May 2014 - Trees in the Urban Landscape
Presented by Dan Traas of Ranger Services.
Listed below are Carol Catlin's highlight notes from the presentation.
Plants are beneficial for humans. When people in hospitals can see trees they have less pain. People with Alzheimer's are better when they see trees.
Pre-settlement trees are those that were here before Europeans and others brought their favorite trees to the U.S. Pre-settlement is the preferred title rather than native.
Remember that all trees are forest trees and are not meant to live alone. Trees grow close together. If we spread them out, we change the environment for the tree.
Trees store carbon: 2.6 tons of carbon stored in 1 acre of forest.
Trees don’t know concrete. A native site is lost because of concrete; or because the top soil was removed to sell; and the fill around houses is a sub soil.
Trees provide storm water control : 1st 30% of rain absorbed by leaf system, next 30% of rain absorbed by root system . Temps under tree canopy are cooler.
When a tree isn’t doing well think about conditions that do not exist because the tree is in your front and/or back yards is not in a forest.
About 20 % of forest trees die every 20 years.
Presented by Dan Traas of Ranger Services.
Listed below are Carol Catlin's highlight notes from the presentation.
Plants are beneficial for humans. When people in hospitals can see trees they have less pain. People with Alzheimer's are better when they see trees.
Pre-settlement trees are those that were here before Europeans and others brought their favorite trees to the U.S. Pre-settlement is the preferred title rather than native.
Remember that all trees are forest trees and are not meant to live alone. Trees grow close together. If we spread them out, we change the environment for the tree.
Trees store carbon: 2.6 tons of carbon stored in 1 acre of forest.
Trees don’t know concrete. A native site is lost because of concrete; or because the top soil was removed to sell; and the fill around houses is a sub soil.
Trees provide storm water control : 1st 30% of rain absorbed by leaf system, next 30% of rain absorbed by root system . Temps under tree canopy are cooler.
When a tree isn’t doing well think about conditions that do not exist because the tree is in your front and/or back yards is not in a forest.
About 20 % of forest trees die every 20 years.
Let's Get Ready for Next Year's Activities - Winter 2014 Planning
During our February 2014 meeting we selected our activities for 2014-2015. And in March 2104 we met to discuss and vote on our future civic outreach projects. There are lots of fun things scheduled and we look forward to another busy year. Our organizational bylaws require us to hold an annual meeting which will be held in April. At this time the officers and committee chairmen give their reports and we will approve our 2014-2015 operating budget. We're back in to the swing of garden activities and tours in May and throughout the summer months.
During our February 2014 meeting we selected our activities for 2014-2015. And in March 2104 we met to discuss and vote on our future civic outreach projects. There are lots of fun things scheduled and we look forward to another busy year. Our organizational bylaws require us to hold an annual meeting which will be held in April. At this time the officers and committee chairmen give their reports and we will approve our 2014-2015 operating budget. We're back in to the swing of garden activities and tours in May and throughout the summer months.
Holiday Party - December 2013
Our holiday party is an annual tradition and it includes the exchange of white elephant gifts and donning unusual head wear. Here is the 'Four Seasons' of white elephants -- spring, summer, fall, and winter. A few reindeer showed up at the party too. During this time of year we also think of the needs of others and we made a charitable donation to Salvation Army.
Our holiday party is an annual tradition and it includes the exchange of white elephant gifts and donning unusual head wear. Here is the 'Four Seasons' of white elephants -- spring, summer, fall, and winter. A few reindeer showed up at the party too. During this time of year we also think of the needs of others and we made a charitable donation to Salvation Army.
Decorating for the Holidays - November 2013
PVGC member Carol Catlin discusses how various plant materials can be incorporated in to holiday decorations. Club members then had the opportunity to create grapevine wreaths and table arrangements for use in their homes during the upcoming fall and winter holiday seasons. Sometimes in took more than one set of hands to get the design to come together. It was a spirited evening with lots of creativity and fun.
PVGC member Carol Catlin discusses how various plant materials can be incorporated in to holiday decorations. Club members then had the opportunity to create grapevine wreaths and table arrangements for use in their homes during the upcoming fall and winter holiday seasons. Sometimes in took more than one set of hands to get the design to come together. It was a spirited evening with lots of creativity and fun.
Presentation on Orchids - October 2013
With the fall temperatures dropping our monthly meeting focused on a plant that loves warmth and humidity --- the orchid. Orchids produce stunning flowers with thousands of varieties to choose from; they're available in nearly every color of the rainbow (except true blue); and most are easy to grow. Ruth Freye was our guest presenter and she has been growing orchids for 30 plus years in the Fox Cities region. She told us about the various subfamilies of the species, their horticultural requirements, how to care for these plants, and demonstrated how to repot them. It was a fun and educational program and motivated many of our members to try growing these unusual plants.
With the fall temperatures dropping our monthly meeting focused on a plant that loves warmth and humidity --- the orchid. Orchids produce stunning flowers with thousands of varieties to choose from; they're available in nearly every color of the rainbow (except true blue); and most are easy to grow. Ruth Freye was our guest presenter and she has been growing orchids for 30 plus years in the Fox Cities region. She told us about the various subfamilies of the species, their horticultural requirements, how to care for these plants, and demonstrated how to repot them. It was a fun and educational program and motivated many of our members to try growing these unusual plants.
Educational Tour - September 2013
Photo: PVGC Club members tour IntelliGrowth - September 2013
The Club visited IntelliGrowth in Appleton to learn about worm farming and how worm castings are used as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. The tour was led by Steve Finley and he's leading us through their inventory department. The huge white bags are filled with hundreds of pounds of worm castings. It was an extremely interesting and educational tour. We wish this two year old company the best of luck with their business venture. It's sure to keep on growing and striving to bring organic gardening methods to the general public and businesses too!
Garden Tours - August 2013
Photo: SLUG Garden, Lawrence University
In August 2013 our club scheduled three garden tours.
We visited the Sustainable Lawrence University Garden (SLUG) sited adjacent to Fox River. The produce grown in this garden is prepared in the University's kitchens and eaten by its students, faculty, and visitors. To complete the cycle the food scraps are returned to the site to be converted in to compost for use in the garden.
Several club members also visited Christopher Gardens (private) in Sheboygan, WI. This amazing and gorgeous 50 acre cultivated garden sits along the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a stunning garden filled with 20+ garden rooms.
And our club also visited the Quarry Rock Garden (private) owned by Karen and Carl Vanden Heuvel in Seymour. Every rock and plant in this beautiful garden was hand set by the owners -- it's a true testament to their love of gardening.
We visited the Sustainable Lawrence University Garden (SLUG) sited adjacent to Fox River. The produce grown in this garden is prepared in the University's kitchens and eaten by its students, faculty, and visitors. To complete the cycle the food scraps are returned to the site to be converted in to compost for use in the garden.
Several club members also visited Christopher Gardens (private) in Sheboygan, WI. This amazing and gorgeous 50 acre cultivated garden sits along the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a stunning garden filled with 20+ garden rooms.
And our club also visited the Quarry Rock Garden (private) owned by Karen and Carl Vanden Heuvel in Seymour. Every rock and plant in this beautiful garden was hand set by the owners -- it's a true testament to their love of gardening.
More Garden Tours - July 2013
Photo - July 2013 in Delso's Garden
Seventeen club members and three guests visited six gardens in the Neenah in July 2013. Our first visit was to 'Grow Local' a sustainable hydroponic agricultural business that produces vegetables, herbs, and fish. They are selling their tasty organic products to a number of restaurants in the Fox Cities. The club then visited five private gardens located in the Mahler Farm neighborhood. The evening was topped off with a pot luck dinner in the backyard of a club member's home along with the sighting of a pair of Sand Hill cranes.
Plant Sale
Photo - May 2012 PVGC Plant Sale
Our annual plant sale raises money to support student scholarships, public gardens, and club activities throughout the year. Look for signs posted on Calumet and John Streets in Appleton to announce the sale date. The sale is typically held in mid-May at the home of one of our club members. We offer high quality plants at very reasonable prices; and our inventory comes from our member's and friend's personal gardens.
Club Project at Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass
Photo - Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass, Sept. 2013
For the past four years our club has been responsible for the installation and maintenance of the planters at the Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah. In 2012, we had a custom planter built and installed at the front entrance. Pieces of decorative glass were embedded in the top deck of the planter reflecting the "glass focus" of the museum.
Look for This Sign Around Town - Garden of the Month
PVGC Garden of the Month Sign - July 2013
Our distinctive 'Garden of the Month' sign with our sunflower logo can be found gracing the front lawns of some of the best gardens in the Fox Cities.
Floral and Horticultural Exhibits
Photo - July 2011 PVGC Horticultural Exhibit
Our club holds an annual floral and horticultural exhibit in conjunction with the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley Garden Walk scheduled in
mid-July.
The public is welcome to enter horticultural exhibits too;
however, the specimens must comply with the rules found in the National Garden Club Flower Show Handbook.
Individual specimens are cleaned and prepared for exhibit in glass bottles. The goal is to find a perfect specimen and have it immaculately groomed so that the judges give it high marks/score. The white tags list the plant category/ classification for judging and it is folded over to hide the exhibitors name until the judging is completed. Dozens of blue ribbons can be awarded at a show because each variety of a particular plant category is only judged against an identical plant. Top winning specimens can also receive special ribbons.
mid-July.
The public is welcome to enter horticultural exhibits too;
however, the specimens must comply with the rules found in the National Garden Club Flower Show Handbook.
Individual specimens are cleaned and prepared for exhibit in glass bottles. The goal is to find a perfect specimen and have it immaculately groomed so that the judges give it high marks/score. The white tags list the plant category/ classification for judging and it is folded over to hide the exhibitors name until the judging is completed. Dozens of blue ribbons can be awarded at a show because each variety of a particular plant category is only judged against an identical plant. Top winning specimens can also receive special ribbons.
Wisconsin State Fair 2013 - Floral Design Competition
Photo - Wisconsin State Fair, Floral Design Competition, Aug. 2013, Created by Carol Catlin
Club Members Carol Catlin and Marion Books submitted floral design entries at the Wisconsin State Fair held the first week in August. Congratulations on your designs and awards!