It's MG Reporting Time!

We're closing in on the deadline for Master Gardener Reporting and I have posted links to a digital logsheet on the Master Gardener page at the website, along with the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/anr/mastergardener.html

If you attend tonight's meeting, you'll receive a hard copy of these forms. If you aren't at tonight's meeting, I'll be mailing these items tomorrow. Some of you may have been writing this down all along. You can use a hard copy or the digital copy of the logbook, but please include the summary information for the year. If you have questions about what activity # to use for anything, I'll be happy to help (The last newsletter had a quick listing of the basic things you do and where they fit). Please mail or drop by a hard copy of your report and MOA. You should return these items to the office by December 1st, so that we can be sure to be on time and accurate for our state and county reporting.

Hope to see you tonight!-MC

Rain is a wonderful thing!

Well, we're getting some much needed showers and I hope they will continue! The vegetable garden is looking great, but it could use some harvesting and weeding. Fall gardens are slower, but yours is still producing! There are still eggplant, okra, and peppers and I've noticed radishes literally popping out of the ground. Helping Hands appreciates all you do for them and they are open from 10am-2pm weekdays to accept your donations from the vegetable garden.

Lots of Educational opportunities are coming up:

November 7th-Paulding County Green Industry Update-Pre-register by November 1st with my office:
http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/documents/2007GIU.pdf

November 8th-Northwest Georgia Vegetable Growers Update-Preregister by November 5th with the Floyd County office (706) 295-6210.
http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/documents/Vegupdate07.pdf

November 10th-Adopt A Stream Chemical Monitoring Training-The registration information will be posted online soon (still working out time details), but keep a watch for this and other opportunities at our County Extension Website on the "News and Events" Page:
http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/news.html

Holly Thornton has also posted this month's Plant Pathology Report:
http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/October2007.pdf
She has also put together an annual report for 2006 that is great:
http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/Summary_2006.pdf

We are still missing Tommie, but I really appreciate all those of you who pop in and help with Master Gardener Administration and General Office Tasks! Your help has really made our transition easier!

Fall Master Gardener Newsletter

Laurie Bartron has been hard at work and The Paulding Vine for Fall, 2007 is now posted online at the Paulding County Extension Website:
http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/documents/PVOct07.pdf

Another Volunteer Opportunity: Judy Proctor from Tallatoona Headstart -770-445-1366- would like some assistance with the beds at the Headstart. I have indicated to her that some of you may be willing to help, but that she will need to find an alternative water source due to the current outdoor water ban. I have also indicated to her that I prefer MGs to use their volunteer hours for education rather than manual labor. With that said, I know that you all have historically helped with this project and some of you may be willing to assist her. She indicated that she has funds for this, but needs some assistance planning.

Several folks have donated plants for the rain garden, but if you have others you would like to contribute, they are welcome.

I'm headed to the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie later today. I'll be back in the office Thursday morning, bright and early.
MC

Well yesterday was a big day in the herb garden! Several MGs, spouses, grandchildren, and 4-Her's helped to get it all cleaned up. I had planned to come out tomorrow to work on it, but I'm not sure there is much left to do, except cover it for a while and wait.

I will drop by the office briefly tomorrow after the tree walk at Pickett's Mill (I can't be sure what time, depends on what time I finish there)-By the way, come on out if your interested in a good hike (a little over a mile with a few pretty steep ridges) and native trees! We'll meet on the platform just behind the visitor's center at 9:30am-There is an entrance fee to the park, but the walk is free.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY-Christine Wilt from the Library system would like for a Master Gardener to come do a children's program in the spring for their story time. Any takers? You can email Christine at lynnewchr@hotmail.com if you are interested and would like to setup a date to do this.

The office continues to be busy and the help of MGs is always appreciated! Thanks to those of you who have come by recently to lend a hand.

The 4-Her who is working on the rain garden is still in planning stages and could use a few more plant donations. See the list from the earlier blog entry for suggestions, or donate others from your yard that you think may fit the rain garden bill! They can be placed under the building eave near the vegetable garden

Hope you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!

MC

Paulding Co. Master Gardener Meeting

Our last meeting for the year is scheduled for Thursday, October 25th at 6 p.m. Location is the Senior Center. This meeting will be a business meeting to discuss any bylaw issues and any other business items such as project and committee reports. Please email me any agenda items no later than Monday, October 22nd. See you then.

Travis

Meet Wednesday the 10th at 6:15 for Advanced training in Forsyth

We'll meet at the Extension Office at 6:15 (yes that's AM) that morning to leave for Forsyth. I'm on at 9am, so we need to get there in plenty time to brave the traffic. I know of a couple of people who are planning to come, but if there are enough, we'll take the van!

The office has been hectic this week without Ms. Tommie, but a couple of people have been by to help out and it is much appreciated!

Ms. Tommie dropped off a thank you note for you all this morning. I'll be sure to pass it on to Tona.

Prayin' for more rain,
MC

Herb Garden Workdays

Hi all,

Mickey Gazaway has started working on renovating the herb garden. She is planning a workday for Thursday, October 11th. Join her here if you can help!

I'll also be here on Saturday, October 13th from about 11am until 1pm to work in the herb garden. If you can't make it on Thursday, stop by Saturday.

Most of the work right now, will just be removing weeds and overgrown plants.

Rounding up plant donations for the Rain Garden

Hi all,

A 4-Her has begun researching and planning to plant the rain garden. Because of our current outdoor water ban, water for these plants will have to come from the rain barrel.

I am hoping that Master Gardeners will donate the plants to go into the rain garden, as many of you probably have plants that are on the 4-Her's list of potentials:

Sweetshrub
Joe pye weed
Asters
Virginia sweetspire
Goldenrod
Blackeyed Susan
Purple Coneflower
Ironweed
Swamp Hibiscus
Salvia
Butterflyweed
Muhly grass
Panic Grass

The 4-Her is planning to prep and begin planting by October 11th.

If you have some of these plants which you could share, you can drop them by the Extension office anytime between now and then. They can be placed on the side of the building under the overhang near the vegetable garden. By planting now, the plants should have plenty of time to get their roots growing before spring and most will go dormant shortly, reducing the amount of water needed to get them established.

If you have other plants that you would like to suggest the 4-Her consider in designing the rain garden, let me know!

MC

Master Gardener Tidbits for this week...

I have posted the application for the next Master Gardener Training at our website. If you know anyone who might be interested, here is a link:
http://www.ugaextension.com/paulding/documents/2008Carrollapplication.doc

Here is the Total Outdoor Water Ban Survival Guide online:

http://water.cobbcountyga.gov/pdf/survival_guide.pdf

I passed it out at last week's meeting, but some folks may be interested in knowing where to find it. Feel free to pass this information on to others.

Judy Howd asked me to pass the following information on to you:

Dallas Garden Club will have their annual flower show next week. They need folks to help identify and label the specimen plants that will be displayed. If you can help on Thursday, October 11th from 4:30-5:30, contact Judy Howd to let her know.

Tomorrow Travis Jordan and I will be leading a tree walk for the Silver Sneakers group. They often request program assistance with this active adult group. If you would be interested in doing a gardening program for them, let me know and I'll put you in touch with their organizer.

Blog to you soon,
MC