UGA Extension-Paulding County

Come check out our Horse & Pony Club at the September Interest Meeting. Open to youth 6 - 18 yrs old.
>When: Tuesday, Sept. 1st @ 7pm
>Where: Unity Baptist Church - 431 Mustang Drive, Dallas, Ga
>Cost: Free
**Annual club dues are $40 upon registration

The Paulding 4-H Youth Arts & Crafts Show will take place at Paulding Meadows Arts & Crafts Festival, September 12th-13th, 2026.

Open to students K-12th grade and artwork or crafts created between 9/1/2025 and 8/31/2026.

Categories include 2D (Classes: painting, drawing, and photography), 3D (Classes: sculpting/pottery, fiber arts, 3D printing), and 4-H Poster Exhibit (suggested for 7th-12th grade).

Limit of one (1) entry per class. Entry fee of $5 per class. Every participant will receive two (2) gate tickets to Paulding Meadows Arts & Crafts Festival. 1st-3rd place for each class and two (2) $50 prizes for pieces selected as "Best Overall"!

Full event details can be found at:
https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/paulding/4-h-youth-development/YouthArts-CraftsShow.html

Participant Registration can be completed at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBvtfaFIapx_QRG4XbxLGP95U4mKRvyO3BxEAewD-lwYvayg/viewform

Paulding County Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers were sad to learn of the passing of Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Phil Williams over the weekend. Our Paulding Community lost a fine gentleman, whose generosity was felt in every corner of Paulding and into surrounding counties. Phil was always smiling and always helping. He joined our group in 2014 and was active since then, helping with many odds and ends in programming and bringing his vast network of friends and organizations with him. We are thinking of all who knew and loved Phil. https://www.alvismillerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/phil-williams

🍀 Good luck to our Paulding County 4-H'er, KJ, as he represents Paulding County in the 🌽 Fruits, Nuts, & Vegetables 🌽 category at Georgia 4-H State Congress!
We are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and the knowledge you've gained along the way. Wishing you the very best as you showcase your skills and represent our county with pride. We know you'll do an amazing job!
Join us in wishing KJ the best of luck! 🍎🥜🥕🍀

Invasive Plant Spotlight: "Periwinkle" usually refers to either invasive ground-cover plants (Vinca minor and Vinca major), the disease-resistant Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) bred for summer gardening. Vinca minor has escaped cultivation and is invading natural areas throughout the eastern U.S. It inhabits open to shady sites including forests and often escapes from old homesites. Vinca minor grows vigorously and forms dense and extensive mats along the forest floor, displacing native herbaceous and woody plant species.

common periwinkle (Vinca minor L.) - EDDMapS Flowers Flowers are blue, lavender, or white, about 1 in. (2.5 cm) across, five petals blunt at tip, arranged in a spiral; blooms in springtime.

Paulding County Georgia Offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day Holiday.

Why should we care about invasive species? The Georgia Invasive Species Taskforce says invasive species impact far more than just the landscapes we love—they threaten our environment, economy, and even our health. Their spread creates long-term consequences that affect daily life, local communities, and future generations. Learn more by visiting

Invasive Species 101 - Georgia Invasives If left uncontrolled, invasive species can and will limit land use, cause billions of dollars in economic losses, threaten the state’s biodiversity, and

People often contact our office when they think they have spotted an invasive plant or animal. We want everyone to know that the best place to report invasives in Georgia is the EddMapS site. The basic information required: Who collected the data, Description of invasive species infestation, When and Where you collected the data and Images of the invasive species. You can learn more about reporting at

EDDMapS Step By Step - EDDMapS The basic information required: Who collected the data, Description of invasive species infestation, When and Where you collected the data and Images of the invasive species.

Invasive plant spotlight: Leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei) is a widely planted evergreen shrub in Georgia, but it is officially listed as an emerging invasive threat. Because its berries are eaten and spread by birds, it easily escapes cultivation into local woodlands and chokes out native plants.

leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei (Fortune) Carr.) - EDDMapS Foliage Leaves are pinnately compound, 18 in. (46 cm) long, with 9-13 holly-like leaflets. Leaflets are 2-4 in. (5-10 cm) long and 1-2 in. (2.5-5.1 cm) wide.

Being from South, we are all familiar with kudzu, the invasive vine that ate the South. However, are you familiar with the other invasive plants?

Invasive species are any species that are non-native and harm the local ecosystem. When these non-native plants and animals establish themselves in our local ecosystems, they outcompete and dislodge species that have evolved specifically to live there.

You can learn more about invasive plants you might see in your landscape and how to help combat them.

Invasive Plants-Know the Lists for Georgia | Paulding Vine Being from South, we are all familiar with kudzu, the invasive vine that ate the South. However, are you familiar with the other invasive plants?