The Watercan Post Paradise Garden Club, Inc. October 2017 Editor: Lee Brasel, 530/872-3756 newletter@paradisegardenclub.org. TODAY S PROGRAM GARDEN DESIGN What an Amateur has Learned from the Professionals Gwen Quail, our own PGC member, Butte Rose Society member, and a contributor to the Gateway Science Museum NOVEMBER 13th PROGRAM HOLIDAY INSPIRATIONS FROM THE GARDEN JAYNE LOCAS, former PGC member, will be demonstrating how to make a holiday wreath and swag. A hands on project. Bring clippers, cuttings of fir, holly, twigs, or anything long lasting like rosemary and a yard or two of wide ribbon. MARK YOUR CALENDAR PGCI BOARD MEETING Monday, Nov. 6 10 AM, Newsletter s Submission Deadline Tuesday, November 7 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Autumn has arrived, according to my prognostications. (How about that for a word!) Cooler nights for sleeping, cooler days for working in the garden, falling leaves (a curse and a blessing) bees busy doing their thing before winter sets in. These things and the calendar tells me it is Autumn with a capital A. But the calendar is also saying get busy, winter is coming. Makes me think of the story of the grasshopper and the ants. The grasshopper played all summer while the ants kept busy getting ready for winter. I m afraid I am that grasshopper. I just hope this beautiful weather holds till I get my to do list done. Planning ahead is part of gardening, figuring out what will go where, when should it be done.hey, we have a speaker who is going to give us some insight and tips on how to do that. Gwen Quail will be keying us in on Garden Design What an Amateur has learned from the Professionals. As a garden club, we have grown, adapted, taken on new challenges, and planned ahead. All of which leads to planning ahead for June 2018 Garden Tour. (I hear the oh, no, not yet thoughts), but as with having a successful garden, we must plan ahead to have a successful fundraiser. We will be doing just that on Monday, Nov. 6th, 12:30 p.m. at my house. (I m sure there will be some food there to stoke the fires of thought and imagination.) Your input is needed. Do we do another tour (25 years is quite a record), change the number of gardens, or hours or days? Add something new or maybe a brand new idea? Come to this meeting, your ideas are welcomed. Remember, the Garden Tour is the main support for such things as PGCI projects, our Butte College scholarship awards, even the meeting place here at Terry Ashe Rec. Center. YOUR participation is needed. Julie Jones, President FYI 2018 membership dues can be paid today at our Membership table. Paradise Garden Club, Inc. (PGCI) is a member of the Pacific Region of the California Garden Club, Inc. and National Garden Club, Inc. To learn more about the Club s people, programs and activities, visit www.paradisegardenclub.org Paradise Garden Club, Inc. October 2017
DAYS OF LIVING HISTORY Another two days of fun, fun, fun were shared with visitors at the Gold Nugget Museum when children planted 200 popcorn pies and adults learned some interesting "popcorn facts". Here's a sample: January 19 is National Popcorn Day, and October is National Popcorn Popping Month --- Americans eat 16 billion quarts per year! Many thanks to PGCI members who helped with our activity: Jeudie Lovell, Sue Harrington, Suzanna Williams and her sister, Rhuanna Foster, Nancy Ward, Shirley Bernal, Lee Brasel, Mimi McKalson, Julie Jones, Pamela Palmer, and my granddaughter, Olivia Taylor. Special thanks to Pat Pickard for printing colorful popcorn trivia handouts full of interesting information. Until next year, enjoy some popcorn now, and join the fun in September when we will repeat this "poppin" activity! Carol Mordock, Youth Chair Carol Mordock Photos by Carol Mordock & Mimi McKalson CONVENTION CORNER Due to our significant involvement at the CGCI Fall Board Meeting on October 3, 4th and 5th, the next issue of the Watercan Post will include the wrap up of information we gathered by attending the Fall Board Meeting. Ward Habriel Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 2 October 2017
CGCI FALL BOARD MEETING This is the poem Cher wrote for my Inspiration given at the Fall Board Meeting on Wednesday evening. A GARDEN A garden is a thing of joy Creative talents to employ Carefully I till and sow Then watch and wait for things to grow Daily I check my nurtured soil For evidence of all my toil Ah! Tiny sprouts I do perceive Darn! It s just another weed! But finally tiny leaves do appear I don my gloves and grab my gear Trellises for lots of tomatoes Wire rings to cage potatoes String to climb for verdant beans Never ending toil it seems! Then scorching heat in high degrees Please I pray for some relief As I struggle to keep alive The last of my limp green chives But fall brings with it cooling times As summer starts to unwind My squash and cukes are safely canned Not quite abundantly as planned Winter nears catalogues arrive And once again I will contrive To plan a garden full of hope Maybe with a lesser scope For a garden is a thing of joy A chance my talents to re-employ! Cheryl Habriel September 2017 Cheryl Habriel SUNSHINE My correspondence this month: Thank you card to Pam Geisel for her September presentation. Have a great retirement to Fran Mantonya of the Gold Nugget Museum. A sympathy card to the family of Jerry Mendon. Encouragement and get well wishes to Carrie Max for Thea. Jeudie Lovell Jeudie Lovell Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 3 October 2017
escript DESIGNATION TO PGC Thanks to those members who have signed up for escript and designated the Paradise Garden Club as their non-profit for benefits. As your escript Fundraising Coordinator, I m happy to report we have received our annual disbursement for participating in the escript program totaling $81.69. This program is entirely funded by a portion of sales from the merchants where you shop. If you are not enrolled at one, please consider joining escript, and choosing PGCI for the benefits. Register your phone number and enter it each time you shop at that merchant. Ward Habriel, Fundraising Coordinator escript Fundraising Coordinator PLANT SALE and HORTICULTURE TABLE Do you have a flower, plant, vegetable, etc. from your garden that you d like to show at our November meeting? Bring whatever you d like to the Horticulture Table and tell us about it if you d like.. Have you divided overgrown perennials and would like to bring a few for our Plant Sale in November? Share all with our Garden Club members. Jim Johnson and June Bradley, Plant Sale Lee Brasel and Doris Nunn, Horticulture Display Jim Johnson June Bradley Lee Brasel Doris Nunn BEAUTIFICATION Greetings, The Beautification group had a work day at Elliott & Skyway a couple weeks back. While we did make lots of head way, we still need to return to make it better. Thanks to all that came out that day. We will not be having a beautification work day for the month of October. MADD (Make A Difference Day) is just around the corner and we need to give the troops a little rest going into that. The Garden s Club s commitment for MADD this year will be at the Gold Nugget Museum and at the Senior Center. Specifics as to time and location will be announced at Monday s meeting. We will have sign-up sheets for each location. Sign up for one, OR go big, and sign up for both. In November, the Beautification group will be working at the library. That has always been a great work day. (It ll put a smile on Jim s face when he sees you.) Jim Dill, Beautification Chairman Jim Dill Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 4 October 2017
SEED SAVERS HAVE YOUR VERY OWN PERENNIAL HIBISCUS I know you remember Lee Brasel bringing the stunning perennial hibiscus plant to share at last month s meeting. Well, she has collected seeds from her plant and they are available at the Seed Saver display. All species of perennial hibiscus grow well from fresh seed, which can be sown in autumn or late winter within U.S.D.A.zones 7 to 10. The seedlings will bloom during their first year in the garden. However, the seeds must be lightly scarified and soaked in warm water for one hour to ensure the most reliable germination. After that, the techniques abound. Some folks used sterile potting soil, planting 1 seed per 3-inch pot, setting the pots on a warming mat and keeping them moist. Another germinated the seeds using a moist paper towel enclosed in aluminum foil placed in a warm place for 2 to 3 days after which the sprouts were planted in pots filled with soil. And still another winter sowed the seeds with little preparation and achieved good results. Sounds like a fun fall project. Thank you, Lee, for sharing. Carolyn Matheny Seed Saver Chair Here s this month s chance to win Email or call the name of this plant to: Carolyn Matheny at 872-7943 OR henryhooray@aol.com by Sept. 30. Carol Murdock correctly identified September's plant puzzler as Spanish Lavender. Lavandula Stoechas is hardy to zones 8 to 10 and does well in pots. October s Plant Puzzler: : Winner receives: 2 FREE RAFFLE TICKETS that can be exchanged at any meeting. The winner will be selected by a random drawing among all the accurate submissions received. Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 5 October 2017
2018 MASTER GARDENER CLASSES The deadline to apply for the 2018 master gardener training class has been extended to October 13th. Every other year, the University of California Master Gardeners in Butte County host a 19-week series of classes in plant science, soils, water management, vegetable gardening, entomology, integrated pest management, home orchard, turf grass, oaks, fire safety, pathology, weeds, pest control and more. The classes are taught by UC Davis professors and UC Cooperative Extension experts. After successful completion of the class and completing a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service the first year, new trainees are certified as master gardeners. To maintain the certification, master gardeners need to complete 25 volunteer hours and 12 hours of continuing education on an annual basis. For more information and the application, go to ucanr.edu/sites/bcmg/ The daffys are here! Same great deal: 100 premium bulbs for a $25 donation to PGCI. Send email to Ward (thehabs@sbcglobal.net) for a pre-order and they will be available at the October meeting. DAFFODILS AND MORE DAFFODILS Ward & Cheryl Habriel Co-Chairs Daffodils on the Ridge GARDEN OFFERINGS AND SERVICES FREE listings are available here for your gardening related services. For more information, contact editor at: newsletter@paradisegardenclub.org NEW! Tom Piantanida 530/534-3309 Any takers...get it while it s hot! I have a pickup load of horse manure, raked up into a pile on my place, close to the covered bridge off Cherokee Road. If you want any or all of it, please call me. Ward Habriel 877-3435 Tractor/backhoe service to Paradise Garden Club members at a discount (town of Paradise area only). Dennis Barrett 965-2624 Tractor Service: Backhoe, post holes, grading, and rototilling. Discount to PGCI members. Franci Lamb 966-0770 Healing Mind, Body & Spirit. Certified Massage Therapist offers Hot-stone and Swedish massage therapy. Gift certificates available for that hard working someone special in their life or their favorite gardener! ramewelamb@att.net Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 6 October 2017
UC MASTER GARDENERS OF BUTTE COUNTY FALL 2017 WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED at ucanr.edu/p/56426 About the Workshops Workshops in Pat s Barn are open to 50 participants. All other workshops are limited to 25 participants (unless otherwise noted). Heavy rain cancels outdoor workshops. Questions? Send an e-mail to anrmgbutte@ucanr.edu Workshop Locations Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch, 10381 Midway, Durham Pat s Barn at Patrick Ranch, 10381 Midway, Durham Private Residence: an email indicating the address will be sent to participants a week before the workshop. Oct. 14, Sat. 10-11:30 Demonstration Garden, Patrick s Ranch HERBS This workshop will cover the various herbs that grow well in our region, and discuss some of the best uses for them. Oct. 18, Wed. 10-Noon Demonstration Garden, Patrick s Ranch FARM TO FORK ALL YEAR LONG Learn tips and techniques for harvesting and preserving your garden bounty with the UCCE Master Preservers of Sacramento County. They will offer an overview of safe food preserving practices, water bath and steam canning methods, dehydrating, pickling, and freezing. Oct. 19, Thurs. 9-10:30 Demonstration Garden, Patrick s Ranch PROPAGATION Learn the best time to propagate woody perennials and divide plants; how to select and make cuttings; the proper techniques for dividing plants; the best planting mediums to use; and how to plant cuttings and divided plants. Bring your own pruners; all other materials will be provided. Take home several plant starts from cuttings in our Demonstration Garden. Oct. 26, Thurs., 10-11:30 Private Residence in Chico WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS This introductory workshop will be at the home of a Master Gardener who has installed a 6,000-gal. roof harvesting system. The workshop will cover basic strategies and materials needed for capturing rain and will discuss water quality, storage methods, and ways to pump stored water for irrigation. Nov. 1, Wed. 10-11:30 Pat s Barn, Patrick s Ranch THE SEEDS THAT SURROUND US This presentation focuses on how plants disperse their seeds and the importance of this process to the larger ecology of the world around us. It s as important as its ability to attract pollinators. Nov. 1, Wed. 10-11:30 Pat s Barn, Patrick s Ranch ALL ABOUT LANDSCAPE TREES by Tree Expert, Pam Geisel Selection and purchase of nursery trees and proper techniques for planting, staking and early training. Basics of mature tree care, irrigation, fertilization, and pruning. Nov. 9, Thurs. 10-Noon Demonstration Garden, Patrick s Ranch COMPOSTING/BUILDING COMPOST BINS After we cover the basics of composting, we will help you build a bin to take home with you. There will be a $30 materials fee, payable by cash or check only, on the day of the event. (Limited to 12 participants.) Nov. 18 Sat.,10 - Noon Pat s Barn PERMACULTURE Join educators from Earthshed Solutions to learn about permaculture, the practice of simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. The practice incorporates agriculture and home gardening systems that are intended to be regenerative and self-sufficient. Dec. 7, Thurs. 7, 10-Noon Pat s Barn SEED SAVING Plants that reproduce through natural means tend to adapt to local conditions over time, and evolve as reliable performers, particularly in their localities. To be successful at seed saving, one must take care that the desired characteristics are retained. Join the founders of the Chico Seed Lending Library to learn how to successfully harvest and process your seeds. Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 7 October 2017
GARDEN OF THE MONTH Garden of the Month for October is the home of June & David Bradley, 5582 Newland Road, Paradise June and David have lived in this lovely home for 19 years and have done an amazing job of turning this >half acre property into a gardener s paradise both visually and as a joy for the edible gardener. Here you will find a serene backyard lawn area surrounded by various distinct areas for vegetable gardens, orchards, side yards, potting and growing sheds. They are lucky to enjoy many beautiful plants still blooming with colorful sprays and an abundance of burgeoning vegetables still vigorously sprawling. It is obvious that both June and David spend a lot of time working and enjoying the fruits of this wonderful yard. DIRECTIONS: From Skyway, turn left at Pearson, go past Clark Road to Newland and turn right. House is on the left. The street is very narrow with no parking, but the house has a circular drive with some parking up on the property. We recommend car-pooling, if possible, to avoid too much traffic. Hope to see you at this Garden of the Month. Candace Decou and Robin Robar, Garden of the Month Co-Chairs Candace Decou Robin Robar GARDENING TIPS FOR OCTOBER Feed roses one more time to keep the blooms coming through the fall. Vegetables to plant from seed now include spinach, peas and fava beans as a cover crop. This is a great time for planting new trees and shrubs, especially ones with outstanding fall foliage for our area such as Japanese maples, dogwood, Chinese pistache, tupelo, red maple and redbud. Nurseries have a good supply of winter blooming annuals this month, also, select onion sets now for your veggie garden. This is a good time to plant ground covers, giving their root systems a chance to get established. Add some indoor color for the holiday season by planting bulbs now in containers. Despite cooler temperatures, your lawn and garden still need about an inch of water a week. Protect rhododendron and azalea roots during the winter by adding two or three inches of mulch beneath those plants. Gardening tips from http://farmerfred.com/octchores.htm Paradise Garden Club, Inc. 8 October 2017