Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County

The Pollinator.org 2021 post is here! This year's poster Pollinators and Agriculture: A Partnership on the Land" by artist Hugo Salais is an artistic depiction... of the harmony that can be achieved when agricultural landscapes embrace pollinator-friendly management practices. Visit https://www.pollinator.org/poster-2021 to download the high-res PDF, order a physical print for your classroom, take a virtual tour of the poster, and read about the artist and each species and management practice depicted in the amazing image. ~MB

Silky Dogwood (Cornus [Swida] amomum) is blooming along streams, lakes, and wetlands. This native shrub gets its name from the rusty pubescence on the underside... of its leaves, giving them a silky look. Small clusters of white flowers are pollinated by bees in late spring. Dark bluish fruits develop in late summer and provide a valuable food source for migrating birds. See more

Largeflower milkweed (Asclepias connivens) is a south Georgia milkweed. Large, purplish buds open to large, greenish flowers, held up by thick stems with short, upward facing leaves. It grows in moist flatwoods, savannahs, and bogs. Photo from UGA by Karan Rawlins

Michaux’s milkweed (Asclepias michauxii) is a south Georgia species that makes its home in savannas and pinelands. Usually a single stalk with narrow leaves, the flower color is greenish white to pale lavender. Photo by Richard and Teresa Ware.

During the spring and fall, you might come across a Red-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster) while hiking during the daytime. They tend to b...ecome more nocturnal during the heat of the summer. This harmless snake is native to the southeast and it’s often found near ponds, creeks, and wetlands where they feed on frogs, fish, and crayfish. Red- bellied Watersnakes are less aquatic than other watersnakes and are often found several hundred meters from water in woodlands. Their brown back allows them to look like a fallen tree branch on the forest floor and blend in with the leaf litter. See more

Climbing Milkweed or Maroon Carolina Milkvine (Matelea carolinensis) flowers in late spring. It’s native to the southeast in woodlands and along fencelines. As ...it’s name suggests, a milky sap is exuded when the stem is broken. If you’re looking for a plant to attract monarch butterflies, consult the list provided in the comments. See more

It's never too early to start thinking about the holidays! The Cobb County Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) department presents their 2nd annual poinsett...ia sale. Please help us support our programs and events by purchasing some beautiful poinsettias to dress up your home, work space, or place of worship. They also make great last minute gifts for family members and friends. Click BELOW for more information and to pre-order some winter cheer! Friday, November 13 is the last day to submit orders. Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County Cobb County Government Cobb County Public Library

Climbing aster (Ampelaster carolinianus) has a very small range and only one county in Georgia, but it can be found at native plant sales occasionally. The habit is rather shrub/vinelike. It is very late to bloom and is blooming now.

Keep Cobb Beautiful staff will host a paper shredding and Hefty EnergyBag recycling event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Cobb County Civic Ce...nter. Early arrival is recommended. Paper shredding is limited to 10 banker boxes or kitchen size bags. Plastic shopping bags, straws, Styrofoam and other items will also be accepted but items must be inside Hefty EnergyBag orange bags. These bags can be purchased at Kroger. Please use this registration link for the event: https://forms.gle/jqiB83prKcpGpX1U8 The Cobb Civic Center is located at 548 S. Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Items not accepted include electronics, televisions, textiles, paint, medications, household hazardous waste, flip flops, mattresses or carpet. For a complete list of accepted items, visit keepcobbbeautiful.org or call 770-528-1135.

Native viburnums are starting to show off their fall color; this one is blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium). This large shrub is often considered a small tree becau...se of its upright growth and tall height great for small spaces. It is native in the Piedmont and a few counties in the upper Coastal Plain. See more

A small shrub is fruiting now in the north Georgia mountains, a bright pink that might remind you of beautyberry. This is coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus...), a low, spreading shrub in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). Its fruits are eaten by wildlife, and it is apparently popular with deer (another common name is buckbush). It is a host plant for clearwing moths such as the Snowberry Clearwing. See more

When Dr. Richard Hall moved into his home in Athens about 10 years ago, the yard was full of bamboo, wisteria, English ivy, and other non-native invasive plants.... With a background in ecology, he quickly became interested in bringing native flora and fauna back into the greenspace. Today, there is no denying that an incredible transformation has taken place. Both front and backyard are now filled with a variety of locally-sourced native plants that have become host to an incredible array of insect life, directly supporting birds and other wildlife. Dr. Hall added a wondrous water feature that has become a focal point in the yard, as it invites dozens and dozens of species of birds to drink and bathe throughout the year. Whether removing encroaching non-native invasive plants in the garden or sitting in his screen porch watching birds come in for an evening bath, this sanctuary provides endless learning, engagement, and relaxation. As a board member of Oconee Rivers Audubon Society, Dr. Hall directly supports wildlife and bird conservation, not only in his backyard, but also in his community. See more

These are gross.

Fabulous fall color can come from the most overlooked of plants. This is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) putting on a show up in the north Georgia mountains, but you... can see it on roadsides throughout much of the upper half of the state and throughout the eastern US. This one is absent of the flame-shaped clusters of rusty fruits. See more

Reconnecting Our Roots Community Garden is one of our MGVOCC projects and a few of us dropped by for a visit this morning! #GrowingGardeners #MGVOCC #everythinghorticulture #UGACobbANR

#GrowingGardeners #MGVOCC #everythinghorticulture #UGACobbANR

Ring-necked Snakes (Diadophis punctatus) are found across the Eastern US in moist woodlands. They’re not active during the day very often, but you might find on...e under some mulch while gardening or under a rock or log. They have a dark gray to black body with a yellow to orange ring around its neck. Here in the Piedmont, you’ll often find the Southern Ring-necked sub-species shown here. It has a neck ring that doesn’t completely encircle the top of the neck and a row of black spots down its belly. Ring-necked Snakes are harmless and grow to around 18 inches long. They primarily eat worms and insect larvae.

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) can have wonderful fall color. On any individual tree, the range of color from one leaf to the next can be very different. The fall ...fruit adds to the beauty and is very popular with birds. There are some cultivars available with more consistent color on all leaves. The top picture is a species tree while the bottom tree is a cultivar. See more

Another maple, this one not so common in Georgia mostly where people have planted it! This is sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Fiery orange color, distinctively ...shaped leaves (not variable like the red maple). Unlike the red maple, fruits take longer to ripen so the seeds/samaras of the sugar maple don’t fall until late summer (red maple seeds fall in early summer). See more