It's officially autumn and Mary Francis Ashmore gave us a wonderful inspirational line about changing seasons and the beautiful fall leaves.
Falling leaves that are painted by the passing seasons.
Mary Francis is pictured with new member Sharon Wright and Ann Caraway (l to r). Sharon was telling me about a new botanical garden developing in Naples, Florida, that is really supposed to be spectacular.
We also had another new member join our ranks . . .who is a long time Quail Valley resident--Sylvia Schultz. Appropriately she's pictured with one of our Founding Members, Dee Dagg.
We welcome both of these new members. Ensure you get to know them as well as members you don't know!
Mary Francis also led us in a moment of silence in memory of Virginia Hodges husband Jot and Joyce Smith's daughter Jennifer Smith Ring. We then had a reminder that seasons do change by learning that Mary Francis has a new grandson in Oklahoma. Falling leaves that are painted by the passing seasons.
Penny Johnson introduced our Speaker Paul Wierzbecki who in turn presented our new MC Parks and Recreation Director Larry Foos. Pictured above are l-r back row Penny Johnson, Paul Wierzbecki, Jerre Anne Wagner and Larry Foos. Janice Scanlan front row.
Larry is enthusiastic about his new job, feels City Council is supportive and an interesting conversationalist. We welcome him to MC and to the work Parks is doing to beautify, enrich and conserve our environment as well as enhance our community spirit and opportunities for recreation.
Paul's message about trees and how the over 500 planted last year will return more than $55,000 annually for forty years to the city through engineering and environmental impact such as collecting water, providing oxygen, producing shade and cooling the environment . . .was inspirational and timely.
It made me think of the following line by Robert Lewis Stevenson.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Besides memorial trees and planting programs that involve residents and areas through out the community, Paul's newest program Edible Arbor Trees will eventually plant 12 groves of edible trees along the Oyster Creek Trail from the underpass at Mosley Park along the trail that goes to the YMCA on Cartwright.
This trail will evenutally connect with Oyster Creek Park by extending from Cartwright along Oyster Creek to Dulles.It has been surveyed by engineers and will be started in 2011.
Trail supporters hope to extend the trail into Quail Valley along Oyster Creek to extend trails for recreation to stay fit, opportunities to encounter nature as well as for pedestrian access to the Y and businesses across 1092. And improve access to MC Middle School from both sides of 1092
The first 4 grooves for the Edible Arbor Trail were donated by corporations that will plant the trees as a team building exercise during the late fall/winter with a dedication and community ribbon cutting in March.
What we as an organization or individually can do is sponsor an arbor or contribute trees, memorialize friends and loved ones, and give time helping mulch and plant. Events are well-coordinated and the mulching does not make the tree volcanos that can harm trees. The mulch is also made from recycled tree trimmings. Many signed up to be on the e-list for information and volunteers.
Janice Scanlan thanked Paul and commented the only place we have increased budget this year is planting trees.
After a 15 minute recess, Joyce Smith continued with our 2009-2010 Awards and the horticulture section. Our awards this year include:
Texas Garden Clubs, Inc., DISTRICT IV
Certificates of Award: TGC Garden Club Service Award - First Place, 544 pts, Gold Club
President’s Report – First Place, Div. 1 Class 3 Area VII, Gold Club
Yearbook – First Place (Tie), N-16A Class 4, Gold Club
In recognition of Silver Rating, Gold Club
Contributing Awardsof Appreciation: District IV Garden Therapy
Donations to Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. totaling $200
District IV Scholarship Fund
TEXAS GARDEN CLUBS, INC.
Certificates of Award: Silver Club Rating
Club Service Award - Citation, Silver Club
President’s Report – 3rd Place, Gold Club
Donations
Award of Appreciation: Donations totaling $200
Horticulture from Joyce's garden included Coral vine (pink Antigonon leptopus) Sun/root hardy blooms June to October. Difficult to propagate by seed. A&M Maroon Hibiscus--loves sun is in the Mallow family..Cassia, a lovely yellow bush that loves the sun. Crescent caterpillar for Crescent Butterfly (yellow or orange) and lavender purple Ageratum or Mistflower that is perrennial sun to light shade, blooms early summer to fall and can be somewhat invasive.
It's time to fertilize, winterize, apply pre-emergent weed killer . . . and hope for cooler times.
And don't forget to bring your horticulture items from your garden to our next meeting November 11.
Finally thanks to our lovely hostesses for their decorations and satisfying food. Pictured l-r are Mary Chan, Jerre Anne Wagner, Dee Dagg, Joyce Funderburk, and Nancy Lindsay.
Editor's note. The weather people tell us we're in a "La Nina," weather pattern, which is the opposite of the "El Nino" cold, high precipitation weather we had last year. In the South and Southwest that means a drier and milder winter than last year.I hope my Petunias, Snapdragons, Lobelia, and Allyssum hang in for some cooller weather. The good side is likely no heavy freeze damage like we experienced last year. Happy Gardening!
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