Floyd County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers - Georgia

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

08/21/2026

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census has officially kicked off!

Whether you're counting in your backyard, at a school, park, community garden, workplace or joining us at the Chieftain's Museum for the Pollinator Pop-In Event (10am - 12pm today and 10am - 2pm tomorrow), take 15 minutes to join this important annual event and help make a difference.

Here's an example of the counting sheet. You can find it and more info at https://gsepc.org/resources/.

08/20/2026

A helpful insect identification guide for the upcoming pollinator count. This provides an overview of the eight insect groups included in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

08/20/2026

We hope you'll join us for the Pollinator Pop-In event at the Chieftains Museum this Friday and Saturday. But did you know you can also participate at home?

We know that not everyone can participate in person, but you can still contribute to this citizen science project from home. We'll share a few resources here to help you get involved, no matter where you are located in the Southeast.

08/19/2026

We hope to see you this Friday and/or Saturday for the Pollinator Pop-In at Chieftains Museum! We’ll be counting all our pollinator friends. 🐝🦋🪰🪲🦟. These two days are part of the broader Great Southeast Pollinator Census, happening all around the southeast!

🐝 WHAT'S BUZZING IN THE CHIEFTAINS GARDEN? 🌸

This week, we're joining thousands of community scientists across the Southeast for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!

Join us for Pollinator Pop-In at Chieftains Museum and spend just 15 minutes counting the pollinators visiting our Demonstration Garden. 🦋

And don't worry if you don't know a bee from a butterfly—we'll have Floyd County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers - Georgia on hand to help you learn what to look for!

While you're here:
🌼 Count pollinators
🔎 Learn how to identify them
🎨 Make a pollinator-themed craft
🍪 Enjoy a snack
🎁 Get a small prize when you complete and log your count!

📅 Friday, August 21 | 10 AM–12 PM
📅 Saturday, August 22 | 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home
💲 FREE!

Registration is encouraged so we can have enough supplies, snacks, and prizes—but walk-ins are welcome! Register here: https://forms.gle/sv1zsp1U5espGz6w6