Choctaw County-Alabama Extension

06/17/2026

Mimosa trees are blooming across Alabama right now!

These eye-catching pink flowers may be beautiful, but mimosa is a non-native invasive tree found throughout Alabama along roadsides, streams, woodlots and other disturbed areas.

Join the 2026 Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to raise awareness, improve identification skills and take action against invasive plants.

Learn more and take the pledge: www.aces.edu/go/YearofInvasivePlants

06/16/2026

Just a couple days away! We look forward to seeing you!

06/15/2026

Aim for adventure at 4-H Archery Camp!

Calling all young archers! 🎯 Join us on June 16 for an exciting day of skill-building, teamwork, and fun in the great outdoors. Whether you're a seasoned archer or a total beginner, we've got a session for you.

Don't wait—spaces are limited! Call 205-459-2133 to reserve your spot by June 5, 2026. Open to ages 9-18, this is your chance to hit the bullseye!

06/15/2026

Home production of shiitake (she-TAH-kee) mushrooms can be a rewarding and delicious hobby. These flavorful mushrooms are packed with nutrients, low in calories, and can be enjoyed fresh or dried for later use.
Growing shiitake mushrooms is easier than you might think. Alabama Extension experts walk you through every step of the process, from selecting and inoculating logs to maintaining them and harvesting your own mushrooms at home.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or looking for a new project, shiitake mushroom cultivation is a fun way to expand your gardening skills and enjoy a homegrown harvest.

Learn how to get started: https://www.aces.edu/go/6374

06/14/2026

🌱Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
The annual grass typically grows 1–3 feet tall and often has multiple stems, branching near the base.
Leaves are pale green, 2–4 inches long, 0.5 inches wide, and grow alternately and well‑spaced along a delicate stem.
Leaf blades have pointed tips and bases, smooth edges, and often a silvery midrib.
This plant has a thin, weak root system. Rootlets (“stilt” roots) descend from nodes along lower sections of the stem into the soil.
In the fall or during droughts, the plant may turn a purple‑brown color, transitioning to a bright tan to orange thatch in some parts of its range.
Preferred habitat includes floodplain forests and streambanks, forest edges, road and trail edges, damp fields, ditches and lawns, and other shady areas prone to flooding.
This species can form dense infestations and crowd out native vegetation; however, it can be easily hand‑pulled due to the weak root system.
Repeated mowing or weed‑eating before seed set may be an effective control against this annual but the area will need to be monitored and treated for several years to eliminate seedbank reserves.
Learn more on how to recognize this plant and compare it to look‑alikes in the Field Guide to the Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass.
https://www.aces.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ANR-1457_FieldGuidetoStiltgrass_030119L.pdf
🌿 Join the 2026 Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to raise awareness, improve identification skills, and take action against invasive species. Visit ACES Year of Invasive Plants Project to learn more and take the pledge.

06/14/2026

Meet Holt Akers-Campbell, Commercial Horticulture Agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University.

High tunnels can help growers extend the growing season, improve crop quality and increase profitability—but success starts with the right management practices. Holt works with producers across Alabama to develop strategies for fertilizer management, irrigation, pest exclusion, disease prevention and crop selection to help maximize production under cover.

Whether you're considering a high tunnel or looking to improve an existing operation, Alabama Extension provides research-based recommendations to help growers stay productive and profitable.

Learn more about high tunnel production and connect with your local Extension office at aces.edu.

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

🎈Watching colorful balloons float into the sky is a popular way to mark special milestones, but the reality of balloon releases is far more troubling. Every balloon released eventually returns to Earth as dangerous litter that pollutes ecosystems and threatens wildlife.

When balloon fragments land in our environment, the impacts are devastating:

Severe Risks to Wildlife: Marine animals like sea turtles often mistake floating balloons for jellyfish, leading to fatal digestive blockages. Soft plastics are among the deadliest materials ingested by seabirds, and attached strings can easily entangle livestock, dolphins, and land animals.

Ecosystem & Infrastructure Damage: Ingested plastics accumulate throughout the food chain, disrupting entire ecosystems. Additionally, conductive Mylar balloons cause hundreds of electrical power outages across the country every year, sparking fires and costly repairs.

The Myth of Biodegradability: Even natural latex balloons can take years to break down. Non-biodegradable Mylar balloons eventually fragment into microplastics, contaminating our soils, waterways, and drinking water sources.

The good news? We can still celebrate meaningfully without the plastic pollution. Consider switching to eco-friendly alternatives like blowing bubbles, using no-mess throw streamers, flying kites, or planting trees and wildflowers to honor your special moments.

Small changes in our traditions can preserve the health of our planet for generations to come. Head over to our blog to read the full article on balloon pollution and sustainable celebration ideas! 🌲

🔗 https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/balloon-releases-environmental-impacts-and-eco-friendly-alternatives/

06/11/2026

The high temperatures and humidity levels of an Alabama summer are perfect conditions for fly populations to thrive. If left to their own devices, flies can quickly cause issues for both beef cattle and producers.

“Flies and other external parasites directly affect a producer’s bottom line and can cause many health problems in cattle,” said Dr. Soren Rodning, an Alabama Extension veterinarian at Auburn University.

Several fly species can affect cattle including horn, stable, heel, blow and screwworm flies.

The recent detections of New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico have brought national attention to the importance of proper fly control. While this pest has not been found in Alabama yet, Rodning encourages producers to monitor their herds vigilantly.

Read more about protecting the herd against flies and what to do if New World screwworm is suspected. https://www.aces.edu/go/6456

06/11/2026

Looking for a beautiful, adaptable native tree that feeds both your family and local wildlife? 🌳 Meet the serviceberry—also known as shadbush, saskatoon, or juneberry.

The downy serviceberry is a highly versatile plant native to Alabama. It serves as a stunning ornamental choice, featuring beautiful white spring blooms and vibrant orange, yellow, or red autumn leaves.

Here is what makes this native fruit tree a perfect addition to your landscape:

Fruit: It produces small, purple-red fruit that ripens in June. The berries are highly palatable raw and perfect for making homemade preserves, jams, and cobblers.

A Wildlife Magnet: The fruit is a major food source for fruit-eating birds and mammals like squirrels, deer, and bears. Its early spring flowers provide vital nectar and pollen for honey bees and bumble bees, and the tree serves as a host for more than 100 caterpillar species. 🐝

Tough and Adaptable: Once established, it is tolerant of dry habitats but will also thrive in wetter riparian zones. It grows best in full sun and can easily replace invasive species like the callery pear.

Want to learn how to cultivate, propagate, and select the best serviceberry variety for your property? Check out our latest article 🌲.

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry/native-fruits-serviceberry/