February - Meridian Garden Club

The Meridian Gardener
Newsletter of the Meridian Garden Club, Inc.
Editor: Susan Kropschot
Member of Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., Central Region Garden Clubs and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
February 2016
Volume Two
Website - meridiangardenclub.weebly.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/meridiangardenclub
February 15, 2016
Monthly Meeting
“Get All the Dirt on Your Soil”
President's Column
Agenda
8:30-9:00
9:00
10:15
Refreshments/Social time (BYO cup)
Business Meeting
Program: Jon Dahl, Manager, MSU Soil
and Plant Nutrient Laboratory
From growing up on a farm to his studies at MSU in soil
fertility and his long tenure as Manager of the MSU Soil
and Plant Nutrient Laboratory, John Dahl has had a deep
interest in soils and fertilizers. He's a frequent presenter
on the subjects of soil, fertilizer application, and related
topics to Master Gardener and Master Composter groups.
He's also a member of the DeWitt Garden Club.
Hostesses:
Flower Power (8:00am):
Horticulture Moment:
Plant Road Show:
Debbie Angell - Tressa McAllister
Anne Davich - Brigitta Bruning
Debbie Angell
Susan Kropschot
New Member's Coffee in January
Greetings from sunny Florida where I have retreated for a
couple of weeks, all the while keeping in close touch by
indispensable e-mail. And, there has been so much going
on, as usual, as this newsletter demonstrates. You are a
very active club, involved in many worthwhile projects,
and are to be congratulated for that!
I'd like to call your attention to the ongoing exhibit of our
pressed flower designs in the Bookend Gallery at the
Haslett Public Library. The cards and framed art will be
there until the end of February and are for sale, making
this exhibit a fund-raiser as well. Bring a friend or neighbor. The hours are: MTWF -12-4pm, TH 12-6pm SA 122pm. If you have ideas for where else we could sell our
lovely artwork, please let Tressa or Kris know.
Last month I attended the Township Park Commission
monthly meeting because "Master Plan Priorities " was on
their agenda. Our new Plant it Pink Garden (to raise breast
cancer awareness) is part of that plan. During the public
comment, I discussed our goals for this garden. It appears
that the Master Plan for Central Park will not be initiated
in the Historical Village for another couple of years.
However, we were told we could start our plans ahead of
that, working with the Township on its placement.
See you on February 15, when we can 'get down in the
dirt' in preparation for spring gardening.
Madeline
Left to right: Kathy Denisi, Madeline Masterson, Dottie Thomas,
Georgia Styka, Rosemary Buscetta, Polly Murray, Veneta Stoyanova,
Cindy Chalou and Char Sulin
New members and club officers getting better acquainted.
The new members had an opportunity to ask questions
and officers shared information about the garden club.
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Information promised about our
Annual May Plant sale is attached to
this mailing please access all of the
attachments.
New Member
Bloomin' on the Grand
(from NGC, Inc. Website)
Join us May 2-6, 2016 for National Garden Club's 87th
Annual Convention! The theme of our meeting is
"Bloomin' on the Grand" and our meeting location is
Grand Rapids, Michigan. Links to more information,
details and registration forms (online or printed) are
found below.
National Garden Clubs 2016 Convention Resources - Links
and Information Click here
Click here to register online
Dottie Thomas xxxxx)
xxx
xxx
xxxx
xxxxxxx
Meridian Garden Club Sponsors Poster Contest
Madeline Masterson
Click here to download and print registration form
A Message From MGC, Inc Co-Chairperson: Carol Brodbeck
Registration ends April 1 (and this date is no April Fool's
Day joke)!
Please recall that this is a royal opportunity to experience
our organization (the largest organization of its kind in
the world) in action and being surrounded with likeminded gardeners from every state in the Union, Mexico,
and Central and South America. Not to be missed...and
to experience the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel either...to
visit the vendors...the WOW centerpieces and invitational
floral designs...to sign up for one of the tours.
Thanks to all of you who so generously donated "seed"
money to help to defray expenses (and they are many) to
launch this incredible international event at the awesome
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in the grand state of
Michigan...and of course, the grand city of Grand Rapids;
along the Grand River. Is it no wonder why the theme is
"Bloomin' on the Grand?".
Contact Sue Kropschot
documents on line.
Back Row - Teacher, Iris F, Smokey Bear, Simar P, Jean Goetz
In January, Simar Pawar, Iris Freridge, and Jean Goetz
represented our club at Whitehills Elementary School in
East Lansing where a class of third graders participated in
the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest sponsored
by NGC, Inc. A winner was selected by a panel of E. L.
artist city officials to be forwarded to the state level where
a winner will be sent on to NGC, Inc. The children
enjoyed refreshments and a Smokey Bear personal
appearance. Prize ribbons, certificates of participation,
and goodie bags were distributed. Next Fall, the Youth
Education Committee hopes to expand this project and
welcomes new committee members to help.
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if
you
can't
access
these
LOST!
Mary Lou Hatfield
Large Banner, at least 8' long, with the words PLANT SALE
FRIDAY which will hang on the hill at the NW corner of
Marsh Road and Central Park Drive. If you have it or know
where it is hiding please call xxxxxxxxx or email me at
xxxxxxxx Thank you!
PLANT IT PINK!
Michigan Garden
Clubs, Inc. Invites You
to Register for the
Sue Nieland
85th Annual
Convention,
June 7-8 2016
Bavarian Inn Lodge,
1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI
As you know, Frankenmuth is the "German floral eye
candy" in the State where visitors come from all over the
world to see this quaint and beautiful town. Downtown
shopping, Bronner's Christmas Store, and the streetscape
of flowers mimics the towns in Germany and visitors take
away ideas for growing gardens at home. Adding the
pretzel and strudel making at the Bavarian Inn was a
perfect way for our attendees to enjoy another taste of
Germany in Michigan.
The members of the Plant It Pink committee are pleased
to announce that we will partner with Mid-Michigan Girl
Scouts to distribute packets of pink zinnias to the 425 Girl
Scouts in East Lansing, Okemos and Haslett as part of the
Meridian Garden Club’s Plant It Pink for Breast Cancer
Awareness project that kicks off in the spring. Here is the
zinnia variety Lilliput Rose that will packaged by us for
distribution to an enthusiastic group of Girl Scouts.
In addition, the Blue Star Memorial Marker dedication will
take place at the Michigan Military & Space Heroes
Museum on June 6th at 2:00 p.m.. We continue our MGC
dedication to honor those who proudly protect and serve
our country.
Click here for the registration form and more information
about speakers, etc
February and March Birthdays
Cluberatie equals MGC logo wear
Kris BeLonge
Kris and Tress modeling the fleece vests
Spring IS going to arrive and we will begin our work in the
community gardens. A nice hooded sweatshirt, fleece vest
or T shirt with the club logo on it would look great.
Sue Leahy
Simar Kaur Pawar
Joyce Wang
Peggy Fankhauser
Kathleen Murphy-Keedy
Merry Warner
Dottie Thomas
Susan Kropschot
Colleen Hyslop
DeShaun Snead
February
March
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5
8
16
23
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Mighty Medicine Band to Perform
DeShaun Snead
Currently we have orders for 4 fleece vests pending as we
need 6 to place the order. Two more! $36.00 True Red,
True Royal, Forest Green, Winter White and Iron Gray
Hooded sweatshirts (8 more are need to place that order)
$36.00 X Small to X Large, 2X $38.00. Turquoise, Hot
Pink, Purple, Tangerine, Lime, Aqua, Chocolate, Pink
Raspberry and Heather
T shirts come in V neck short sleeve, long sleeve round
neck, and short sleeve round neck. Long Sleeve $17.50
and all others $15.00. Many colors available.
Questions can be directed to Kris BeLonge xxxxxxxxx
or xxxxxxxxx
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Thought Meridian GC members might like to know that
our member DeShaun Snead's band "Mighty Medicine" is
performing as part of the line up for Ten Pound Fiddle's
Friday, February 12th 8pm show: "The Roaring 20s" at
the Community Music School - 4930 S. Hagadorn Rd, East
Lansing. $15. The link for details is below.
Click here.
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
IIB District Flower Arrangers Guild Meeting
Wednesday, February 24 2016
If you have not had a chance to attend a guild meeting,
please think about participating in this February 24th
gathering. The workshop is from 10:00am till 12 noon,
at the Dewitt Fire Station, 911 W Main Street, DeWitt.
Meridian GC to provide snack/ DeWitt Millennium - coffee.
Did you know that 30 of the 50 States have a designated
State Butterfly? Alas, Michigan, is not one of them!
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. (MGC) would like Michigan to
join those states that celebrate the presence and value of
butterflies with an official State Butterfly. To achieve our
goal, MGC has initiated legislative action to identify
partners willing to sponsor legislation that will establish a
State Butterfly for Michigan.
We are delighted to
announce that Senator Curtis Hertel (an avid gardener)
has agreed to introduce legislation that will establish a
State Butterfly for Michigan. Our target date for the
legislation is late May or early June.
Any garden club member can attend and participate.
Don't just observe; it's just more fun when everyone
creates. This is the only meeting prior to the March 17th 20th flower show. Project topic: Lois will lead overview
on Leaf Manipulation – Prior to attending, you may wish to
purchase the book from NGC, written by Gail Emmons,
“Leaf Manipulation,” There may be a small cost for plant
materials.
12:00 noon, Final Staging Meeting for 2016 District IIB
Flower Show – Bring lunch to share.
RSVP
Contact Kathi Dominguez, with questions or to
sign up. Her phone number is xxxxxxxxxxxx and e-mail
is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Leaf Manipulation
After much research, MGC’s Birds, Bees, and Butterfly
Committee has recommended the Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes) as the official State Butterfly for
Michigan. This selection is supported by Robert Grese,
Director of Matthaei Botanical Garden and Nichols
Arboretum, University of Michigan; as well as, Brenda
Dziedzic, author of Learn About Butterflies in the Garden,
and co-founder and past President of Southeast Michigan
Butterfly Association. With your help, we hope to add
many more letters of support. The Black Swallowtail was
chosen for the following reasons:





It is found throughout the State of Michigan
It is 3-4 inches in diameter, making it fairly easy to
be seen
Some butterflies reside in very tall trees, but the
Black Swallowtail prefers flowering areas and
natural areas filled with red clover, common
milkweed, butterfly weed etc. This will also make
it much easier to be seen and appreciated
statewide.
Each Black Swallowtail lives 2+ weeks, with 2-3
generations per year.
Further, the Black
Swallowtail overwinters as a pupa in Michigan.
Of the 30 States with an identified State Butterfly,
only one, Oklahoma, has selected the Black
Swallowtail.
Your help is needed to make the Black Swallowtail the
official State of Michigan Butterfly. Are you a current or
retired teacher willing to partner with a local elementary
school on educating students about the Black Swallowtail?
The Birds, Bees and Butterfly Committee has developed a
lovely handout to be used with schools. If you would like
to partner in this initiative, please contact me at:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Susan Leahy, Legislation Chairperson MGC
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2016 Newsletter Deadlines
Month
Articles Due
Print Date
March
March 9
March 12
April
April 7
April 10
May
May 5
May 8
June
June 8
June 11
July
July 6
July 9
August
August 3
August 6
September
September 7
September 10
October
October 5
October 8
November
November 9
November 12
December
December 7
December 10
Christian's Greenhouse gift certificates
will go on sale at our March Meeting!!
IIB Flower Show - Club Competition
Committee Meeting
is on February 18, 2016 at 1:00. It will be held at Peggy
Bryson's home - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Michigan.
Bring ideas or articles for assembling a scene or vignette
like a crystal ball, top hat, magic wand, genie lamp or
flying carpet ... using the theme of "Abracadabra"....
There will be a short meeting after our February club
meeting of the committee members.
Calling All Gardeners
St. Luke Lutheran Church in Haslett will host a presentation by John A. Biernbaum, an expert in gardening,
organic methods, composting and growing for health, on
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016. The distinguished
presenter is a nationally renowned Michigan State
University Professor in the Department of Horticulture
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/john-biernbaum
“Community Gardens for Health:
Nature and Planning for Success”
Gardening
with
Will begin at 9:30 AM and conclude at noon. Coffee will
be available beginning at 9AM.
Information about St. Luke’s Community Garden will also
be available.
To sign up for this informative seminar,
please register with Carolyn Fabro: [email protected]
This event is free to the public and all are welcome.
St. Luke is located at 5589 Van Atta Road in Haslett. This
is on the corner of Haslett Road and Van Atta Road.
Example of a Vignette
Be a Part of the
District IIB Standard Flower Show
Contact Bev Johnson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
or xxxxxxxxx with questions.
March 17-20, 2016
Orchid Tales
Floral Designs Using Orchids
February 27 - February 28, 2016
District IIB Standard Flower Show – held March 17-20,
2016, it is titled “Magic, Mystery and Illusions” and is
presented by the District IIB Garden Clubs – in the MSU
Pavilion. Horticulture enthusiasts, get your houseplants
groomed, bulbs forced, and branches chosen. For those
who enjoy floral design, there might be some design or
artistic crafts categories yet to be filled. Check with Sue
Wittick. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Want to
be a host/hostess - call Cristy Bennett - xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Clerks - call Lynda Foster xxxxxxxx
Check our Meridian Garden Club website (Click here) to
find a copy of the flower show schedule.
If you need orchids for your designs or have questions,
you may call or email Marilyn Lee at xxxxxxxxx; or
xxxxxxxxxxxx - Pre-registering for design classes is
encouraged.
Garden Vine
The Garden Vine is a chance for Meridian GC members
and friends to socialize outside our monthly meetings.
We meet on the second Wednesday of the month at the
Coral Gables Restaurant in East Lansing.
For any
questions, call Larry Aronson at xxxxxxxx.
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Swag Design by Martha Shortlidge-White
Wildflower Association of Michigan Spring
Conference - March 6 - 7
MGC president - Marilyn McIntosh
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. has been a supporter of the
Wildflower Association of Michigan for the past 28 years.
Their mission is “encouraging the preservation and
restoration of Michigan native plants and native plant
communities.” We are recognized by them and receive
the member rate when registering for the annual WAM
Convention each year in March. Click here for the
newsletter and registration form.
A Puzzle
By Sue Wittick
This is one of two quilts currently adorning the back wall
of the school house. I was told that they were created by
members of the Meridian Garden Club some time ago.
Perhaps some of the names listed below as those who
created that section will be familiar to some of our longtime members. These quilts show that the work we are
doing now may still be appreciated long into the future!
will hold its 37th annual conference "Horticultural
Therapy: Connecting People & Plants” on Friday, March
11, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Michigan State
University. The conference will be held at the Plant & Soil
Sciences Building in conjunction with Agriculture and
Natural Resources Week.
The MHTA conference is beneficial to anyone interested in
learning how the people-plant interaction brings
therapeutic change and improves well-being.
This
event features
informative
breakout
sessions,
book/product sales, hands-on workshops, displays,
refreshments, door prizes and optional visit to the MSU
Indoor/Outdoor Children’s Garden.
Join us to learn
aspects of horticultural therapy that can enhance adult
day services, seniors, children’s programs, recreational
therapy programs, school gardens, community and
healing
gardens,
corrections,
hospice,
medical
care/mental health, rehabilitation programs and more.
Dr. Candice Shoemaker will present the keynote
address, “New Horizons: Evidence Based Practice and
the Future of Horticultural Therapy”. We are honored
to welcome this Michigan native and MSU Alumni. Dr.
Shoemaker is a professor of Horticulture and Human
Health; and Department Head in the Department of
Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources at Kansas
State University. She also directs the graduate program
in horticultural therapy and is widely published and
internationally connected. You will not want to miss the
opportunity to hear her share her research information,
knowledge of evidence based practice and thoughts on
the future of horticultural therapy.
Early Registration fee is $60 for MHTA members/$80
for non-members (postmarked by March 4).
Regular
registration is $70 for MHTA members/$90 for nonmembers and $30 for full time students. Annual MHTA
membership is $20. Registration fee includes lunch
(vegetarian option available). A block of hotel rooms are
reserved for Thursday and Friday night.
More information at www.michiganhta.org or contact
Cathy Flinton, HTR at 517-332-1616 x16238 or
[email protected] or MC Haering at 248-982-6266.
Visit the MHTA Facebook page at Michigan Horticultural
Therapy Association (MHTA)
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Greetings to Garden Club Friends from the not
so warm/sunny south - News from the Lydia
District IIB Spring Meeting
Thursday, April 14, 2016
“Leap into Spring”
Jackie Hughes
Just to make you all feel a bit better about your horrible weather,
I can tell you that no matter how far south we travel in Florida
we are still hitting some highly unpleasant weather. Cold, wind
and rain near Sarasota, tornado warnings near Cape Coral, high
wind and waves near Ft. Myers and now torrential rain and 40
degree mornings in the Everglades. Whine, whine, whine…….ok
I’m done now!
From Sarasota, we followed the dolphins to Anna Maria Island
where we enjoyed some sunshine and a couple of trips to the
Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge, located right on the beach, for
drinks and dinner. The morning we left, after a stormy night, we
got up to see the huge old 1890’s wooden sailboat, tied up right
in front of us, with water coming out of the hatches….below
deck was totally submerged and fuel was leaking out of its tank.
Yikes!!! What a disaster for someone! On the other hand, we
are bobbing along like a cork as we continue south. We spend a
few days in Ft. Myers, and had the opportunity to visit Sanibel
Island the day after a ferocious storm. We visited the Baily and
Matthews national shell Museum, where we learned about all
sorts of bivalves, mollusks and snails, then headed out to the
beach to do some shelling. What we found, to our surprise, was
that the beach was littered with Florida Fighting Conch and huge
(12-16 inch)horse conch, all of whom were washed up with the
very high tide. Rescue of them was impossible as there were
thousands on the beach, but the day was cool and cloudy and
I’m sure the next high tide saved most of them. Their shells
were beautiful, by the way, but you are not allowed, under
penalty of law, to collect anything living off the beach.
Now we are sitting in Everglade City, waiting, again for the
weather to clear and the Gulf to calm down so we can continue
to Marathon Key. We had planned to stay at the old Rod and
Gun Club location but by chance discovered that there was
another option, with many more amenities just down river.
Wow, what a place we are in….it’s actually a very swank RV park
(class A units only) with a club house, pool and spa, free laundry
and ice, activities like wine tasting and meet and greet events,
towels and fancy soaps in the beautifully tiled restrooms, onsite
bar with happy hour, pool table, big tvs…..in other words, we
found paradise!!!! So we are planning to enjoy our stay for a few
days and take advantage of all it offers….treats we have not
seen anywhere else we have stayed so far on this trip. Next stop
for us is anchoring in the Little Shark River, (luckily not the Big
Shark River!!!) then on to Marathon Key.
The old Rod and Gun Club, on the other hand, is in a time warp
to die for. The building was constructed around 1864, and
purchased in 1922 by Barron Collier, after whom the county was
named, to be used as a private club for his well- heeled friends.
By 1972 it had declined to the point it could have been
condemned, but the Bowen family purchased it and started
restoring it to its former glory. Filled with Victorian antiques,
stuffed trophies, crystal chandeliers, Tiffany lamps, old maps
and nautical antiques, old rifles, even a 5 ft. tall carving of a
captain’s face and wooden Indian head sculptures, the place is
now a restaurant with a great room, sitting rooms, and cabins
for overnight guests. 5 presidents, John Wayne, Sally Fields,
Burt Reynolds, Sean Connery, Burt Ives, Mick Jagger and Ernst
Hemingway have all stayed here to name just a few.
Accommodations for boaters may not be all that hot, but it’s a
place worth a visit, and we plan to take advantage of the
restaurant and enjoy its history and the ambience.
Till next month
Jackie
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Hosted by Mason Sycamore Creek and Williamston Red
Cedar Garden Clubs
Eagle Eye Banquet Center
15101 Chandler Road
Bath, MI, MI 48808
Please bring your money or checkbook to the February or
March meeting
The cost to attend will be $30.
New Hosta Arbor Plaque Installed in the MSU
Horticulture Gardens.
Sue Kropschot
Reading this in the latest MSU Horticulture Garden
Newsletter brings back lovely memories to those
members who remember our dear friend, Betty Hagaman
who was a tireless worker in our gardens and in others in
the community. She often recruited her husband Ron for
the heavy lifting. They had a world class hosta collection
and would donate fifty to a hundred each year for our
plant sale. The article reads as follows:
"A plaque has been installed to commemorate Betty and
Ronald Hagaman, whose generous gift made our new
Hosta Arbor possible. The new Hosta Garden was
designed by our Perennial Manager Renata Reibitz and,
though fully dormant now, should look fabulous this
spring".
The plaque reads: Betty and Ronald Hagaman worked
many hours in the MSU Horticulture Gardens. Betty
contributed several hostas to the Gardens and loved them
dearly. Ronald dedicates this Hosta Shade Arbor to Betty.
ENJOY.
Meridian Garden Club in the News
East Lansing Parks and Recreation e-news for February
Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest
The Meridian Garden Club and East Lansing Environmental
Stewardship Program recently co-sponsored and co-hosted the
Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest at Whitehills
Elementary
School.
This contest, open to students in first through fourth grade, is
sponsored nationally by the USDA Forest Service and National
Garden Clubs, Inc. The Meridian Garden Club is a member of the
National Garden Clubs, Inc. Students in Ms. Stephanie
Krumbach’s third-grade class designed and colored sixteen
posters to be entered into the contest. Of these sixteen posters,
four winners were selected. The winners were honored at a
special classroom ceremony on Jan. 14.
The 1st Place winner will have her poster sent to the state level to compete against other third-grade
entries in Michigan. From there, posters have the opportunity to be sent on to the national competition.
Special thanks to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and East Lansing Fire
Department for making the Jan. 14 classroom ceremony special. The MDNR provided the Smokey Bear
costume and both entities provided giveaways for the students. Pictured Above (from left to right): 1st
place winner - Sarah Hampton, 3rd place winner – Ember McPherson, Smokey Bear, Honorable
Mention – Austin Scott and 2nd place winner – Tyler Keefe.
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