Letter from the President

Transcription

1 Official Newsletter of Marathon Garden Club November 2013 Volume 16 No. 7 like crazy. Letter from the President Isn't the weather great? What a calm hurricane season we have had so far. Things are growing Our garden groomers have been busy all summer, but they could really use some help. Please, if you like to garden, want to learn more about plants, want to learn how to propagate plants, want to take out your frustrations by cutting down things -- stop by the garden club around 8:30-9 am on Thursdays and pitch in! On a different topic, we also need help organizing our Floral Design classes which will be taught by Claudia Bates on January 27, 28, 29, If you are interested in helping register students, set up the room, clean up at end of the day, etc, please let me know by or calling me ( ). Our November Demonstration Day (bake sale and used decoration sale) is coming along nicely: sign up to bake something or clean out your Christmas 1 decorations and donate them for us to sell. Don't forget the Christmas Party on December 14. I will have more info and a sign up sheet at the November meeting. We had great attendance from our club at the District meeting in Key Largo last week. Thanks to all who attended to represent Marathon Garden Club. Well, I'm glad to be back and looking forward to catching up with all of you. Thanks to Mary Ann Worthington for taking care of my duties at the October meeting. Great job. Rosemary Thomas FFGC District XII Fall Meeting Nine members of Marathon Garden Club attended the Fall District Meeting at the Holiday Inn in Key Largo, which was graciously hosted by the Garden Club of the Upper Keys. The FFGC Officers were on tour to all the districts and gave us an update of FFGC/Deep South/NGC highlights. FFGC is committed to the Coral Restoration Foundation s program of replenishing the coral reef in the Florida Keys. You will be hearing a lot more about this throughout the year. Table favors with our seascape centerpiece, photographed by Elynn Eiss, are shown on page 6.

2 1st Vice President s Report. Our next monthly meeting on Friday, November 15, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. welcomes noted plant archaeologist, Dr. Michelle Williams, Ph.D. The interesting and entertaining Dr. Williams is the Director for the Southeastern Region of Florida Public Archaeology Network at Florida Atlantic University. She has participated in excavations throughout the southeastern United States for the past 20 years. Come learn about Medicinal Plants Used By Native Americans. Medicinal plants have a long history of use and are still the most commonly used medicine in the world today. And, these plants can be an interesting and beautiful addition to your landscaping plan. Celebrate the Holiday Season with your garden club friends at the December monthly meeting on 12/20/2013. Club member, Janie Byland and friends will give a presentation on various Christmas House Plants. This will be a Pot Luck luncheon so dig out your favorite holiday recipes. Mary Ann Worthington Membership Report At our October meeting we were happy to welcome back two members. Billie McGuire-Novak, a Marathon resident and Ann Knowles from Chicago and Marathon. Please tell your friends and neighbors to mark their calendars for our Holiday Demonstration and Rummage Sale to take place on Saturday, November 23, 2013 from 10:00 am 2:00 pm. Continuous demonstrations are planned every hour on how to create holiday items such as wreaths and centerpieces. This is a new & FREE event. There will also be a Bake Sale, Chinese Raffle and Linnea will be selling plants from the club nursery. Billie Dixie & Buddy Our newest family members are Dixie Thompson and Buddy Blauth. They are year-round residents and reside in Duck Key. Welcome to newest member, Gisele Larose who is at Key Colony Beach when she's here and also Rehoboth Beach, Del. Sounds like they all will enjoy participating in various Garden Club activities. We hope to have more photos soon. We have an exciting November ahead of us with a new activity, HOLIDAY DEMONSTRATIONS on the 23rd and also a great monthly meeting on Native American Medicinal Plants. Hope to see all of you November 15th at 12:30 PM. Phyllis Schewe 2

3 Holiday Demonstration Event, Saturday, Nov. 23, Chair: Mary Ann Worthington Hours: 10 am - 2 pm. Several demonstration stations are planned on how to create holiday items such as wreaths and centerpieces. There will be completed items for sale, a raffle and a holiday rummage sale. FREE! MGC Christmas Dinner Party, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 at Key Colony Inn. Chair: Rosemary Thomas (rosebillthomas@yahoo.com). Guests welcome. January Jamboree, Saturday, Jan. 25, Chair: Bonnie Eldridge; Plant Sales by Vendors - Janet Oechsle; Used Treasures/Flea Market - Carole Gieck; Bake Sale - Margaret Wendel. Plants will also be available from the MGC Nursery. Hours: 8:30 am - 3 pm. rosebillthomas@yahoo.com or call Floral Design Classes, NOTE DATE CHANGE! Units 1-3, January 27-29, 2014, with Claudia Bates, National Garden Club Accredited Instructor and Master Judge. rosebillthomas@yahoo.com or call A Small Standard Flower Show, Celebrate Spring, Friday, Feb. 28. Preview Party, 5-6:30 pm. Flower Show, Saturday, Mar. 1, 10 am - 4 pm. Chair: Nancy Miller (Cnmil@msn.com) 38th Annual House & Garden Tour, Saturday, March 1, Chair: Cindy Wooten (CLMWooten@aol.com); Homes & Gardens - Betsy Philipps; Advertising - Susie Ley; Tickets - Mary Ann Gorlitz; Head Hostess - Sande Neiditz; Raffle - Bonnie Eldridge; Parking - Loyal Eldridge; Refreshments - Dale Chorebanian. Hours: 10 am - 4 pm. <>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> The Miami Art Quilters (some of whom are Miami Garden Club Members) Present: an Exhibition of quilted wall hangings depicting the Florida Keys 3

4 Minutes of Membership Meeting October 18, 2013 At 1:10 P.M. Mary Ann Worthington, first vice president, substituting for the president Rosemary Thomas welcomed everyone back to the Garden Club for the first membership meeting of the season. The Invocation was given by the chaplain Janie Byland, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mary Ann thanked the hostesses Betsy Philipps, Sande Neiditz and Diane van Beuren. Mary Ann recognized Phyllis Schewe for her beautiful floral design. Mary Ann announced there were key limes available provided by Pat Greeley. Diane van Beuren made a motion with a second by Laurie Reeves and membership approval that the minutes from the April membership meeting be approved as written and published in The Seeds for Thought. Carl Miller, Treasurer, reported the club is financially sound with all of the financial obligations from the summer paid. Mary Ann reported from the President, Rosemary Thomas: 1. She thanked everyone who helped keep the club in great shape and running throughout the summer. 2. The new shed was completed and tied down in May. It is beautiful and does not leak. 3. A new lawn mower was purchased. She thanked Judy Shaw who took care of the purchase. 4. Events for next season are listed in the Seeds. Help will be needed for all of the events. Phyllis Schewe, Membership, introduced the guests and new members. Phyllis stated the membership of 93 members was submitted to F.F.G.C. in May with the required dues. Announcements: 1. An invitation was extended from the Coral Gables Garden Club for their Holiday Home Tour Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 from 1 P.M. to 4. (Contact Cindy Wooten at clmwooten@aol.com for information). 2. Margie Pikarsky has a business, Bee Haven Farm, providing fresh fruits and vegetables. (See information in the Gift Shop.) 3. There will be no Fall Festival, but a free Holiday Demonstration and Sale of Crafts that will be November 23 rd from There will be 4 craft demonstrations, one each hour, a Chinese Raffle and Bake Sale. There will also be a Christmas Rummage Sale. Members were asked to sign up to bring baked items and also bring items for the rummage sale. 4. Sande Neiditz announced the House Tour is March 1 st. Hostesses are needed. As there was no further business, Mary Ann introduced Kim Gabel who presented a slide program on Palm Nutrition and Common Diseases with hand-out information provided. Following Kim s presentation, Mary Ann introduced Debbie Hegland from Sea the World Travel Agency who introduced Andrew Baldini from Collette Vacations. Andrew gave a presentation on an opportunity for a trip to London next May to visit Chelsea Gardens. A flyer was included. Following the speakers, the Raffle was held and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Claudia Hamrick, Recording Secretary. <><><><><><><> Bridge, Mah Jongg, Scrabble Whatever your Game The Keyettes, the Women s Auxiliary of the Marathon Shrine Club, is hosting a Game Day at the Marathon Garden Club on Saturday, November 9th. Their poster is on display in the lobby. For tickets and more information, contact Sally Flagg, Lunch: 12-1; Games: 1-4; $20 All Proceeds Benefit the Shriners Hospitals 4

5 Marathon Garden Club presents the Gardens of London {including the Chelsea Flower Show} May 17-24, 2014 Book now and save $200 per person. Price includes round trip air from Miami, air taxes and fees/hotel Transfers, 8 days, 9 meals (6 breakfasts, 3 dinners) double $4,059, Single $5,159. Contact Rosemary at rosebillthomas@yahoo.com Arranged thru Sea the World Cruises & Tours stw@seatheworldtravel.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Coral Gables Garden Club Invites you to their 41st Annual Holiday Home Tour Sunday on the Bay Featuring Elegant Homes & Holiday Marketplace Sunday, December 8th, :00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tickets Advance Purchase $25.00 At the Door $30.00 Marathon Garden Club Members: Contact Cindy Wooten at CLMWooten@aol.com <><><><><><><><><><> Sundays on the Porch with George Presented by City of Coral Gables & Merrick House Governing Board Althea s Garden Party Dig into an interactive afternoon designed for budding gardeners! Sunday, November 17, p.m. This is a Free Event! Docent- guided Tours available for nominal fee 907 Coral Way Coral Gables Featuring Cooking Demonstration by Chef Norman Van Aken of Tuyo Book signing of Van Aken s new memoir No Experience Necessary Plus historical perspective offered by Coral Gables Garden Club members 5

6 Mark your Calendar Nov. 6 MGC Board Meeting 9 am Nov. 15 MGC Membership Mtg. 1 pm Nov. 16 Plant Clinic by Master Gardens at Home Depot Nov. 23 MGC Holiday Demonstration, Bake Sale & Holiday Gifts See pages 1-4 for more information. Tidbits Sue Angle, our new FFGC president, would like to publish a book of informative facts covering all aspects of FFGC interests, from gardening, horticulture, design, new products, favorite websites, tips and tricks. For example: How do you prepare the soil before planting, what do you do for your plants to achieve a blue ribbon winner, what glue do you use when making a design for a flower show? We are looking for any snippet of information that will be shared with our FFGC community. Our book will be entitled Tidbits and each submission will be quoted and attributed to that person. There is no limit to the number of submissions by one individual. This book s success depends on each of you and your membership and I thank you for taking the time to share this information and look forward to abundant participation!! Parke Please send all tidbits to: Parke Finold 1103 De Narvaez Ave. Bradenton, FL <><><><><><><><><><> MGC Yearbook is available electronically; Send an to Nancy to request your electronic Yearbook Cnmil@msn.com Printed copies will be distributed at Membership Meetings Horticulture Tips Home Weed Killer Recipe Mix a quart of vinegar, 1/4 c. salt and 2 tsp. of dish soap. (Be sure soap does not contain bleach.) Spray directly on the weed you want to kill, when rainfall is not in the forecast. To keep the weed killer localized, you may want to encircle the weed with a plastic bottle with both ends cut off and spraying into the bottle. The weed killer may have to be applied several times to kill the weed, especially a deep rooted one. from Pat Greeley s NJ Garden Club news Fun Fish & Centerpiece - Fall District XII Meeting MARATHON GARDEN CLUB Mailing Address: P. O. Box Marathon, FL Member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. & Deep South Region Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. & District XII **************************** Newsletter Editor, Nancy Miller or Cnmil@msn.com 6