Oakland Garden Club Meeting News

November 13, 2015 Leave a comment


Fifteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday November 12, 2015 for their annual pot luck lunch. Three guests attending were Vince Lindstrom, Harley Nelson, and Darrell Schneekloth.

 

Hostesses Sandra Anderson and JoAnn Peterson decorated the tables with a cornucopia with a mix of artificial mini pumpkins, bittersweet, sunflower, berries and colored leaves. Other decorations were baskets and a stream of leaves, peppers, pinecones, and multicolored pumpkins. All decorations sat on orange open raffia mats.

 

After lunch, each member answered roll call by telling what dish or dishes she or he had brought.

 

Upon deciding to enter a Garden Club exhibit in the Lyons Library Festival of Trees, Sandra Anderson said, using the same tree she had provided last year, she would make the decorations for it using pictures of flowers.

 

Julie Easton, President, suggested that since we did not send a rose bud to a Memorial Service for former member Bernie Weber, we donate money to the Golden Oaks memorial fund for her. Sandra Anderson moved and Geraldine Peterson seconded that we send $10.00 to Golden Oaks. The motion passed.

 

Rosa Schmidt reported that Emory Wickstrom’s family wants a flower or plant in the park in memory and provided a check of memorial money. Rosa gave the money provided to Treasurer, Audrey Unwin. Members discussed possible suggestions, perhaps even replacing an existing unsightly bush with a new and more attractive one. They will discuss it and make a final decision in the spring. Geraldine Peterson said she would write a thank you to the family.

 

The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is the planning meeting on February 11, 2016. Bring snacks.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

October 15, 2015 Leave a comment


News Story for THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB

 

Fourteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Oakland Library at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday October 8, 2015. Their guest was Librarian, Rosa Schmidt.

 

Hostess Geraldine Peterson decorated with a vase of artificial sunflowers and statice.

 

Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call telling what root crops they stored and how. Few stored food crops any more, but several stored flower bulbs or tubers in sheds or garages or basements. The order of the meeting was changed to make sure that the Garden Club would be finished and out of the way when children arrived after school.

 

Geraldine Peterson gave the lesson on “Storing Root Crops.” Storing vegetable root crops enables one to enjoy them all winter long. First was an admonition Not to wash them as it would decrease their storage life. Lay crops out to dry and crumble dirt off.   Store items at 34 º and with humidity. Keep temperature constant as a change of even 5º will start root crops to grow. Best is in a crisper drawer in refrigerator—but not potatoes as they will get starchier. One may put foods in a plastic bag, poke holes in bag and hang up. Use a wooden or cardboard box, layer ¼ to 3” sawdust, peat moss, or shredded newspaper and then items. They may touch each other but not sides of box. Continue layering till box is full. Never place box on floor as it will draw moisture and items will rot. These boxes may be stored in cold shed, under porch, etc. Freezing will not hurt the produce; however, if they thaw, they must be used within two days. Go through items occasionally and remove any spoiling items.

 

One may dehydrate food for storage, but it must be blanched or cooked first. Another possibility is to leave items in the ground, cover them with one foot of mulch or straw and just dig up items as one needs them. A drawback of this plan is that insects or vermin may get into the items.

 

Do not store onions in any of these closed methods; yellow onions will keep better than white or sweet ones.

 

After the lesson, Cathi McMurtry read the September 10 minutes, and Audrey Unwin gave the treasury report.

 

In new business, President Julie Easton reported that sprinklers had been installed for flower beds #2 through #6 on the curve in the park, and that #8 would be done after rose bushes had been trimmed back. There is a control box for adjusting the timing with two pop-ups for each bed. Sean Linder of NE Rain is doing the installation.

 

Marie Daubert reported that, while bees enjoy our summer blooms, they need our fall blooms as well. Good ones are goldenrod, sedums, rudbeckia, New England aster, and Joe-pye weed. Also, don’t forget to plant your bulbs before the ground freezes for next spring’s show. Besides yellow or white, daffodils now come in pink and green, and tulips come in Technicolor. Others to plant for early to late blooming are alliums, snowflakes, hyacinths, and bluebells. You might plant a mixture of types of bulbs in mini pots and over winter in a garage or porch till spring temperatures rise above the teens when you can move the pots outdoors to bloom for you.

 

Members read the Garden Club Benediction and they were reminded that the November 12 meeting would be the pot luck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Rosin Room at the city auditorium.

 

Hostess Geraldine Peterson served pumpkin pie.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club Beautifies Oakland City Park

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


IMG_0977

The beautiful flower beds in the Oakland City Park are thank to the Oakland Garden Club. The members work hard to keep these flower beds a wonderful sight to see all summer long. Photos Credit of Denise Gilliland/Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

The beautiful flower beds in the Oakland City Park are thank to the Oakland Garden Club. The members work hard to keep these flower beds a wonderful sight to see all summer long. Photos Credit of Denise Gilliland/Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

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McMurtry Shares her Passion for Gardening

July 28, 2015 Leave a comment


Spring and summer provide an abundance of color from the beauty of flowers and tailored landscapes to the sprouting vegetable gardens.

Oaklander Catherine McMurtry has enjoyed gardening for many years, both floral and vegetable. Her and her late husband Ernest are parents to six now adult children. “With having six kids, we had to have a garden,” stated Catherine.

Their garden was in Norfolk at her parent’s house. They grew a variety of vegetables to feed their family. “We planted many vegetables, including tomatoes and potatoes,” Catherine said.

Her other passion is growing flowers of many varieties, creating beautiful flowerbeds throughout her yard. She also has a fiberglass bathtub to plant flowers in. “I have planted zinnias in it. They got very tall. I don’t know why, maybe something in the soil,” Catherine stated.

Another one of her favorite flowers is the wave petunia. “They don’t have to be deadheaded. I have grown pink, white and purple petunias,” said Catherine.

She has also had random flowers grow that weren’t planted by her. “Squirrels, birds, water and wind can carry many things, including flower seeds,” Catherine stated.

Catherine has also been a member of the Oakland Garden Club since she retired from her teaching career in 2002. She currently holds the secretary position and has for many years.

The Garden Club has many flowerbeds at the Oakland Park, beautifying the park for all to enjoy. Catherine maintains one of the beds at the park, planting flowers, especially petunias and tulips, watering them and pulling the weeds. The Garden Club has many members, each pitching in to keep the park a very colorful sight for everyone’s eyes.

Catherine also has grown many bushes and trees over the years. “I believe in planting all native trees and bushes, something from this area. The birds, butterflies and insects live on them,” Catherine stated.

She has a piece of advice for those trying to find the best type of flowers to plant, especially for the older individuals. “Plant perennials. It is wonderful to have plants that come back year after year. Two of my favorites are mums and tulips,” Catherine said.

If you would like to become a member of the Oakland Garden Club, contact Catherine or many of the other members.

A different colored tulip. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

A different colored tulip. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Liver wart flower, an early bloomer in the shade. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Liver wart flower, an early bloomer in the shade. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Ginko tree. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Ginko tree. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Tulip, one of her favorite flowers. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

Tulip, one of her favorite flowers. Photo courtesy of Catherine McMurtry.

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

June 25, 2015 Leave a comment


Fifteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday June 11, 2015.

 

Lois Schneekloth was hostess. Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call by answering what rhubarb food she or he had brought.

 

Cathi McMurtry read the minutes of the May meeting.

Audrey Unwin gave the treasury balance and reported that the city wants the Garden Club to submit their bills to the city for their $450.00 rather than giving a check for the total to the Garden Club.

 

Nell Stanley attended and joined the Garden Club.

 

In old business, Julie Easton reported that Brian had had to pick up downed trees and branches this week, so he did not get the dirt and splintered RR ties picked up from the bed south of the gazebo. While we had hoped the bed would be ready by Swedish Festival June 19–21, it probably would not be.

 

Audrey Unwin suggested that we have the July brunch at the auditorium. She added that we would have to discuss the Fair, but that the Fair books were not out on-line yet.

 

Julie Easton reported that the tea roses at the park did not survive the winter. May Taylor gave back the rose bush we had given her after her husband Bill’s death, and Julie Easton planted it in the rose bed at the park. Julie bought a red rose from Sue’s Flower Shoppe and planted it in the bed in honor of Doris Anderson. Geraldine Peterson said she had sent a card to Doris Anderson’s family.

 

Marie Daubert reported on the American flag. The 200-year-old flag that inspired the song “The Star Spangled Banner” dates back to the war of 1812 when Francis Scott Key wrote the poem when he saw the American flag still flying above Ft. McHenry after a night of British bombardment. That flag, larger than half a tennis court now rests in the Smithsonian.

In 1812 Confederate troops shelled the U.S. Ft. Sumpter in Charleston. The flag flying there is now displayed at Ft. Sumpter’s National Monument.

When Lincoln lay dying in Ford’s theater, someone took the flag flying in front of his theater box and crumpled it under his head. That flag is now in the Columns Museum of Pike Co. Historical Society, Milford, PA.

The flag raised at Iwo Jima in WWII is displayed in the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

The flag raised by three NY City fireman over Ground Zero has disappeared, but the 2-by-3 foot flag workers found in the rubble from the World Trade Center is now in exhibits at the National Museum of American History.

 

Deet: mosquitoes must hate the stuff because it works. Follow directions carefully when using. Bug zappers may work, but they tend to attract more insects than they kill—and many of those insects may be ones that eat pests. It’s better to use citronella candles, yellow bug lights, wear light-colored clothing, and have a fan blowing since they are not strong fliers—fly only 1.5 mph. Also empty all standing water and dispose of decaying vegetation.

 

Birds are attracted to lights and are often killed by flying into windows. Individuals and other businesses can do what Union Pacific and OPPD are doing. They have put up posters asking employees to turn off unnecessary lights and keep shades lowered till 10 a.m.

 

            Protect honeybees which pollinate 130 types of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Culprits for their die-off include pesticides, mites, harsh winters, cell phone towers, and keepers who feed bees high fructose corn syrup instead of honey. Don’t spray gardens during hours bees are pollinating.

 

            In Japan, prone to earthquakes, after some people were trapped in elevators, Japan plans to put water and toilet facilities in its 620,000 elevators. In India, the government, trying for a “clean India,” is installing thousands of toilets. Poor sanitation and infected water cause 80% of morbidity, and diarrhea is a leading killer of children younger than 5. People, especially in rural areas, are reluctant to give up their practice of going in open fields, do not want toilets close to their houses, and are using them for storing grain or clothes or tethering goats.

 

            Members read the Garden Club Benediction. The topic for June was rhubarb, and rather than a regular lesson, each member was to bring something made with rhubarb and tell about it. Members enjoyed each others contributions.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

May 18, 2015 Leave a comment


Twelve members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday May 14, 2015.

 

Leila Heineman was hostess. The front table held a mixed bouquet of cut leaf peony, viburnum, columbine, red-leafed penstemon leaves, and spring rocket. Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call by answering “What’s stressed at your place?” Although many first answered that they were, they followed with name of plants, bushes, or trees. Again, many gave a similar answer by naming what had been lost over the winter.

 

Cathi McMurtry read the minutes of the April meeting. Audrey Unwin gave the treasury balance. She reported receiving a Memorial check of $5.00 for Doris Anderson.

 

Julie Easton announced a card and a rose had been sent to May Taylor after the death or her husband Bill.

Stan Pearson attended and joined the Garden Club.

 

In old business, Lela Heineman said we need to plant more roses in the Memorial rose bed. Members discussed that we had agreed to move the knock-out rose from there to other places and plant tea roses in the bed. Vernelle Nelson gave a check of $25.00 to help pay for flower plants.

 

Marie Daubert wondered if the burning bushes at the old Piper place might be rescued and planted elsewhere in Oakland before the property was razed. While members liked the idea, they agreed we need to find out first who owns the property and their decision. Audrey Unwin said she would check.

 

Audrey reported that the city had budgeted $450.00 for the Garden Club; however, Katie Onken said, with a new auditing system, she was not sure yet if she could write a check to the Garden Club or if the Garden Club would need to turn bills into the City to pay.

 

Lela Heineman reported that Evelyn Swenson gave a $125.00 check for the Jim Swenson Memorial flower bed. Lela also reported that Amanda Huntington is making the sign designating it as Jim Swenson Memorial bed.

 

Marie Daubert reported that California pesticide rules farmers must abide by are the nation’s strictest to protect workers and consumers. While grapes & almonds have 20-year cycles, strawberries are treated every year, causing great danger to people. A new way to grow potatoes is in the new potato bag which sets on top the ground, is filled ½ with dirt, then spuds on top, and grass clippings on that. These plants evidently don’t die down as fast as those growing directly from ground.

 

The blackpole warbler, ½ oz. in weight, summers in forests of N. America and Canada and then flies 1700 miles for 49 to 73 hours nonstop over the Caribbean to S. America for the winter.

 

If you’re planting a crab apple tree, you have over 900 varieties to choose from, but be sure to get one that is disease resistant. When pruning trees or shrubs, cut dead stems back to a hardy upright, and trim off cross branches.

 

A late reminder: According to 2013 figures, mothers are worth $38,126.00 and $8,879.00 for overtime.

 

Members read the Garden Club Benediction.

 

 

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB                                                                                                                      2

 

Lela Heineman gave the lesson on “Care of Stressed Plants” which she limited to outdoor plants to limit the time and amount of material. Winter damage to trees and shrubs often comes from rabbits and deer. Rabbits will gnaw limbs and bark. If the trunk is completely girdled, the plant will die. Suckers may come up, but if it is a fruit or ornamental item grafted to root stock, the suckers will not be the same. If the evergreen buds are chewed off, that season’s growth is gone.

 

Plants may seem to be under insect damage that is often due to moisture damage. Dig for moisture at 6” depth. If is dry, water and plant should recover in 24 hours. If it is too wet, stop watering. If plant doesn’t recover, that wasn’t the problem or was severe enough to destroy plant. Heat may cause a plant to wilt during the day to shut down moisture loss, but it may recover in cooler evening temperatures. Newly planted seedlings or ones moved from outdoors may need shade or fabric protection till they are acclimated. You might turn the fan on seedlings before moving them outside to toughen them up. Bleached spot on these plants may indicate more need for early protection from sun.   Black areas on leaves may indicate frost damage. The foliage will not recover, but the plant may survive. Wait till plant begins to show new growth before trimming off blighted areas. Ragged foliage can be caused by heavy winds, rain or hail, and this foliage can make plant more susceptible to diseases, so trim it.

 

Off color foliage can mean nutrient deficiency—if pale, most likely nitrogen. If veins green, but rest pale, then iron, a reddish or purplish cast, phosphorous. Stunted growth—overall lack of nutrients. Check soil level for pH and fertilize accordingly. Be sure to follow application directions. Dried leaf margins can mean wind or fertilizer burn, while burned area in one location may indicate damage by herbicide overspray or animal urine. Spray area with clear water & trim off damaged area. Also, maybe plant is not happy in that location, so move it to one with more or less shade or wind, moisture or dryness, etc.

 

Another problem may be insect damage. Certain ones attack certain plants and leave tell-tale marks. Earwigs leave irregular holes, aphids leave a sticky residue, lace bugs eat tree & bush leaves, while scale on trees & shrubs suck sap from twigs and branches and cause die back. Most can be controlled with chemicals. Check cans or bags for symptoms, plants affected, and application.

 

Diseases affect plants in varying degrees. Powdery mildew affects some plants and various shrubs, Although it doesn’t cause serious damage, it can slow growth and reproductive rate. Aster yellows affects many plants, is transmitted by leafhoppers, and results in stunting, dwarfing, yellowing of foliage, spindly stalks, failure to develop flower color or seeds. No cure. Remove and destroy all affected foliage. Root rot usually affects roses and azaleas. Symptoms are drooping and yellowing leaves that roll downward. Don’t plant in poorly drained soil, on exposed south side of building or in windy areas. Leaf spot affects many plants and first appears as small brown spots. High humidity and moisture make plants susceptible to fungal infection. Improve air circulation by removing some of surrounding plants, and in fall remove and destroy dead or spotted plant material so as to reduce spoors available for infection the following spring.

 

Finally, if there is a sad-looking plant in a store that you really want, take it home, remove it from pot and soak it in a bucket of water till bubbles quit. Since in many stores they are watered from above, they often lack sufficient water. Also, many are root bound. Once bubbles quit, trim the roots, repot, and water. If it doesn’t thrive, quit and try a new plant.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

April 23, 2015 Leave a comment


Twelve members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday April 9, 2015. Leila Heineman was hostess. Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call. It was agreed that garden bed assignments would remain the same unless someone requested a change. Audrey Unwin reported she had bought coffee and a decorative container for it to keep in the cupboard. The rest of the meeting was devoted to the guest speaker.

 

Ina Glaubius from Wisner talked about taking pictures of flowers, butterflies, and insects. She brought framed examples of her work to illustrate points she made and passed them around as she talked. As she also likes to write, she began by reading two poems she had written about her work. The first contrasted human work with that of nature: construction and spider webs, painters and flowers, planes and butterflies or birds, track meets and grasshoppers. She continued with asking “Why not love dandelions, etc. They only reflect the regeneration and timing of nature—in plants, butterflies, moths, the orchestra of crickets, mosquitoes, etc. The second work read celebrated nature’s spectacular ballet in wild salsify–accompanied by many pictures if it.

 

When people have asked her about a preferred time of day to photograph she said “Not in summer between 11 and 4. Also, she uses a SLR digital camera with a macro lens which enables her to get close to her subject. She passed a close up of raindrops on dandelion puff, then ones of milkweed and then cosmos. Look at things from different angles. Don’t look directly at a flower—unless there’s a bug in it.

 

She showed a clear picture of a green plant under water taken at Yellowstone Park. Her pictures of sunflowers showed parts of a flower, some very close up. Of two different pictures of an African spoon daisy, the vibrant blue of one was subdued in the other. This type of variation will occur with the same flower being photographed at different times of day or even at different age of flower.

 

Two dramatic black and white photos—dewdrops on a spider web and an argiope spider on a spider web—she had taken at an earlier time with film rather than digital camera. She showed pictures of clematis and iris—try different angles or different parts of the flower. She reminded us—always to deadhead surrounding spent flowers first! A beautiful close picture of several purple allium, like the milkweed seeds and cleome, was difficult to take because the camera kept trying to re-focus on different parts of the tiny flower parts.

 

Flowers show up well in color, but yellow ones show up best in black and white. She showed a collection of bachelor button pictures, each a little different. Someone asked how many shots of each flower she would take before she found one she would like, and her answer was “about 20.” Then she would look at them, and if she didn‘t like any would erase them all and re-try.

 

For her insects and bugs, she will capture one with a small container, fasten netting over it, and put it in the refrigerator perhaps over night for it to chill. Then it will move slowly enough for her to photograph it. After about 3 minutes it will warm too much to photograph, and she will return it to its original spot. Pictures shown were butterfly on bachelor buttons, a fly on a storm window, close up of green and gray caterpillar, detail of a grasshopper showing its geometric color design, a painted lady on zinnas, azure dragonfly on weed stem, yellow swallowtail on zinna, a 5-spotted hawk moth or hummingbird moth in black and white on a 4-o’clock and one in color.

A b & w photo of a fly taken with film emphasized its enormous eyes, and a color of a snake

skin showed that its skin even covered its eyes.   A b & w was taken of a pink and white lined sphinx moth on a mirror. One of a bee was taken on a detail of a mum, another was a close up showing pollen on one leg. A close shot of a very green praying mantis illustrated its bending a leg at an angle a human could never replicate! One insect on a mirror had a very blue sky as background. Other b & w’s were cicada-killer wasp, monarch caterpillar on mum, empty monarch cocoon, spider web with entrapped fly, celery looper moth on mum, honey bee on a mum, and detail face of a predatory insect.

 

Proof that she has won prizes at county fairs and NE State Fair was in evidence from the many ribbons attached to her works. She has been judging photographing at fairs for 17 years, judging 4-H two times and open class three times at Burt Co. Fair. This year she is scheduled to judge at six county fairs.

 

 

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

March 27, 2015 Leave a comment


Twelve members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday March 12.

 

Hostesses Tammy Waters and Cathi McMurtry decorated with a shamrock table runner on front desk with green candle with wrapper at base with Irish symbols, green & white butterflies and served a green poke cake cake with green whipped cream.

 

Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call by naming a blue flower they had grown. Bachelor button and iris were the most frequently mentioned.

 

Cathi McMurtry read the minutes from the February meeting. Treasurer Audrey Unwin the treasury balance as the same as February but with membership dues not yet deposited.

 

For old business, Audrey Unwin reported that she had provided coffee for this meeting but would buy a decorated canister of ½ caffeine coffee, mark it and put in the kitchen for Garden Club.

 

In new business, Lela Heineman announced a change in the schedule. The April lesson will be moved to September, and the April meeting will feature Ina Glaubius who will give tips and tricks for photographing flowers, birds, and insects, She has won awards for her work at the NE State Fair and will be bringing some of her works for display. The public is invited to attend this activity.

 

Debbie Rosenboom reported on a meeting of representatives of organizations in Oakland planning for the 150 anniversary in 2018 of the founding of Oakland. They are looking for a catchy slogan to promote it and also want each organization to plan how best to prepare for it. The big promotion will be for Memorial Day weekend when many people traditionally return for family and school reunions. The suggestion for the Garden Club was that with advance notice they could have the park beds looking fantastic by the end of May in 2018. Audrey Unwin suggested that that meant planting tulips. Rosenboom reminded members that this was separate from the Swedish festival and did not need to include Swedish flowers. Also, she reminded them to be thinking of possible slogan or slogans.

 

It was reported at the Chamber of Commerce meeting of the expense of insurance for the gator for watering pots on the main avenue. Deb Rosenboom wondered if the Garden Club could use it for watering at the park as the many hoses were heavy to drag to flower beds. We will ask Michael Nissen about insurance cost for that. Audrey Unwin moved and Tammy Waters seconded that we donate $100.00 to the Chamber of Commerce for the pots and their watering on Oakland Avenue. The motion carried.

Audrey Unwin reported that Sean Linder wondered if we could put sprinklers in the park flower beds. Audrey Unwin will ask Linder to check into cost for doing so.

 

Members commented on the bed next to the gazebo originally built by Boy Scouts who tended it for about two years. The entire bed needs torn apart and rebuilt. It might possibly have a layer of RR ties underneath it.

 

Lela Heineman moved and Laverne Osterndorff seconded that we provide a single rose in bud vase at the funerals of Doris Anderson and Laurine Bush, long members of Garden Club. The motion carried.

Audrey Unwin reported that the Burt County Fair may be requiring all entries to the fair be made on Thursday night so that the judges could complete judging Friday morning and the exhibits be open to the public on Friday afternoon.

Laverne Osterndorff and Lela Heineman gave a $10.00 donation for Lorine Bush.

Marie Daubert presented an old clipping mentioning blackberry lily some had asked about. It has now been classified as an iris, but after blooming its fruit and berry look like a blackberry. It dates back not just to George Washington’s estate but also is found in Chinese literature of 25 A.D. A hot new trend is planting succulents. Mix up types and shapes in your planters for attractive gardens.

She read about buying newer plants disease resistant and mildew resistant, and also said that butternut was more resistant to squash bug infestation than other squashes because of their strong stems squash vine borers couldn’t penetrate. A looming threat is the emerald ash borer. Its infestation is nearly impossible to detect until it is too late to save the tree. It is spread by people moving trees and firewood. The beetles can fly about ½ mile. A professional preventative treatment for an average size tree would cost about $100.00.

Members read the Garden Club Benediction, and Audrey Unwin gave the lesson on Swedish flowers. The national flower of Sweden is the Linnea Borealis or Twinflower, a delicate wildflower about 1 inch high, smelling of vanilla, and growing in the forests which cover over half of Sweden. The flower is named after Swedish Carl Linnaeus, the man who 300 years ago developed the taxonomy or system of classifying plants and animals, a taxonomy used today relatively unchanged.

Sweden has big countryside with the landscape wide and open even in cities with fruit, vegetable and nursery stock in the open. Pot plants, cut flowers, and bedding plants and herbs are grown under glass. Sweden historically had 25 provinces that now have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification and used in colloquial speech while administration is reduced to a lower number of counties.

Each province has two flowers or plants representing it. Each was assigned one, but in cases where they did not like the assigned one, they picked another. Eventually, each province gained two representative plants—assigned or chosen. By seeing the English common name, you will recognize most of them as plants or flowers growing here. Listed first is the traditional province name, then the plant. Blekinge: English oak and great mullein. Bohuslan: honeysuckle. Dalarna: Scottish blackbell and spreading bell flower. Dalsland: true forget-me-not. Gotland: English ivy. Gastrikland: lily of the valley. Halland: creeping broom gold. Halsingland: common flax. Harjedalen: pasque flower and Alpine yellow violet. Jamtland: black vanilla orchid. Lappland: white dryad. Medelpad: Norway spruce and globe flower. Norrbotten: Arctic raspberry. Narke: cowslip. Skane: oxeye daisy. Smaland: twinflower. Sodermanland: European white water lily. Uppland: Kings meadow lily. Varmland: chickweed & Arctic starflower. Vasterbotten: lousewort. Vastergotland: shrub heather. Vastmanland: European mistletoe. Angermanland: viola tricolor. Oland: hoary-rock rose. Ostergotland: cornflower or bachelor button.

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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Oakland Garden Club News

February 18, 2015 Leave a comment


 

 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY, 12 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB

Oakland Garden Club did not meet in January because of bad weather.

Thirteen members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on February 12, the second Thursday of the month, their regularly scheduled meeting time and place.

 

Sandra Anderson         Marge Elsasser            Cathi McMurtry        JoAnn Petersom

Marie Daubert               Lela Heineman            LaVerne Osterndoff    Lois Schneekloth

Julie Easton                 Betty Homes              Geraldine Peterson      Debbie Rosenboom

Audrey Unwin

 

Hostesses Lela Heineman and Julie Easton decorated with valentine napkins, two miniature rose plants, valentine candies and served a cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Members decided to repeat their 2014 Simplicity theme: Lunches will be very simple with one decoration and one candy or nuts.

 

Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed in their handbooks. Each member answered roll call by telling or estimating how many houseplants she has in her house. With the number ranging from two to at least one hundred, at the end, Lela Heineman said we must have the cleanest air in the country. Geraldine Peterson reported that she and Julie had arranged to send gifts to members who’d had surgery: a poinsettia to Vernelle Nelson, flowers to Cathi McMurtry, and fruit plate to Sue Beckner. The thank you’s to the Club were read.

 

Members decided to skip reading the notes Audrey took at the October meeting. Audrey gave the balance in the treasury as $3094.62 with no outstanding bills. Cathi reported that Denise Gilliland would like to post the Garden Club minutes on her Katcountryhub@gmail.com.Members agreed it would be good to have them on line as well as in the local paper.

 

With election of officers, Geraldine Peterson, Co-President, announced that she would be unable to serve again. Julie Easton, also Co-President, would serve again with another, and Debbie Rosenboom agreed to serve with her as Co-President. Audrey Unwin and Cathi McMurtry agreed to serve again as Treasurer and Secretary. Lela Heineman agreed to act as Historian, and Geraldine Peterson to act as Cheerer [sender of cards, notices, etc.] Geraldine Peterson and Lois Schneekloth agreed to act as Callers. Members voted to approve choices made.

 

Lela Heineman asked if we would consider moving meeting times to evenings or moving some to evenings After discussion on how many meetings people already had, no change was made. Then Lela Heineman moved and Geraldine Peterson seconded that we offer Associate membership of Garden Club for people interested in helping with flower beds without these members having responsibility for dues or acting as a hostess. The motion passed. Audrey Unwin moved and Sandra Anderson seconded that Garden Club not meet in January. The motion passed with only one dissent. Lela Heineman moved and Audrey Unwin seconded that the Garden Club purchase a can of coffee and keep on site for meetings. Sandra Anderson agreed to come early to meetings to make coffee and set up tables and chairs.

 

After members set up schedule of meeting lessons and presenters, roll calls, and hostesses for the year, Lela Heineman agreed to make the Garden Club book for the 2015 year.

 

Marie Daubert read a parody poem “Night Before Taxes.”

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 12 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB

 

 

Lela Heineman gave a review of Winter Sowing. Plant in Jan., Feb., or March. This works best in zones 5 or 6. Plant perennials or very hardy annuals.

 

For containers use milk jugs, large soda bottles, dessert or fast food bowls, clear cake or cottage cheese containers, etc. but tops must be clear or translucent to let in daylight. Add holes to the sides, tops and bottoms for air circulation and drainage. If bottom holes are too big, line with coffee filters, newspaper, etc. Tops should be at least 2 inches above soil to allow for seedling growth. If using milk jugs, cut in middle halfway or more around to bend back to plant and tape back together with duct or packing tape when finished. Also tape lids on when finished. Label clearly on bottom or on markers placed inside as sun will bleach writing off visible markers.

 

Put potting soil or seed starting mix in container, about two to three inches deep, moisten soil, and sow seeds, putting light cover of soil over them. Attach lids and place containers outside. Keep containers moist. As weather warms and seeds germinate, increase ventilation, finally removing lids. Transplant seedlings into garden with no hardening off needed.

 

The list of perennials to sow is almost endless, even shrubs, trees, and vines, although trees and shrubs may require long dormancy over a year to germinate.

 

At lunch time, as valentine presents, Julie Easton set out new packets of flower seeds for members to take home.

 

 

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary

 

 

 

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