Floyd County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers - Georgia

09/30/2026

The Virginia Boxwood Blight Task Force provides leadership in safeguarding and protecting the ornamental horticulture industry, historical gardens, and landscape plantings from boxwood blight.

09/15/2026

A great way to support our Floyd 4H program!

👕 Pre-order a Floyd County 4-H T-shirt for just $25!

✅ Available at the Floyd County 4-H Office
✅ Cash, check, or card accepted
✅ Supports local youth and helps keep 4-H opportunities affordable

Our goal is to sell 100 shirts, and we need your help! Whether you're a current 4-H family, alumni, supporter, or community member, every shirt purchased makes a difference in keeping costs affordable.

Design inspired by 4-H member Emma Selman

Orders must be placed by October 1st!

💚 Buy a shirt. Support a kid. Spread 4-H.

09/15/2026

Every fall millions of birds migrate over our heads each night journeying towards their winter habitats. If you love birds, you might enjoy the interesting stats and reports from Bird Cast. Below is the dashboard for Floyd County.

Also a friendly reminder to turn off non-essential outside lights in the fall (mid- August through November) from dusk to dawn to help these birds during critical migration periods.

Explore nightly migration data in your region

09/15/2026

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census in August.

Over the course of two days, thousands of people across six states spent 15 minutes observing pollinators, resulting in a total of 44,000 census uploads. Additionally, more than 450 educators reported incorporating the census into their STEM programs this year.

Thank you for your curiosity, for contributing valuable data, and for being citizen scientists!

09/04/2026

Some additional helpful information regarding the new pasture mealybug. This pest has the potential to impact all warm season grasses.

09/04/2026

Keep your eyes out for this new invasive pest.

🌱 Pasture mealybug has arrived in Georgia, with the first confirmed detection reported in the southwest corner of the state.

UGA Extension forage specialists have been working around the clock to track the newly arrived pest and establish the best management options for Georgia producers.

Here's what you can do:

▪️ Clean farm and hay equipment between fields or farms.
▪️ Avoid unnecessary driving through pastures.
▪️ Change footwear and clothing after visiting a suspected infestation.
▪️ Keep grazing records and avoid moving livestock into or through affected pastures.
▪️ Limit traffic onto farms when possible.

➡️ More at the link in the comments!

08/27/2026

We love getting to partner with the Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home team on events. We're still thinking of all the fun of last weekend's pollinator count.

08/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Pollinator Pop-In event and participated in the Great Southeast Pollinator Count in the Chieftains Museum demonstration gardens this weekend.

Thanks for beeing citizen scientists 🐝 and learning more about and caring for pollinators! 🦋🪰🪲🦟

08/22/2026

Day 2 of the Pollinator Pop-In is today from 10am - 2pm.

🐝 ONE MORE DAY TO COUNT! 🐝

If you missed us yesterday, there's still time to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Come out to Chieftains Museum TODAY from 10 AM–2 PM for our final day of Pollinator Pop-In!
Here's your mission:

🌸 Find a flowering plant in our garden.
🔎 Watch for pollinators.
⏱️ Count them for 15 minutes.
📱 Log your observations.
🎁 Claim your small participation prize!

And while you're here, enjoy pollinator-themed crafts and a snack—and chat with our Floyd County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers about the pollinators and plants you're seeing.

Here's the cool part: your observations become part of a larger community science project happening across the Southeast. Thousands of people are participating in the 2026 census, turning lots of small observations into a much bigger picture of pollinator activity.

🌼 Today | 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home
💲 FREE

No need to stay for hours. Stop by for 15 minutes—or stay and enjoy the garden!

Bring your family. Bring your curiosity. Help us count the buzz! 🐝🦋

08/21/2026

The rain has cleared out and our volunteers are out in the garden. There’s still time to stop by for the Pollinator Pop-In event til 12pm today.

🚨 IT'S POLLINATOR CENSUS DAY! 🐝

Today we're out in the Demonstration Garden for our Pollinator Pop-In, and we'd love for YOU to help us count!

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is happening across the Southeast today and tomorrow, giving everyday people the opportunity to become community scientists and contribute observations that can help researchers better understand pollinators.

You only need 15 minutes to complete a count! Come to Chieftains Museum today between: 🌼 10 AM–12 PM

Our Floyd County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will be here to help you identify pollinators and answer your gardening questions.

PLUS:
🎨 Pollinator crafts
🍪 Snacks
🐝 A chance to explore the museum and garden
🎁 A small prize for completing and logging your count

FREE • FAMILY-FRIENDLY • NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Can't make it today? We'll be here tomorrow, Saturday, August 22, from 10 AM–2 PM! Come count with us! 🦋 Register here: https://forms.gle/NyAbpQJxCDAyX1aP8