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Forget-Me-Not Garden Club
Minutes for March 16, 2011
The garden club met at Dale Naas’ home and Dene McDonald served as co-hostess. In attendance were Dale, Dene, Susan, Martha, Denise, Jone, Margie, Nikki, Holly, Stephanie, Kay, Sharon, and Carol Jean. Dene’s granddaughter, Jessica, also attended. A luncheon inspired by green garden pests was enjoyed before the meeting.
President Dale Naas called the meeting to order. Last month’s minutes were approved. The treasurer was not in attendance and the report was not read.
The ECD district board meeting was held February 22 and was attended by Dale and Jone. The date for the upcoming ECD fall meeting was announced – October 20. The meeting will be held at the Shriner’s Hall and there will be space available for booths. The World Flower Show will be held in Washington, D.C.
ECD Flower Show will be held July 15th and 16th at the Crestview Community Center in the Crestview Mall. The show will include special educational exhibits to go along with the theme of “summer days.” Dale offered to represent our club and make an exhibit on bats. Holly volunteered to help on the exhibit. Anyone else interested in working on such an exhibit should contact Dale.
On April 19 there will be a Women’s Expo at the Embassy Suite from 9:00 to 4:00. Shirley Drury will include some of our cookbooks in her booth. Anyone interested in helping Shirley contact her before the 19th.
A sign- up sheet will be passed around for anyone interested in attending the St. Genevieve Flower Walk on May 14 and 15 from 10 am to 4 pm. See website for more information: http://extension.missouri.edu/stegenevieve/.
Webster Groves has their 38th annual herb sale on April 30 from 8:30 - 2:00. It will be held at the First Congressional Church on Lockwood and Elm. See their website for more information: http://wgherbs.org/
Members were encouraged to plant at least one variety of native plant in their gardens (or someone else’s garden) or in containers for this year’s “go native” promotion in Missouri.
Old Business
Last month the garden club had presented two baskets for an auction benefiting the Wings of Hope. One basket had a gardening theme (which netted $ 140.00) and the other a cooking theme ($ 76.00). The Wings of Hope was recently nominated for a Nobel Prize and we were pleased that the proceeds from the baskets went to such a good cause.
Dale presented Jackie Reynolds with one of our cookbooks as a way of thanking her for all the hard work she has put into the garden club website. Jackie sent a thank-you card expressing her appreciation for the book and the stress ball that accompanied it.
Community garden participation discussed in our October meeting was again brought up. The majority of members wanted to know more details. Dale will contact Bridget Kosser (gardenfromthegroundup.org) and report back. (Minutes from our October meeting stated plot size of 8’ X 12’ and a fee of $ 50 for the season.)
Committee Reports
Holly Bird reminded us that Earth Day is just around the corner. On April 16 seedlings will be given away at the Chesterfield Park between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Holly also informed the club on “new uses for old things.” While is it doubtful that any of us will use Grandpa as a doorstop, there were a number of creative ways to use items that many of us may adopt. She also shared information on methods to force blooms to open, edible flowers, and precautions to make concerning food safety.
There was a discussion to sell our cookbooks at different craft shows and events. Anyone with suggested locations and pricing should contact the cookbook committee.
Program:
Dale Naas and Dene McDonald presented a program on “Bats, Bugs, and Bullfrogs.” We had no idea that frogs could be so intriguing, nor bugs so complex, nor bats so inviting!
During the presentations, there was a discussion to make bat houses to sell at the ECD October luncheon. Suggestion was made to check with Dale Drury for his service with the design and cost of same.
Also, Dale will send a pdf file on “Gardening Tips” to members for beneficial plants and insects.
Jone and Nikki want to remind everyone to begin thinking about what they will cultivate from their gardens for the plant exchange they will be hosting in June. Start rooting and cutting! Club members should also start thinking about fund raisers. Bring ideas to the next meeting.
The April meeting will include a field trip to the Sugar Creek Gardens at 1011 Woodlawn. Diane Carbrey and Shirley Drury will serve as hostesses.
The meeting was adjourned.
Martha Pipkins, Secretary, Forget-Me-Not Garden Club
March 23, 2011
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