Vande Hey's Garden Center Tour with a Wine and Pizza Tasting Party May 11, 2015
Yum, yum! What a delightful, delicious, and fun evening we spent at Vande Hey's Garden Center on County N in Appleton. We dined on pizza baked in their patio kitchen and enjoyed a wine tasting sponsored by Uncorked from Neenah. Vande Hey's also created a scavenger hunt which challenged us to find some of the new plants being offered for sale this season. The evening was topped off with the installation of our 2015-2017 officers. Thank you to our 2013-2015 officers, Mary McDaniel, Jeanne Baum, Sue Rhode, and Leigh Grube for their two years of dedication and service to our club.
Heirloom Vegetables April 13, 2015
What is an heirloom plant? Why should you grow them? What are the best gardening practices for growing heirloom plants?
An heirloom plant or seed will grow and produce offspring identical to itself.
This is helpful because a gardener can grow the plant from year to year without having to purchase new seeds; and will know that the offspring will always have the same characteristics (e.g., color, taste, and form). This is how our ancestors grew their fruits and vegetables; and because we are a nation of immigrants this is why so many different plant forms are available in the US. The practice of using heirlooms seeds was nearly lost after hybrid seeds were introduced in to the marketplace in the 1950’s. Thankfully interest in heirloom plants has increased over the past twenty years; which will keep these plant forms available to future generations of gardeners. Several companies specialize in heirloom seeds; but some of the best ones are those given to you by family and friends.
It's best to match your garden's growing conditions to those that the plant evolved in (e.g., similar type of soil and climate). A happy plant will be healthier and this affects its yield (number and size of vegetables/fruits). And don't forget to harvest, clean, dry, and store some of the heirloom seeds for your 2016 garden.
Landscaping with Natives
March 10, 2015
Are you planning on doing some garden remodeling this year? Then consider planting a native tree, shrub, or perennial instead of the typical crabapple, pine, or lilac. Trees that can be substituted for a crabapple tree are hawthorn or serviceberry. Junipers are great substitutes for arbor vitae or pines; plus the deer don't like them so you can avoid the evergreen lollipop effect each winter. There are a number of viburnum and winterberry shrubs to replace those hedges of lilacs (native to Asia). And Joe Pye weed and Butterfly Weed bring lots of flowers and color to the landscape. These plants are well adapted to our soil and climate and they will thrive in your garden; and they offer food and shelter to wildlife. Thank you to Tom Jensen of Vande Hey Company landscaping and nursery for teaching us more about what native plants that should be added to our gardens.
March 10, 2015
Are you planning on doing some garden remodeling this year? Then consider planting a native tree, shrub, or perennial instead of the typical crabapple, pine, or lilac. Trees that can be substituted for a crabapple tree are hawthorn or serviceberry. Junipers are great substitutes for arbor vitae or pines; plus the deer don't like them so you can avoid the evergreen lollipop effect each winter. There are a number of viburnum and winterberry shrubs to replace those hedges of lilacs (native to Asia). And Joe Pye weed and Butterfly Weed bring lots of flowers and color to the landscape. These plants are well adapted to our soil and climate and they will thrive in your garden; and they offer food and shelter to wildlife. Thank you to Tom Jensen of Vande Hey Company landscaping and nursery for teaching us more about what native plants that should be added to our gardens.
|
|
Holiday Party
|
National Garden Club Schools & Photography Critiques November 10, 2014
Our November meeting included two activities. Lucy Valitchka and Pat Ritchie presented a program on the educational opportunities available through the National Garden Club Schools. The schools are offered in four different subject areas: Gardening Studies, Landscape Design, Environmental Studies, and Flower Shows. Each course consists of four two day sessions in the respective subject matter. The instructors teaching the classes are leading experts in the field; and the courses also include hands on training and garden tour opportunities. Students who pass the course examinations become certified consultants in the subject area or serve as flower and horticulture show judges. For the second portion of the meeting club members brought examples of their garden photographs for a critique session. The goal was to learn about ways to improve our photographic skills prior to our photo competition in July 2015. We learned about how to improve the composition and layout of photos, how to use cropping, camera techniques to capture what we want to be in focus; and how to capture the fleeting motions of bees, birds, and butterflies.
Our November meeting included two activities. Lucy Valitchka and Pat Ritchie presented a program on the educational opportunities available through the National Garden Club Schools. The schools are offered in four different subject areas: Gardening Studies, Landscape Design, Environmental Studies, and Flower Shows. Each course consists of four two day sessions in the respective subject matter. The instructors teaching the classes are leading experts in the field; and the courses also include hands on training and garden tour opportunities. Students who pass the course examinations become certified consultants in the subject area or serve as flower and horticulture show judges. For the second portion of the meeting club members brought examples of their garden photographs for a critique session. The goal was to learn about ways to improve our photographic skills prior to our photo competition in July 2015. We learned about how to improve the composition and layout of photos, how to use cropping, camera techniques to capture what we want to be in focus; and how to capture the fleeting motions of bees, birds, and butterflies.
club members exhibiting their creative works.
Trellis/Obelisk Workshop October 13, 2014
We enjoyed a fun and creative evening building trellises and obelisks from common garden materials - pots, soil, bamboo stakes, tomato cages, and grapevines. Thank you Carol Catlin for sharing your bounty of grapevines and to Leigh Grube for her knowledge & experience and teaching us how to build these garden accessories.
We enjoyed a fun and creative evening building trellises and obelisks from common garden materials - pots, soil, bamboo stakes, tomato cages, and grapevines. Thank you Carol Catlin for sharing your bounty of grapevines and to Leigh Grube for her knowledge & experience and teaching us how to build these garden accessories.
All About Bees September 9, 2014
We learned so much about bees from Tim and Rhonda Bantes. Did you know that the average bee visits between 50 to 100 flowers on each trip to and from the hive; that it takes the pollen from 2 million flowers to produce one pound of honey; and that just one lone been only produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime? These are just some of reasons why gardeners should be planting flowers to help sustain bee populations. Thank you Tim and Rhonda for sharing your knowledge with our club.
We learned so much about bees from Tim and Rhonda Bantes. Did you know that the average bee visits between 50 to 100 flowers on each trip to and from the hive; that it takes the pollen from 2 million flowers to produce one pound of honey; and that just one lone been only produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime? These are just some of reasons why gardeners should be planting flowers to help sustain bee populations. Thank you Tim and Rhonda for sharing your knowledge with our club.
Tour of Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin August 11, 2014
The Club visited the Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin located in Appleton, WI. This two year old garden consists of a prairie meadow, a screened in hatching shed which allows you to get up and close to the butterflies, and a visitor center. We walked through the prairie on a trail that is in the shape of a butterfly. We enjoyed seeing many Wisconsin native plants and butterflies that live or migrate through our area. Many thanks to Jack Voight and his wife for their hospitality and the tour. We encourage you to grow more native plants to help feed and sustain these beautiful creatures.
The Club visited the Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin located in Appleton, WI. This two year old garden consists of a prairie meadow, a screened in hatching shed which allows you to get up and close to the butterflies, and a visitor center. We walked through the prairie on a trail that is in the shape of a butterfly. We enjoyed seeing many Wisconsin native plants and butterflies that live or migrate through our area. Many thanks to Jack Voight and his wife for their hospitality and the tour. We encourage you to grow more native plants to help feed and sustain these beautiful creatures.
Progressive Dinner Garden Walk July 14, 2014
One of the most anticipated events of the year is our Progressive Dinner Garden Walk. This is an exclusive tour available only to our club members and their guests. The 2014 tour featured five club members' gardens located in Menasha and Sherwood. Life doesn't get much better than dining "al fresco" in beautiful gardens. Please enjoy the photo slideshow.
One of the most anticipated events of the year is our Progressive Dinner Garden Walk. This is an exclusive tour available only to our club members and their guests. The 2014 tour featured five club members' gardens located in Menasha and Sherwood. Life doesn't get much better than dining "al fresco" in beautiful gardens. Please enjoy the photo slideshow.
Tour of Solaris Farm
June 9, 2014
Well it's good to know that there is a reward for surviving one of the coldest winters on record in the State of Wisconsin. Our garden club was delighted that the slow onset of peony blooms coincided perfectly with our scheduled visit to Solaris Farm in Reedsville, WI. Nate Bremer (seen in photo above) is the owner of the nursery which specializes in the hybridization of peonies (herbaceous, tree, and intersectional) and lilies. The view of acres of peonies in bloom was stunning and they were delight to see, touch, and smell. Nate Bremer received the "Bronze Medal" from the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation in May 2014 for his hybridization work. Congratulations to Nate and we appreciate all of the effort that he puts in to creating new plants for us to grow and enjoy.
June 9, 2014
Well it's good to know that there is a reward for surviving one of the coldest winters on record in the State of Wisconsin. Our garden club was delighted that the slow onset of peony blooms coincided perfectly with our scheduled visit to Solaris Farm in Reedsville, WI. Nate Bremer (seen in photo above) is the owner of the nursery which specializes in the hybridization of peonies (herbaceous, tree, and intersectional) and lilies. The view of acres of peonies in bloom was stunning and they were delight to see, touch, and smell. Nate Bremer received the "Bronze Medal" from the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation in May 2014 for his hybridization work. Congratulations to Nate and we appreciate all of the effort that he puts in to creating new plants for us to grow and enjoy.
Club Members and Nate Bremer
