RIBBON WINNERS … Kay Beck (above) and Cam Miller (top photo) both received ribbons for their entries at the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs state convention held August 26-28, 2024 at Maumee Bay State Park.
(PRESS RELEASE) – Pulaski Garden Club is ending our 2023-2024 season and next month we will start our new season with all new officers and programs.
This September 3rd, 2024, we began our meeting with roll call, new Treasurer Ronda Obus’s report and Connie Simmons read the minutes from last meeting.
Carol Wheeler reported on the succulent of the month – Sempervivum, also known as hens & chicks or houseleeks. It is an evergreen succulent which is low growing and mat-forming.
The rosette shaped leaves can come in a range of colors including red and purple. Colors are more intense when grown in full sun. The offset rosettes are known as the chicks.
They have the ability to grow with little soil, so can be tucked into gaps in a stone wall and in gravel beds. If you do use fertilizer feed only once a year.
You can replant a very young plant in the spring, in fully dry soil, can use gravel as top dressing and don’t water for about a week or leave the chicks on and they will root down and in time produce their own chicks.
They need full sun and little water, frost tolerant and like fast draining or sandy soil. Sempervivum leaves are narrow and have pointy tips. They bloom only once and die after the flower withers. And can thrive down to zone 5.
We discussed the recent state convention at Maumee Bay State Park Lodge, where we attended many interesting sessions, like growing mushrooms, evergreens, lighthouse boat tour, design classes, micro greens, etc. and two of our members won ribbons with their arrangements, so proud of Kay Beck, Rozetta Luke and Cam Miller.
New program books were handed out and next month our entries for our photo contest are due. And tags for fair entries were handed out. We will be setting up the Gillette building for our floral show.
Our current Club President, Regina Partee set up a Teatime Theme for installation of new officers. First, she started off thanking our past team, Kay Beck, Joyce Paepke and Connie Simmons, and this starts a 2-year term for our new officers. She awarded each a selection of Tea to relax and enjoy.
Sunshine Secretary is Peggy Miller, her responsibility is to send cards and noted, a single red rose for any memorial services. She was given “True Blueberry’ Tea to raise spirits.
Connie McGrew as publicity Officer to send pictures and write-ups of club activities to publications and social media. And with a Tea bag of “Country Peach Passion Tea”.
Rhonda Obus, the office of Club Treasurer, the important job of receiving recording, and distributing funds and to serve as the Club Bundle coordinator to maintain club memberships, and for this she received a tea bag of “Raspberry Zinger”.
Carol Wheeler, the office of treasurer, to keep attendance, the minutes of meetings, and handle correspondence for the club. This will keep you on your toes so a tea bag of “Wild Berry Zinger” is appropriate.
Cathy Sharp will serve as assistant secretary/treasurer as needed. The “Lemon Zinger” tea should help keep you alert as to the needs of our club.
Cam Miller, as president, presiding at all club meetings and appoint committees as to carry out the activities of our club. For this Enthusiasm and Energy is needed so sip on your “Chamomile” tea to unwind after a stimulating meeting.
And Regina Partee will be the vice president working closely with the president and assume duties in her absence and so she will have a “Black Cherry” tea will be needed.
The door prize brought by Judy Shilling was won by Connie Simmons, a pumpkin made by a Bryan school member.
Our work at the fair began with getting ready for our Flower Show at the Gillette building at the fairgrounds. Saturday at noon is the judging for our first flower show. We will be having Floral Design classes on Monday September 9th for adults and at 1:30 for youth.
For our program, Connie Simmons will present “Language of Flowers”. JoAnn Beucler lent her several books on the topic.
We are thinking of you JoAnn, hoping you can come back to our meetings real soon!! The history of flower meanings has been recognized for centuries in many countries throughout Europe and Asia.
They even play a large works in William Shakespeare’s works. Mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese are peppered with flower and plant symbolism – for good reason.
Whether you’re giving flowers to a mother on Mother’s Day, a friend on their birthday or a beloved on Valentine’s Day nearly every sentiment can be expressed with flowers.
The orange blossom, for instance means chastity, purity, and loveliness, while the red chrysanthemum means “I love you”.
I shared with each member what their birth month flowers are: January – Carnation, February-Violet, Iris, March-Daffodil, April-Sweet Pea, Daisy, Peony, May-Lilly of the Valley, June-Rose, July-Larkspur, Delphinium, August-Gladiolus, Dahlia, September-Aster, October-Calendula, November-Chrysanthemum, December-Narcissus, Poinsettia, Holly or paperwhite. And for each we discussed the meaning of each flower. Like an Aster means symbol of love or daintiness.
Recently a local newspaper had an article on “Learn the meanings behind popular Mother’s Day flowers. And we further discussed what flowers Garden Club members are showing in their front yards.
I have sunflowers, short and colorful and do the Gold Finch love them, eating the seeds and removing the flower petals and my meaning I am showing is adoration.
We have a member on East Wilson Street, her whole front yard is covered with red roses, so she is showing love.