Shelby County, Alabama Extension Office

09/18/2026

Learning, diagnosing, and growing together!

Yesterday, Master Gardener Interns from Shelby, Chilton, and Cullman Counties came together at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for our weekly hands-on lab focused on plant disease and diagnosis.

This week’s lab was a little different. We mixed the groups together so our interns had the opportunity to meet, learn alongside, and get to know fellow interns from other counties. They rotated through three hands-on learning stations:

Station 1: ACES Plant Diagnostic Lab
Interns spent time with Dr. Jacobi and Caroline at the ACES Plant Diagnostic Lab located at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, learning more about plant diagnosis and the work that goes into identifying plant problems.

Station 2: Landscape Design
Extension Agent Jacob Turner led a station focused on landscaping design, giving interns an opportunity to think about plants and landscapes from a design perspective.

Station 3: Plant Diagnosis
Cullman County Extension Director Kira Sims shared pictures and examples to help interns learn more about identifying and diagnosing issues affecting plants and trees.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with our fellow Extension offices and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to provide our interns with an even broader learning experience.

It’s not just about learning how to grow better plants. It’s also about growing connections, sharing knowledge, and building relationships across our Extension family.

Three counties. One learning experience. Lots of growing happening!
Cullman County - Alabama Extension Chilton County - Alabama Extension

09/09/2026

We are well underway with one of our favorite classes we offer each fall: Extension Master Gardener.

Each Thursday, our Master Gardener Interns come together for an in-person lab where they get to dig a little deeper into what they have been learning throughout the week. These labs are always hands-on, practical, and, most importantly, fun.

The pictures below are from our recent Plant Propagation lab at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens with Extension Agent Bronson Lubresky. Our interns had the opportunity to propagate their own elderberry plants, and some even collected seeds and cuttings from beautyberry to take home and grow.

We love watching our interns take what they are learning in the classroom and put it into practice. This year's class has been such a fun group. They are eager to learn, ask great questions, get their hands dirty, and are already excited about the opportunity to give back through volunteer service.

We can't wait to see where this group goes throughout the rest of their Master Gardener journey!

09/01/2026

Hey Shelby County pond Owners!

This is not too far and a great workshop. The best part is it is FREE! Don't forget to sign up.

🐟💧 Got a Pond? We've Got Answers! 💧🐟

Join us for a FREE Pond Management Workshop and learn practical tips for maintaining a healthy, beautiful pond.

📅 September 17
⏰ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
📍 St. Clair County Extension Office

Whether you're managing a farm pond, fishing pond, or simply want to learn more, this workshop is for you!

✅ Free to attend
✅ Expert information
✅ Helpful resources

📞 Call 205-338-9416 to reserve your spot today!

08/27/2026

🐝🌼 Pollinator Palooza was a buzzing success! 🌼🐝

We had SO much fun at our Pollinator Palooza last Friday that we forgot to take enough pictures! 📸😂 But trust us, there was plenty happening!

Our afternoon included:
🐝 Pollinator Bingo
🎁 Fun prizes
🌻 Time exploring our pollinator garden
🔎 Counting pollinators for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census
🍯 And a fantastic presentation about bees from Master Gardener Intern Herb Caillouet!

A huge thank-you to everyone who came out, learned with us, played along, and helped us be citizen scientists by counting pollinators in our garden. 💛

We may not have a ton of photos, but we definitely made some great memories and helped shine a little spotlight on the incredible pollinators working hard all around us! 🐝🌸

08/26/2026

Whether you’re just getting started or have years of gardening experience, the Homeowner Gardening Conference is an opportunity to learn from Alabama Extension experts, get answers to your questions and connect with other plant enthusiasts.

Join us Sept. 25–26 at the Jon Archer Agricultural Center in Mobile for educational sessions covering topics such as backyard greenhouses, pollinators, lawns and new plants for the landscape. The conference also includes a keynote speaker, meals and a panel session of gardening experts.

Learn more about the conference and register today.https://www.aces.edu/go/6759

08/21/2026

🎉 Today is the day! 🐝🦋

Join us this afternoon for our Pollinator Palooza and be a part of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

Come learn about our local pollinators, play Pollinator Bingo, and become a citizen scientist as we count pollinators together! We’ll also have fun activities for kids, goodies to take home, and prizes to win!

So bring the whole family and join us from 3:30-4:30 PM at the Shelby County Extension Office for an afternoon full of fun, learning, and pollinators! 🌻🐝🦋

We can’t wait to see you there!

08/20/2026

🌱 Agricultural Pesticide Clean Day Coming

Do you have unwanted, outdated, or unusable agricultural pesticides taking up space on your farm or property?

An Agricultural Pesticide Clean Day is being planned for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Macon County. This one-time collection event will provide farmers and landowners an opportunity to have eligible unwanted pesticides properly disposed of at no cost.

The program is made possible through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

📞 Interested in participating or want to learn more? Contact the Shelby County Extension Office for information about the event and how to register.

Please note: Registration is required, and space is limited.

08/19/2026

We are so proud to see our County Extension Director, John Vanderford, representing Shelby County Extension as a member of this year’s Leadership Shelby County class! We know he will bring his passion for serving our community, building partnerships, and making a difference to this incredible group. We’re excited to follow along and see all that this year’s class accomplishes!

Congratulations, John! We’re proud to have you representing Extension!

Meet John Vanderford! John is the Shelby County Extension Director for Alabama Extension. We are so excited to welcome John to the Leadership Shelby County Class of 2027.

08/19/2026

🌼🐝 Pollinator Palooza is THIS Friday! 🦋🌻

We’re getting ready to celebrate the amazing pollinators that help our gardens, farms, and ecosystems thrive as we participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Join us at the Shelby County Extension Office this Friday, August 21, beginning at 3:30 PM for Pollinator Palooza.

We’ll become citizen scientists as we observe, count, and celebrate pollinators while learning more about these important little helpers. There will be fun activities for all ages, including:

🐝 Learn about pollinators
🌸 Pollinator Bingo
🦋 Fun activities for kids
🔎 Citizen science and pollinator counting
🎁 A chance to win a prize!

Bring the family and come celebrate the buzzing, fluttering world of pollinators with us! We can’t wait to see you there! 🌼

📍 Shelby County Extension Office
🕞 Friday, August 21 | 3:30 PM

08/18/2026

Join us at the Weogufka Center for Arts, Entertainment and Education on September 12th at 9:00 am for informative sessions on trapping and processing wild pigs, as well as learning about herbs that pair well with pork and safe food preparation! Kids activities will be available. All ages welcome! Free admission for kids 12 and under!