July 11
Care of the Forest and Prescribed Burns
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. John Kush, Reserve Fellow in the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. He is trained as a forester and focuses on forest ecology and restoration and strives to bridge the gap between ecology and forestry to promote wise ecosystem management and sustainable use of natural resources.
Please note location change: Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, N. College Street
Handicap Parking Available
June 6
Tour of Young's Plant Farm Test Garden
Location: 1166 Biltmore Lane (also known as Lee Rd 9, Auburn)
After the meeting we will tour the test plots.
May 2
No formal meeting or program. Final planning and meetings for 2018 Garden Tour continue all month.
April 4
Native Azaleas & New Projects at the Arboretum
Location: Davis Arboretum on Auburn Campus, S College Street, Auburn
Presented by Patrick Thomas and Morgan Beadles of the Arboretum. They will talk about the new varieties of Auburn azaleas and news from the Arboretum. The program will include a walk through the Arboretum.
Park in the Auburn Church of Christ parking lot which backs up to the Arboretum -- lot faces College Street. Carpooling is recommended.
March 7
Orchids
Location: The Pittard's home
Presented by Dr. Joel Pittard, orchid enthusiast, & Member of the Orchid Society. We will see his personal collection & greenhouse to learn the proper care of orchids, including repotting & watering.
(Important: Limited to Members, Friends & their Guests ONLY. Due to limited space this program is not open to the public.)
February 7
Refreshing Existing Home Landscapes --Common Problems & Solutions for Mature Landscapes
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Shay Grant, Owner, Grow Girl. Shay has a degree in Horticulture and experience in landscaping.
------------------------------------------
2017
December 6
Christmas Wreath Making
Presented by Ginger Purvis, Designer & Manager at The Market at Blooming Colors. Members may take a wreath home after the program. As of 11/14/17, there are five slot left open. Cost $55 for materials.
November 1
Invasive Plants
Presented by Nancy Loewenstein, Extension Specialist, Auburn University School of Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resource Management. "Invasive species are the most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss. In their new ecosystems invasive species become predators, competitors, parasites, hybridizers, and diseases of our native and domesticated plants and animals."--The World Conservation Union
October 4
LCMGA Grant Project Reviews
Presentions by:
Collin Adcock with Opelika High School's Sustainable Farming Program
Sean Forbes with Opelika Grows
Elizabeth Jordan, President, Clara Ragan & Emmalee Jordan, Social Media Officers with 4H History Seekers
............................................
This summer June 7th through Sept 6th) LCMGA and Auburn Parks and Recreation are co-sponsoring a series of public programs focusing on water resources, turfgrass, the right plants, the right places, and landscape design. Please plan to attend. It's sure to be interesting and informative!
September 6
Landscape Design
Our guest speaker is Charlene LeBleu, Professor and Interim Head, in the School of Architecture, Auburn University. She earned masters degrees in Landscape Architecture and Community Planning from Auburn University's College of Architecture, Design and Construction and has been on the Auburn faculty since 2003. Her primary areas of interest and research are green building and water quality issues with focus on low impact development design. At this presentation she will combine ideas from our three previous programs (on drought, turfgrass and trees & shrubs) to help us develop a sustainable landscaping plan.
August 2
Trees and Shrubs in Residential Landscapes
Presented by Art Chappelka, Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University. After earning his PhD in Plant Pathology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986, he has been on the Auburn faculty since 1987. His area of specialization is "Air Pollution Effects on Forest Trees and Ecosystems". Afterwards, Steve Eden, with Garden of Eden presented the second part of the program.
July 12 (Note this is the 2nd Wednesday of the Month!)
Advances in Turfgrass
Presented by Beth Guertal, Professor of Turfgrass & Nutrient Management in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University. After earning her PhD at Oklahoma State University, she has been on the Auburn faculty since 1993 and conducts research on the fate and use of fertilizer nutrients for turf grass and a variety of crops.
June 7
How to Handle Drought Conditions
Presented by two speakers to enlighten us on this difficult topic! Just in time for the hot summer...
Dan Ballard of the Auburn Water Board will speak on how to handle drought warnings and other levels of drought conditions.
Thomas Weintraut of the City of Auburn Planning Department will speak on how to create a a drought tolerant garden and general residential landscaping requirements.
.........................................
May 3
The Unique World of Pitcher Plants and other Bog Plants
Presented by Morgan Beadles, Davis Arboretum Curator
&
Guided Tour of the Arboretum (following the program)
Presented by Patrick Thompson, Davis Arboretum Specialist
Location: Davis Arboretum Pavilion, 181 Garden Drive, Auburn
Park in the Arboretum parking lot (accessed from Garden Drive) or in the Auburn Church of Christ parking lot which backs up to the Arboretum --
both lots face College Street. Carpooling is recommended.
Rescheduled to April 12 (due to weather)
Farm to Table Movement
Presented by Beth Hornsby, Hornsby Farms
March 1
Snakes!
Presented by Jordan Graves, County Extension Agent
February 1
Roses
Presented by Petals from the Past
Petals from the Past, Inc., a Jemison nursery/garden, specializes in antique roses, heirloom shrubs and hard-to-find perennial flowers & herbs. Their knowledgeable friendly staff is well known for offering educational programs, guided onsite garden tours and sharing gardening/landscaping ideas.
January 11
Heirloom Plants
Presented by Dr. Louis Adams
Dr. Adams, an Auburn University alumnus, retired in 2012, returned to the Lee County community, and has conducted studies of heirloom plants in his own garden as well as the Auburn Community Garden. His presentation will cover the reasons for and benefits of heirloom gardening.
------------------------------------------
2016
January 6th
Mona Dominguez
4-H Water Watch Coordinator
February 3rd
Alex Hedgepath
Auburn University Arborist
March 2nd
Native Plants
Dee Smith, Curator, Donald E Davis Arboretum, Auburn, AL
April 6th
Sean Forbes, Ph.D, Assoc Professor, Educational Psychology
Opelika Grows
Cultural Arts Center of East AL (where the Opelika Grows garden is located)
May 4th
No Meeting. All efforts going into the May 14th & 15th Garden Tour
June 1st
Not Your Grandmother's Hydrangeas
Dale Peterson
Hydrangea Enthusiast
Note: This program was so popular we followed up with a visit to his garden to view his beautiful varieties of hydrangeas and propagation methods! Many thanks to Dale! We truly enjoyed it!
July 6th
BUGS: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
David Held
Associate Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University
August 3rd
Break
September 7th
The Kreher Preserve and Wonderful & Wacky Plantings
Jennifer Lolley
Out Reach Administrator for the
Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve
October 5th
Art in the Garden
Emily Smyth
Designer & Owner of "Emily's Secret Garden" presented on the 2016 Garden Tour
November 2nd
Tour of English Cottage Gardens
Peggy & Charlie Mitchell
December 7th, 2016
Our Demonstration Gardens
The Lee County Master Gardeners Association
---------------------------------------
Past 2015 Programs
Coordinated by Program Director, Nancie Gallagher
January 7th
Home Landscape Design
Carolyn Robinson, PhD,
Auburn Professor
February 4th
Pruning: Why, When and How to Cut a Stem
(Demonstration to follow)
Patrick Thompson, ISA Certified Arborist, Conservation Gardener,
Davis Arboretum, Auburn University
March 4th
Water Conservation in the Home Landscape
Eve Brantley, PhD, Water Resource Specialist, ACES
Auburn Professor
April 1st
Master Gardener Extension Agents Presentation
Kerry Smith and Mallory Kelley
August 5th
The Perfect Fall Garden
Dr. Charlie Mitchell
September 2nd
Horseshoe Bend Canoe Trail and other 4-H News
Chuck Brown
October 7th
Hummingbird Research and Education
Fred Bassett
November 4th
Floral Design of the East
Dr. Carolyn Robinson. Phd
Auburn Horticulture Department
December 2015
Christmas Party
Grant Recipients' Report & Give Back
Location: Harris Center
Presented by 2018 Grant Recipients who explain how they used our LCMGA grants to further their worthwhile projects this year. This program is one of our most enjoyable presentations all year, so come listen as they share their passions for gardening. You'll develop an even better understanding of how our Garden Tour, Native Plant and Mulch Fundraising proceeds are distributed back into the Lee County, AL community.
The following recipients are showcased:
1) Rene Thompson, Outreach Coordinator for Harvest for Health Program, will speak to us about the difference our Master Gardeners are making in the lives of cancer survivors as they mentor patients and teach gardening techniques and offer all-inclusive gardening kits.
2) Tara Barr, County Extension Coordinator for Lee County, will speak to us concerning the importance of additional staff to allow more hands-on office assistance during our upcoming 2019 MG Intern Class.
3) Margaret Holler, one of our own valuable MGs who has passionately devoted years to projects at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, will explain the soon-to-be Kids Sensory Garden to be built at the facility. And finally,
4) Collin Adcock, Opelika High School Agriculture Science teacher, and outstanding student in the program, Lily Ledbetter, will describe their latest accomplishments that include purchasing a 16 x 24 cold frame for raised beds, starting seeds and other ground garden endeavors. They also intend to create an equal sized nursery area for additional raised beds.
5) Patrick Thompson, Davis Arboretum, spoke on new signage being developed to highlight the diversity of oak trees in Alabama.
October 3
The New Roadside Garden: Researching and Designing an Ecologically Performative and Aesthetically Valuable Right-of-Way
Location: ACES
Presented by Jessica Nielsen, graduate student at Auburn University studying landscape architecture. Her interests include ecological design, the importance of public space in civic dialogue, and mending bridges between those who are ecologically minded verses "people focused." When not at school, she enjoys reading, writing, and all outdoor activities. After graduating she hopes to pursue a landscape architecture career in Boston, get at least two cats, and spend too much time outside in a garden.
Presented also by Alejandro Ramos, graduate student in the masters of Landscape Architecture at Auburn University. He hails from Quito, Ecuador, where he received his bachelors in Architecture from San Francisco de Quito. After graduating, he hopes to return to Quito, his favorite place on earth, to pursue a career engaging both his architecture and landscape architecture interests.
September 5
Sustainability in our Gardens & in our Lives
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. Nanette Chadwick, Professor in the Dept of Biological Sciences and Director of Academic Sustainability Programs for the Office of the Provost. Her focus will be on three areas--environmental, social and economics systems. The discussion will look at ways of enhancing our abilities to 'go green' by use of sustainable practices in gardening and landscaping.
August 1
Auburn to become a Bee Campus?
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. Charles Ray, Research Fellow in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. Dr. Ray will explain what this means to the campus and how pollination occurs in our environment, Also, Gavin Shotts, graduate student in the Dept of Biological Sciences will present an opportunity to participate in a study of spigelia grown in a city environment compared to a rural environment.
July 11
Care of the Forest and Prescribed Burns
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Dr. John Kush, Reserve Fellow in the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. He is trained as a forester and focuses on forest ecology and restoration and strives to bridge the gap between ecology and forestry to promote wise ecosystem management and sustainable use of natural resources.
Please note location change: Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, N. College Street
Handicap Parking Available
June 6
Tour of Young's Plant Farm Test Garden
Location: 1166 Biltmore Lane (also known as Lee Rd 9, Auburn)
After the meeting we will tour the test plots.
May 2
No formal meeting or program. Final planning and meetings for 2018 Garden Tour continue all month.
April 4
Native Azaleas & New Projects at the Arboretum
Location: Davis Arboretum on Auburn Campus, S College Street, Auburn
Presented by Patrick Thomas and Morgan Beadles of the Arboretum. They will talk about the new varieties of Auburn azaleas and news from the Arboretum. The program will include a walk through the Arboretum.
Park in the Auburn Church of Christ parking lot which backs up to the Arboretum -- lot faces College Street. Carpooling is recommended.
March 7
Orchids
Location: The Pittard's home
Presented by Dr. Joel Pittard, orchid enthusiast, & Member of the Orchid Society. We will see his personal collection & greenhouse to learn the proper care of orchids, including repotting & watering.
(Important: Limited to Members, Friends & their Guests ONLY. Due to limited space this program is not open to the public.)
February 7
Refreshing Existing Home Landscapes --Common Problems & Solutions for Mature Landscapes
Location: Harris Center
Presented by Shay Grant, Owner, Grow Girl. Shay has a degree in Horticulture and experience in landscaping.
------------------------------------------
2017
December 6
Christmas Wreath Making
Presented by Ginger Purvis, Designer & Manager at The Market at Blooming Colors. Members may take a wreath home after the program. As of 11/14/17, there are five slot left open. Cost $55 for materials.
November 1
Invasive Plants
Presented by Nancy Loewenstein, Extension Specialist, Auburn University School of Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resource Management. "Invasive species are the most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss. In their new ecosystems invasive species become predators, competitors, parasites, hybridizers, and diseases of our native and domesticated plants and animals."--The World Conservation Union
October 4
LCMGA Grant Project Reviews
Presentions by:
Collin Adcock with Opelika High School's Sustainable Farming Program
Sean Forbes with Opelika Grows
Elizabeth Jordan, President, Clara Ragan & Emmalee Jordan, Social Media Officers with 4H History Seekers
............................................
This summer June 7th through Sept 6th) LCMGA and Auburn Parks and Recreation are co-sponsoring a series of public programs focusing on water resources, turfgrass, the right plants, the right places, and landscape design. Please plan to attend. It's sure to be interesting and informative!
September 6
Landscape Design
Our guest speaker is Charlene LeBleu, Professor and Interim Head, in the School of Architecture, Auburn University. She earned masters degrees in Landscape Architecture and Community Planning from Auburn University's College of Architecture, Design and Construction and has been on the Auburn faculty since 2003. Her primary areas of interest and research are green building and water quality issues with focus on low impact development design. At this presentation she will combine ideas from our three previous programs (on drought, turfgrass and trees & shrubs) to help us develop a sustainable landscaping plan.
August 2
Trees and Shrubs in Residential Landscapes
Presented by Art Chappelka, Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University. After earning his PhD in Plant Pathology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986, he has been on the Auburn faculty since 1987. His area of specialization is "Air Pollution Effects on Forest Trees and Ecosystems". Afterwards, Steve Eden, with Garden of Eden presented the second part of the program.
July 12 (Note this is the 2nd Wednesday of the Month!)
Advances in Turfgrass
Presented by Beth Guertal, Professor of Turfgrass & Nutrient Management in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University. After earning her PhD at Oklahoma State University, she has been on the Auburn faculty since 1993 and conducts research on the fate and use of fertilizer nutrients for turf grass and a variety of crops.
June 7
How to Handle Drought Conditions
Presented by two speakers to enlighten us on this difficult topic! Just in time for the hot summer...
Dan Ballard of the Auburn Water Board will speak on how to handle drought warnings and other levels of drought conditions.
Thomas Weintraut of the City of Auburn Planning Department will speak on how to create a a drought tolerant garden and general residential landscaping requirements.
.........................................
May 3
The Unique World of Pitcher Plants and other Bog Plants
Presented by Morgan Beadles, Davis Arboretum Curator
&
Guided Tour of the Arboretum (following the program)
Presented by Patrick Thompson, Davis Arboretum Specialist
Location: Davis Arboretum Pavilion, 181 Garden Drive, Auburn
Park in the Arboretum parking lot (accessed from Garden Drive) or in the Auburn Church of Christ parking lot which backs up to the Arboretum --
both lots face College Street. Carpooling is recommended.
Rescheduled to April 12 (due to weather)
Farm to Table Movement
Presented by Beth Hornsby, Hornsby Farms
March 1
Snakes!
Presented by Jordan Graves, County Extension Agent
February 1
Roses
Presented by Petals from the Past
Petals from the Past, Inc., a Jemison nursery/garden, specializes in antique roses, heirloom shrubs and hard-to-find perennial flowers & herbs. Their knowledgeable friendly staff is well known for offering educational programs, guided onsite garden tours and sharing gardening/landscaping ideas.
January 11
Heirloom Plants
Presented by Dr. Louis Adams
Dr. Adams, an Auburn University alumnus, retired in 2012, returned to the Lee County community, and has conducted studies of heirloom plants in his own garden as well as the Auburn Community Garden. His presentation will cover the reasons for and benefits of heirloom gardening.
------------------------------------------
2016
January 6th
Mona Dominguez
4-H Water Watch Coordinator
February 3rd
Alex Hedgepath
Auburn University Arborist
March 2nd
Native Plants
Dee Smith, Curator, Donald E Davis Arboretum, Auburn, AL
April 6th
Sean Forbes, Ph.D, Assoc Professor, Educational Psychology
Opelika Grows
Cultural Arts Center of East AL (where the Opelika Grows garden is located)
May 4th
No Meeting. All efforts going into the May 14th & 15th Garden Tour
June 1st
Not Your Grandmother's Hydrangeas
Dale Peterson
Hydrangea Enthusiast
Note: This program was so popular we followed up with a visit to his garden to view his beautiful varieties of hydrangeas and propagation methods! Many thanks to Dale! We truly enjoyed it!
July 6th
BUGS: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
David Held
Associate Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University
August 3rd
Break
September 7th
The Kreher Preserve and Wonderful & Wacky Plantings
Jennifer Lolley
Out Reach Administrator for the
Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve
October 5th
Art in the Garden
Emily Smyth
Designer & Owner of "Emily's Secret Garden" presented on the 2016 Garden Tour
November 2nd
Tour of English Cottage Gardens
Peggy & Charlie Mitchell
December 7th, 2016
Our Demonstration Gardens
The Lee County Master Gardeners Association
---------------------------------------
Past 2015 Programs
Coordinated by Program Director, Nancie Gallagher
January 7th
Home Landscape Design
Carolyn Robinson, PhD,
Auburn Professor
February 4th
Pruning: Why, When and How to Cut a Stem
(Demonstration to follow)
Patrick Thompson, ISA Certified Arborist, Conservation Gardener,
Davis Arboretum, Auburn University
March 4th
Water Conservation in the Home Landscape
Eve Brantley, PhD, Water Resource Specialist, ACES
Auburn Professor
April 1st
Master Gardener Extension Agents Presentation
Kerry Smith and Mallory Kelley
August 5th
The Perfect Fall Garden
Dr. Charlie Mitchell
September 2nd
Horseshoe Bend Canoe Trail and other 4-H News
Chuck Brown
October 7th
Hummingbird Research and Education
Fred Bassett
November 4th
Floral Design of the East
Dr. Carolyn Robinson. Phd
Auburn Horticulture Department
December 2015
Christmas Party