Garden
Clippings
503-434-4344
|
|
OCTOBER
2008 CALENDAR |
|
|
October 20th -
Meeting Meeting/Program: Mike Darcy, host of In
the Garden Radio Show To hear podcasts of previous shows
head to: http://www.kxl.com/KXLTalkShows/IntheGarden/tabid/57/Default.aspx
October 21st The
Garden Club's craft interest group will be
|
President’s Message – Cathy Burdett
Thyme
after Thyme
Gardening Friends:
Thank you for the support and participation in our September organizational meeting. Although the club agenda was extensive, we completed it on time, thanks to you!
We have a well organized club that accomplishes many projects in our community, thanks to you!
Our club is energetic and enthusiastic in creating “interest groups” that focus on specific topics, thanks to you!
Remember the analogy that our club is like an elegantly crafted, finely tuned, valuable American antique watch (82 years old) that continues to tick, tick, tick in time, year after year, thanks to you!
Roving Reporter Sharon
Gunter
I was reading
my new issue of Fine Gardening and got a laugh out of the column by the
Managing Editor. Part of it reads as follows:
"First
year they sleep. Second year they creep. Third year, they
leap." This mantra is helpful because it explains why your plants
might not do much after you plant them and offers hope for the future. If
I were to adapt the saying to my experience, it would go something like
this. "First year, they sleep. Second year, I've forgotten
what they are. Third year - if they make it that long - I have probably
moved them so I'm really back to the first year."
Motions from last club meeting: 
· Judy made a motion to approve the proposed 2008-2009 club operating budget; it was seconded by Ann. Patty placed the motion before the club for further discussion; she restated the motion and put the motion to a vote; the motion passed without opposition.
·
Mary Jo made a motion to change the second part
of Standing Rule #5 to state that membership changes will be given to the
Membership Chair for disbursement to the Newsletter and Yearbook Editors.
Welcome
to our NEW Sprouts!
New members from June through September include:
Joyce Bates
who recently retired
to McMinnville from
Patti Gregory
was raised in
Mike Stewart joined our club in June. He works as
business manager for
Jan Clay has lived
in
Two other new members, 
Myrna Cuscaden and Cokie Anderson have
been unavailable for an interview but we are pleased to have them as part of
our club and look forward to meeting them.
Garden Conservancy Jan Elliot
There are a few
Clearing the Air (submitted by Ann Silverthorne
by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor,
HGTV.COM
|
Indoor air often contains volatile chemicals that are given
off by paint, pressed wood products,
carpeting, adhesives, etc.--all commonly found in new buildings and building
materials. People who suffer from "sick building syndrome"
often find some relief when plants are present.
Dracaena ranks high in the ability Great Green Air Cleaners Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) |
In 1980
scientists at the What tangible things do plants do ·
Studies
have shown that people feel more attentive, think a little more clearly and
possibly even more innovatively, when plants are around. ·
They
report feeling less stressed. ·
In
some cases plants don't have to be immediately present; hospital patients
recover a little faster from surgery and require less pain medication with
just a view of a garden. Want more information?? This great little book describes the
care and culture of 50 plants that can help purify the air in your home or
office, rating the plants on how well they remove chemical vapors, how easy
they are to care for, etc.: How to Grow Fresh Air by B. C. Wolverton Plants at Work |
a poem written by one of
our new members Adrienne Schouten:
September’s Gift
I open the door and a sharp, cool gust cuts
past me, swirls into the house
rustling the morning paper onto
the floor. The sky is blue but faded and
melancholy with the low slung sun recasting her rays earthward.
The garden’s raucous summer growth is over
and things seem quiet as nature
saves her energy for her last work of casting off leaves and retreating
underground. Yes, even the gold and
black spotted koi seem to have grown
slow, nearing the time they will hibernate to escape winter’s rage.
I cut what I know
will be the last lavish rose bouquets to brighten my tables as
well as my mood. The huge blue, pink and
purple hydrangeas will be hung to
dry for winter arrangements and to share with friends.
Stalwart green tomatoes line the kitchen
windowsill to ripen and treat us to
their homegrown goodness.
I’ll miss the blazing colors; scents of
lemon, jasmine and honeysuckle and
textures of spiky grass amidst sensual succulents; even as I anticipate birds
in
the elderberry tree, ripening olives and the pulsing red and gold of dogwood
amidst the crisp white paper bark maples.
Thanks Adrienne
and we all hope you are feeling better.
Look forward to seeing you at a future club meeting.
ARE YOU BORED?? NEED
SOMETHING STIMULATING TO DO
WITH YOUR EXTRA TIME??
The McMinnville
Garden Club needs a publicity and public relations committee leadership chair
for the upcoming year. The duties include providing information on club
events and meetings to the local newspaper and other locations on a timely
basis. If you can help please contact Cathy, at cathyburdett@msn.com.
Backyard Habitats Marilyn Coats
DRAGONFLIES (Odonata)
Dragonflies flitting around can be very
fascinating to watch. They are usually found
around water, but can also be seen flying around in backyards that don’t have
water.
They typically eat mosquitoes and other small
insects like bees, 
flies, ants and butterflies. They are valued as predators, since they help
control populations of harmful insects.
Female dragonflies lay eggs in or near water,
often on floating or emergent plants.
Some will submerge themselves completely in order to lay their eggs on a
good surface. Depending on the species,
it can take a few days to several months to hatch. The larva or nymphs are aquatic and can last
from two months in smaller species to five years for the larger ones.
When the larva is ready to become
an adult, it climbs up a reed or
other emergent plant at night. Exposure
to air causes it to begin breathing.
Then it crawls out of its skin, waits for the sun to raise, pumps up its
wings and flies off. The large species
can last as long as four months.
Damselflies are often confused with
dragonflies. Damselflies hold their
wings at rest together above the body--where most dragonflies at rest hold
their wings horizontally. The eyes on a
damselfly are apart; in most dragonflies, the eyes touch. These eyes may each contain as many as 30,000
individual lenses. Because of their good
eyesight, they have been known to respond to stimuli from more than 40 feet
away! 
It is surprising how many dragonflies survive
since they are eaten by fish, water beetles and bugs, birds and even
humans. They are beautiful insects and
are fun to watch.
Internet Links
Pioneer District
Newsletter
http://gardencentral.org/oregon/pioneerdistrictnewsletter/
State web site
http://oregongardenclubs.org/default.htm
Dividing Perennials: http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/dividing-perennials.html
Late Summer Cleanup:http://www.bestgardening.com/bgc/howto/diary.htm
The
NEW Oregon Garden Resort
in Silverton has a special rate going for this Fall to celebrate their grand
opening. Weekday rates are $69 for two which includes dinner, breakfast
and tickets to the