Butler County - Alabama Extension

🎉 Please join us in welcoming our new County Extension Director! 🎉

The Butler County Extension Office is excited to introduce Katie Lee as our new County Extension Director.

Our wonderful Master Gardeners at work!

Pollinator Plant of the Month - Butterly W**d

With bold orange flowers and whimsical seed pods, butterfly w**d fuels monarchs, feeds pollinators, and thrives in sunny gardens with little fuss. Butterfly w**d is a member of the genus commonly called milkw**ds. This plant blooms from May through September. In addition to their attractive blooms, the plant’s seed pods are also attractive when they split open to reveal silky parachutes that float the seeds throughout the landscape.

Learn more about this pollinator plant and other here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6832

🦌 Managing deer populations starts with good information. Alabama has resources to help landowners and hunters make informed decisions about deer harvest, habitat and herd health.

The Alabama Deer Management Assistance Program provides tools such as harvest data analysis, habitat recommendations and one-on-one visits with wildlife biologists. Alabama Extension also offers publications and webinars to help you learn more about data-driven deer management.

Learn more about deer management resources at https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/alabama-resources-for-data-driven-deer-management/

Hornets can be intimidating, but understanding their habits can help you avoid unwanted encounters. On this episode of Southern Ground, hosts Shane Harris and Chip East continue their discussion from Episode 20 with Alabama Extension entomologist Meredith Shrader. The group discusses bald-faced and European hornets, including where they nest, why they become defensive, and the safest ways to manage problems around homes and landscapes.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6895

A forage grass developed by Auburn University is helping cattle producers extend grazing seasons, reduce input costs and better withstand environmental pressures. Known as AU Sand Mountain bahiagrass, the variety was created to meet the growing demand for a hardier warm-season forage.

Leanne Dillard, a forage specialist for Alabama Extension at Auburn University and researcher for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, works with cattle producers to find forages that are dependable, versatile and require minimal nutrient inputs through her Alabama Extension outreach.

“Bahiagrasses like sandy loam soils, which we have in abundance in Alabama,” Dillard said. “The AU Sand Mountain variety is one we promote in central and north Alabama because of its long growing season and characteristics make it an ideal forage choice for many cattle producers.”

Read the entire article here: https://www.aces.edu/go/6872

The third full week in September is National Keep Kids Creative Week! 🎨👩‍🍳

A fun way for kids to express their creativity is by helping in the kitchen! The next time you're cooking or baking, invite your child to chop vegetables, measure ingredients, or stir everything together. Cooking together is a great way to spend quality time as a family while helping children build confidence and learn valuable new skills!