Happy Spring Equinox 2017! This is the time of year I like to check my flower beds for signs of life, and it never fails to thrill me to see the first signs of green emerging from the soil. I was so pleased to welcome the green shoots until Mother Nature decided to treat us with her recent late winter blast. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my favorite whimsical Allium schubertii survived the freeze.
Our February program featuring Patrick Blanc, leading expert on vertical gardens (INSERT LINK) was a huge hit. Approximately 300 people attended Patrick’s educational and fascinating presentation at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Please be sure to RSVP for our upcoming April 25th Member Meeting (INSERT LINK) featuring horticulturist and plant expert Penny Orr at the Chagrin Falls Township Hall.
March Horticulture Workshop: Tuesday, March 28th 10:00 am Orchid Tips And Tricks
Could your orchids use a late winter boost? Do they need repotting or some encouragement to bloom? Our own horticulture expert Cynthia Druckenbrod (CBG Director of Horticultural Exhibits and Communications) will lead this demonstration on growing and repotting orchids.
On February 28, with generous support from Joan Holmes, Margaret Ransohoff, Robin Schachat, and the Mather Fund, the Shaker Lake Garden Club hosted Patrick Blanc, a leading expert on Vertical Gardens.
What's the news? What did you hear over the garden gate? Notice any errors in the new Directory? Who heard what? Who has learned something to share with us? Who has a great new idea? Who loves to share the miracles of nature? It's all here!
On Tuesday, February 7th, five Provisionals plus Lynn Lehmann and Molly Dixon participated in a Succulents Workshop at Auburn Pointe Greenhouse, 10089 E Washington St. Chagrin Falls.
On Wednesday, March 8, a small group of SLGC members met with Senator Rob Portman’s NE Ohio Director in downtown Cleveland. Jane Ellison, former Zone X Conservation Chair, led us in a lively discussion about conservation and the environment with Caryn Candisky. Senator Portman has shown strong leadership in conservation and environmental issues, most notably clean water and our National Parks. Caryn very patiently listened to us for 1½ hours as we presented topics from The Garden Club of America's Position Papers.
The Garden Club of America’s 2017 National Affairs and Legislative (NAL) Annual meeting was held February 27 – March 2 in Washington DC. 300 delegates from 200 clubs across the country attended. The meeting had a rigorous agenda and focused on the GCA’s eight Position Papers: Clean Air, Clean Water, Climate Change, National Parks, National Public Lands, Native Plants, Sustainable Agriculture, and Transportation.
My husband Mike and I lived in London in the early 1990’s. The winter was one of the rainiest in a number of years and the days were short of sunlight. Each Friday, I found myself stopping at the floral stand outside the Tube Station to pick up a a bunch of tulips.
Density of trees serves as a gauge for degrees of light and shade. Left to right: full sun, light shade, partial shade, full shade, and deep shade.
So, shade is shade, right? Wrong. All shade is not created equal. Many variables, including season, time of day, age of trees, their density, and canopy composition, all affect how plants are shaded. Understanding these factors helps gardeners select and care for plants.
This is one of the questions we hear most often. There are several possibilities:
1. Harsh winters can damage flower buds on hydrangeas that set their flower buds last year. 2. Deer love to eat those tender tips. 3. It is important to prune them at the correct time – and this is where it gets tricky.
It seems to me that all manufacturers of sprays, liquid fertilizers, and the like, think all gardeners have tremendous acreage. The poor soul who has only a sliver of ground and needs only a cupful of spray is hard put to get it when the label gives dilution directions for gallons. Here’s a conversion table you ought to frame.