Upcoming classes and Events with Cobb County Extension

All listed classes are free and open to the public, unless otherwise specified in the list.

Vermicomposting, Jan. 9
Cobb County Water Training Lab
662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta
Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Historic Gardens: From the Roman Empire to Colonial America, Jan. 13
East Cobb Regional Library
4880 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The Art of Pruning: Tools, Timing, and Technique, Feb. 10
West Cobb Regional Library
1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Dahlias, Feb. 13
Cobb County Water Training Lab
662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta
Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden, Feb. 24
Cobb Extension upstairs classroom
678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta
6:30-7:30 p.m
Please call to preregister:
770-528-4070

Fall/Winter

Cobb Extension Horticulture e-Newsletter

I've just heard about a new e-Newsletter that Cobb Extension will be putting out.

Go to the UGA Extension in Cobb County Blog to sign up if you are interested. Below is a description of the newsletter taken from the UGA blog and how to sign up for it.

"Looking for timely tips and a longer view of the schedule of classes for Cobb Extension? This information can be delivered to your email inbox through a new e-Newsletter.

Each issue of the e-newsletter, the "Cobb Extension Horticulture News," will list Cobb Extension's public events and classes for the upcoming two months, tips for the care of lawns, gardens, and landscapes, and one or two timely, short articles.

A signup form for the emailed "Cobb Extension Horticulture News" is in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. The inaugural (i.e.: "guinea pig") issue will be released in early December, and subsequent issues will be delivered to subscriber in-boxes every two months through the year, beginning with a January/February issue.

We are looking forward to sharing up-to-date, research-based information about care of lawns, gardens, and landscapes and our natural resources through the newsletter! "

Upcoming Events & Classes with Cobb County Extension Service

Holiday Inspirations

Saturday, November 8, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Cobb Extension staff will demonstrate easy holiday crafts and decorating ideas. Presented at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor classroom, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Free and open to the public, but preregistration is requested. Call 770-528-4070.

Adaptive Gardening – How to Keep Gardening on Your Lifetime Can-Do List

Tuesday, November 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Presented by Master Gardener Joe Washington as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA, 30066. Free and open to the public.

Bonsai

Friday, November 14, noon-1:00 p.m. Michael Stoddard, Board of Directors, Atlanta Bonsai Society, will bring his bonsai to show us how to plant, prune, and care for our own, as part of the ongoing Lunch& Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Thyme to Read Book Club

Friday, November 14, 10:15 -11:30 a.m. Book club sponsored by Cobb County Master Gardeners will meet at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). This month’s book is The Founding Gardeners, by Andrea Wulf. Schedule and information can be found at www.cobbmastergardeners.com. Free and open to the public.

Bluebird Trail Tour

Saturday, November 22, 10:00 a.m. to noon, and again on Saturday December 6, 10:00 a.m. to noon. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the 2.3-mile Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

More Classes from Cobb County Extension

Moving Toward Organics in the Vegetable Garden

Saturday, October 18, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Learn what organic gardening and farming really means and steps you can take to have a more environmentally friendly garden.  Presented by Cooperative Extension horticulture staff member Amy Whitney at the community garden at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA, 30062.

Gifts from the Kitchen

Tuesday, October 28, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Learn to use a water bath canner to make holiday gifts from your kitchen. Taught by Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Cindee Sweda at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. $10 fee; preregistration required before Oct. 17; space is limited. For additional information and to preregister, call 770-528-4070.

Upcoming Cobb County Extension Events

The following events are available through Cobb County Extension.

http://cobbextension.blogspot.com/

Bluebird Trail Tour

Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. –Noon. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the 2.3-mile Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

 

Thyme to Read Book Club

Friday, October 10, 10:30 -11:30 a.m. Book club sponsored by Cobb County Master Gardeners will meet at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). This month’s book is The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton. November’s book will be The Founding Gardeners, by Andrea Wulf.  Schedule and information can be found at www.cobbmastergardeners.com. Free and open to the public.

Landscaping and Septic Tanks

Friday, October 10, noon-1:00 p.m. Presented by Cobb County Extension Horticulture Agent Neil Tarver, as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Trees of Our Lives: Small Native Trees for the Landscape

Tuesday, October 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m.  Presented by Master Gardener Dawn Hines, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton, 30126.

Gardeners' Night Out - Fall 2014

An evening series of monthly programs on gardening sponsored by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County

August 12th (Tuesday)  7:00 - 8:00 pm
“The Annual Sequence of Blooms Beloved by Worker Honeybees”
with Rita Buehner, Master Gardener
       East Cobb Regional Library
       (Old Parkaire Mall Site)
       4880 Lower Roswell Road
       Marietta, GA 30068

September 9th (Tuesday) 7:00 - 8:00 pm
“All about Bluebirds and More”
with Jim Bearden, Master Gardener
      West Cobb Regional Library
      1750 Dennis Kemp Lane NW
      Kennesaw, GA 30152

October 14th (Tuesday)  7:00 - 8:00 pm
“Trees of Our Lives: Small Native Trees for the Landscape”
with Dawn Hines, Master Gardener
      South Cobb Regional Library
      805 Clay Road
      Mableton, GA 30126

November 11th (Tuesday) 7:00 - 8:00 pm
“Adaptive Gardening -- How to Keep Gardening on your Lifetime Can Do list “
with Joe Washington, Master Gardener
      Mountain View Regional Library
      3320 Sandy Plains Road
      Marietta, GA 30066

The mission of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is to advance the horticultural education and practices of its members and to promote the knowledge of and interest in gardening to the members and to the public.

Lunch & Learn Series - Fall 2014

Lunch & Learn 2014

A MGVOCC Educational Program

FREE & OPEN to the PUBLIC

 

Bring your lunch & enjoy an hour-long presentation

on a plant/garden-related subject.

Noon to 1:00 PM

County Water Lab 660 S. Cobb Drive & Atlanta Road.

Schedule and directions at: http://www.cobbmastergardeners.com

 

August 8,2014: "Weed ID for Weed Control"   Presented by Cornelius Tarver, Urban Agriculture and National Resources Agent

Tired of fighting weeds?  The challenge we face is all of them cannot be controlled the same way.  Neil will help us identify weeds in order to select the most effective method to control them.

Sept.12,2014: "The Joy of Bluebirds" All about Bluebirds and More   Presented by James Bearden

Jim's presentation includes the life of the Eastern Bluebird, including a Bluebird Trail and Nest Box Management; other birds that nest in cavities of bluebird boxes, and more!

October 10, 2014:  "Landscaping and Septic Tanks: What Homeowners Need to Know"  Presented by Cornelius Tarver

A Discussion of septic tank maintenance and  it's relation to your landscape.

November 14, 2014:  "Bonsai"  Presented by Michael Stoddard,  Board of Directors, Atlanta Bonsai Society

Bonsai, an ancient art which originated in China and developed in Japan, means "to plant in a shallow dish".  Mike, a long-time student of this art, will bring his  bonsai to show us how to plant, prune and care for our own.

 
Cobb County Cooperative Extension

678 South Cobb Drive, Suite 20,   Marietta, GA 30060-3105    Phone:  770-528-4070  

Community Education Lecture Series - Saturday June 28

This morning I received a last minute announcement about a Community Education Lecture Series and Garden Open House at Fountain Gate Gardens in Kennesaw.

When:        Saturday June 28th
Where:       Fountain Gate Gardens
Time:         9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location:   3007 Cherokee Street
                   Kennesaw, GA 31044

During the open house, drop in to tour the gardens and ask any gardening questions you might have. Free Seed packets while supplies last.  Learn more about their Plant A Row program.

Three short classes to be held in the Brown House in front of the gardens

9:30 am - 10:15 am     Planning for a Fall/Winter Garden

10:30 am - 11:15 am   Vegetable Garden Basics  

11:30 am - 12:15 pm   Fundamentals of Organic Gardening

 For more information you can email garden@fountaingate.com

Two Upcoming Vegetable Gardening Classes

Extension has two vegetable gardening classes coming up. One is this Wednesday and the other one is in July.  Pre-registration is required.

Try New Vegetables
  June 25  11:30 am to 12:30 pm
  North Cobb Senior Center
  Registration Required - 770-528-4070

Planning Fall Vegetable Garden
  July 24  6:30 to 8:00 pm
  Cobb County Extension Office
  Registration Required - 770-528-4070

As a bonus you can take a class on:

Smart Irrigation
  July 12  9:00 am to 12:00 pm
  Cobb County Extension Office
  Registration Required - 770-528-4070

Classes are free and taught by Extension staff and Master Gardeners. For more details go to
cobbextension.blogspot

updated 7:58 pm 6/23/2014

Grafting Fruit Trees Class

Are you interested in growing fruit trees but have limited space to raise different cultivars?

Come to the class that Master Gardener Eddie Rhoades will be presenting on Saturday April 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 at the orchard behind the Green Meadows Community Garden.

Eddie is a master at grafting different cultivars on one "parent" tree. Persimmon, pear, peach and apple are just a few of the  fruit trees he has grafted multiple cultivars onto.

Where:
Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden
3780 Dallas Highway
Powder Springs, GA 30127
  (The garden is at the intersection of Old Hamilton and Dallas Highway, near The Avenues of West Cobb. Look for the white house on the corner with a sign out front that says Green Meadows Preserve)

When:
Saturday, April 12, 2014
10:30 to 11:30 am

Additional Gardening Classes to Attend

Direct from the Cobb County Extension Blog,  here are several more classes you might be interested in taking this spring. (Two were in a previous post but this post contains more information).

If you are interested in taking a class be sure and call to preregister! Don't forget, you can also subscribe to the Extension Blog by email.

Home Yard and Garden Equipment: Use and Care

Saturday, March 22, 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver at UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Evergreen Groundcovers for Sun and Shade

Tuesday, March 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Shirley Priest, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton, 30126.

Bluebird Trail Tour

Saturday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

UGA Extension in Cobb County Open House

Tuesday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Drop in to discover what Extension in Cobb County has to offer! From Horticulture and Natural Resources, to 4-H for youth, to Family and Consumer Sciences, we provide up-to-date, researched information from UGA to the citizens of this county. Open House with displays and snacks at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. For information, call 770-528-4070.

Garden to Table

Thursday, April 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Cindee Sweda present a class growing and then using food crops. UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Preregistration is required; $10 fee for class and materials. Call 770-528-4070 for information and to register.

Moving Toward Organics in the Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Learn what organic gardening and farming really means and steps you can take to have a more environmentally friendly garden.  Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.

The Beauty of Bulbs! From Amaryllis to Zephranthes

Friday, April 11, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Debra Stockton as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Debra will give us the ABCs of bulbs with a focus on Georgia favorites: daffodils, gladioli, and tulips.

Gardening Classes Offered this Spring

Cobb County Extension and the Cobb Master Gardeners are offering a wide selection of classes to the public this spring in a variety of locations. (See partial list below.) The best way to keep up with what is offered year round is to check the Cobb County Extension Blog

Green Meadows Community Garden will continue their Bed Time Stories education series in the spring and fall as well. (A short gardening related talk followed by a brief walk through the garden.)

Also, the Cobb County Library offers a free online vegetable gardening class that I found quite good when I took it last year.  Link and Course description

Culture of Fruits & Berries

Tuesday, March 5, 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public.  Presented in the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Spring Vegetable Gardening and Early Disease Management

Saturday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. – noon.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at Crossroads Community Garden, Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, 30062. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

If Plants Could Talk – a Cherokee Relationship

Friday, March 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Tony Harris as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Learn how the Cherokee used plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter, and ceremonial purposes. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, Powder Springs, GA 30127. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

 

Tomatoes 101

Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, at the Sweetwater Valley Library in the Threadmill Mall Complex.  5000 Austell-Powder Springs Rd., Suite 123, Austell, GA 30106.  Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

 

Vegetable Garden Basics

Thursday, March 27, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

 

Moving to Organics in the Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County at Mt. View Regional Library at 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

 

Beauty of Bulbs

Friday, April 11  noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Debra Stockton as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, in the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).  Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

 

For more information, please contact Cobb County Extension at (770) 528-4070, visit www.cobbextension.com, or email uge1067@uga.edu.

 

 

 

 

Weekly Calendar Post April 12 - April 18

April 13
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

April 16
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

April 17
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Algae Control in Ponds
Pre-registration required
Cobb County Extension Upcoming Events

Weekly Calendar April 5 to April 11

April 6
10:00 - 12:00
Gardeners on Duty

April 9
NO Gardeners on Duty

Starting Your Spring Garden Class
6:30 to 7:30 pm
Quick link to class details
Lost Mountain Park

April 11
9:30 am
Monthly Meeting
Warm Weather location: at the garden

April 12
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Growing Tomatoes
Cobb County Extension Upcoming Events

Starting Your Spring Garden

Tuesday April 9th, 2013
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Lost Mountain Park
Western District Operations Building

You are invited to attend a free (and open to the public) gardening class sponsored by The Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden.

Starting Your Spring Garden
This class will be presented by Amy Whitney, who is a Cobb Cooperative Extension Program Assistant in Horticulture, Master Gardener, teacher, blogger and more. Based on Amy’s years of successful experience and teaching, this class will provide gardeners with the basics of what, how, when, and where to plant your spring garden. Planning for insect and disease control will also be covered.

Please RSVP to greenmeadowscg@gmail.com

We want to make sure we have enough handouts for everyone.

Directions From the Community Garden:

• Take Dallas Hwy West 2.0 miles (to the 2nd traffic light from the garden.)
• Turn left at the traffic light into Lost Mountain Park

• Take the first left.
• Once you turn, go straight and the road dead ends into a parking lot between Boots Ward Recreation Building and the Western District Operations Building. If the parking lot is full, park in the parking lot in front of the ball fields.

Lost Mountain Park

Western District Operations Building

4845 Dallas Highway

Powder Springs, GA 30127

 

 

Weekly Calendar - March 8 - 15

March 8, 9, 10
Cobb County Library Book Sale
More information about the Book Sale

March 9
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Gardener on Duty

8:30 - 10:30 am
Fruit Tree Planting in the Orchard
See email sent on Mon 3/4/13 for more details

March 12
NO Gardener on Duty

How to keep your Veggies Happy, Healthy and Productive
6:30 - 7:30
Class on watering, fertilizing and mulching
Class Details on the blog

March 14
9:30 am
Monthly Planning Meeting
Christ Lutheran Church, 176 West Sandtown Road Marietta, 30064

All gardeners at the Green Meadows Community Garden are invited to attend the Planning Meeting. You have a vested interest in the day to day operation and the future of the garden.

How to keep your Veggies Happy, Healthy and Productive

Tuesday March 12, 2013
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Lost Mountain Park
Western District Operations Building

You are invited to attend a free gardening class sponsored by The Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden.

How to Keep your Vegetable plants Happy, Healthy and Productive

Come learn more about the Three Bears Scale -
       Too Much,  Not Enough and Just Right

See how it applies to:

• Fertilization
• Watering
• Mulching

Please RSVP to greenmeadowscg@gmail.com
We want to make sure we have enough handouts for everyone.

Directions From the Community Garden:
Take Dallas Hwy West 2.0 miles (to the 2nd traffic light from the garden.)
Turn left at the traffic light into Lost Mountain Park . 
Take the first left.
Once you turn, go straight and the road dead ends into a parking lot between Boots Ward Recreation Building and the Western District Operations Building. If the parking lot is full, park in the parking lot in front of the ball fields.

Lost Mountain Park
Western District Operations Building
4845 Dallas Highway
Powder Springs, GA 30127

Potato Totes & Bags

The Potato Planting Demonstration on Saturday Feb 23rd was a great success.  Everyone got to participate in cutting the potatoes and planting them.

 Mike had a very intent audience as he showed examples of good potatoes and bad potatoes.

What are they looking so hard at?  Maybe the potatoes were escaping - that might explain all the laughter in this picture.

Two methods (bag & tote) were extremely easy and fast to do. The bag came from Gardener Supply as a Potato Bag Kit  which contains a potato bag, 3 bags of soil mix and fertilizer. (You have to buy your own potatoes.)                       

The basics were the same for using the potato bag and the tote. Put a 2-3 inch layer of organic material in the bottom, put in the seed potatoes, cover with another 2 inches or so of organic matter, fertilize and water in well.

Wait until the potatoes begin growing and when the sprouts are 4 inches or so tall, put dirt around the stems (but leave some green leaves sticking out), water and wait some more.

Repeat this procedure until the top of the container is reached. Potatoes will form all along the stem that is buried in dirt. If you want to read more about  Growing potatoes in containers, this is a good link.

The tote is a super size plastic bin (18 gallons or more). Because it is solid plastic, you need to punch lots of holes in the bottom and along the outside edge to provide drainage.  Once the holes are punched, fill with soil and potatoes.














It will be interesting to see which produces the most potatoes - the tote or the bag.

We also constructed a potato tower but that will have to be in a separate post!

Potato Planting Demonstration

When: Saturday February 23

Time:  2:00 pm

Place: The Garden

What: Mike will be demonstrating 4 different methods of planting and growing potatoes.  We'll be able to watch how they grow all season and then feast on them when they are ready to eat. It will be interesting to see which method yields the most.

   If the weather looks iffy, check the blog as a note will be posted Saturday by 1:00 pm

 

  The rain date will be Sunday February 24 at 1:30 pm

Do you Want to Learn More about Growing Vegetables

Hey Everyone,
   If you are interested in learning more about vegetable gardening I know of a FREE online class you can take.  Anyone who has a Cobb County Library Card can sign up for it. Just log onto Cobbcat.org and then click on E-Library on the left side of the page.  Or you can use this link to find the ed2go link.  ed2go at Cobb County Library

  Each session of the vegetable gardening class (they call it Start Your Own Edible Garden) is 6 weeks long and you go at your own pace.  They have sessions starting up Dec 12, Jan 16, Feb 20 & Mar 20. 

  I've found it very informative and interesting.  Definitely well worth the time I've put into it. The price can't be beat either!

               Vicki