Thanks to Patty McKeever getting a program feature in the Saturday Houston Chronicle along with Cathy Huber's topic of insects in the garden, we had a number of visitors. Pictured l to r Program Chair Barbara Thompson, visitors Gerda Hain, and Katy Nottingham Garden Club Program Chair and President Marilyn Freuh and Sue Straub, along with long-time QVGC member Andrea Needham (who now lives in Katy).
Penny Johnson called us to order and Mary Francis Ashmore provided with her usual clever inspiration. Penny thanked hostesses led by Social Chair Sharon Wright and including Ernestine Barr, Linda Walker, Cindy Calender, and Janice Scanlan. We continued to demonstrate "reuse" by bringing our coffee cups to be more conservation aware. This is a optional program to bring your own coffee cup to reduce Styrofoam in landfills. Penny showed us some reusable food take out "boxes" she and Don take to restaurants.
A conversation ensued on Recycling. If you want a resource on Fort Bend Recycling, you can press this link or select "Recycle" on our website from the right column marked pages.
Upon passing around sign up for the Federation meeting, the Friday following our regular meeting, we were reminded to bring our seed packets for the Seeds for Life program each month. If you want to know more about this program press here.
Penny turned the program over to Program Chair Barbara Thompson who introduced our speaker Don Johnson who supplied our program Hooray for Insects.
Along with a some anecdotes and amusing stories, especially the one about Dung Beetles, his message was that insects are mostly beneficial by pollinating crops, decomposing plant and animal matter, produce honey and silk as well as eating other insects or are food for other animals, especially birds. With our "bloom of late season mosquitoes", we certainly hope our fly catching and aerial foraging birds are still active in our area! Unfortunately many of the mosquito eaters are spring and fall migrants. Let's hope some are still around. As Don told us, there are some insects you don't want around.
Two powerful pictures Don took showed a Lady Bug with a group of aphids. Days later "she" had successfully devoured the infestation. Most eco systems balance themselves, but Don warned of bringing insects in on plants from other countries and the damage that can ensue from lack of balance. The yellowish infestation on the leaves on the right are aphids which were "eaten" by the popular Lady Bug, which is a member of the beetle family of insects.
Mary Chan led our horticulture session. We really had many contributions. This is always a popular part of sharing with Joyce Smith contributing and assisting with questions. People also brought plants to share . . . which is always fun.
This was a meeting with a lot of fellowship and sharing as shown in the photo to the left.
Two new members joined: Lynn Ellis and Sydrah Williams.
In the photo below on the right, long time members Barbara Thompson and Nancy Lindsay (on left and middle) are shown with Lynn Ellis . They too were enjoying the fellowship.
Lynn bought a home in QV over a year ago, but firing their contractor early on, it took almost a year to complete the renovation of the home.Yeah for the renovators in the neighborhood!
President Penny Johnson is shown with Sydrah Williams in photo on left below. Sydrah lives in Sienna Plantation. Apparently their Garden Club is no longer active (or the group she was a part). Sydrah misses a gardening group and was delighted to find a group of people who love gardening. We welcome both new members.
In our business meeting, we decided to participate in Snowfest Parade again with 10 members signing up: Rose Ann Acosta, Judy Belt, Gretchen Cockrell, Lynn Ellis, Janice Scanlan, Sandy Smith, Marsha Strain, Linda Walker, Sydrah Williams, and Sharon Wright.
This is really a fun community event that will be on December 10. If you missed the meeting, but would like to participate, contact Janice Scanlan at 281 261-2320. I mistakenly stated the parade root had extended to Texas Parkway. The parade will follow the same route on Cartwright only. However, the Snowfest Festival will be at City Hall on Texas Parkway after the parade. Go toboggan!
Caladium Bulb sales are underway. These bulbs are our major source of revenue. We need your help to continue our community work. Discounted pre-sales end October 31. Please have your totals of boxes and individual bulbs by type to Ways & Means Chair Janice Scanlan by November 4. You can call and leave a voice mail on 281 261-2320. Remember to supply your name and phone number, send your totals by email to janicescanlan@clear.net or drop your sheets in a box in Janice's courtyard at 2910 Nancy Bell off El Dorado. Always one to prove it, see pictures of the lasting beauty Caladiums make by pressing this link.
Social Chair Sharon Wright provided an inviting and festive theme and hostesses provided really good food. My apologies for no picture of Ernestine Barr and Janice Scanlan, but here is a picture of Linda Walker, Cindy Calender and Sharon Walker on the right.
And this meeting would not be complete without a photo of Barbara Thompson, Don Johnson and Penny Johnson.
Our November 10th meeting will feature City Forrester Paul Wierzbicki. He will not only talk about the Edible Arbor Trail, but also how to ensure your trees health during this drought. After our meeting, we will meet at noon to dedicate the 10 Golden Fig grove QVGC has donated to the Edible Arbor Trail. This will be a short ceremony that the Mayor, Council and Parks have been invited. Wear your QVGC aprons if you have one. Aprons will be available for sale at our cost of $15.00 each at the meeting. They are carpenter apron size so look sharp and are in dark green so they wear well.
Community Show and Sell starting November 5 moves to the 1st and 3rd Saturday. We are talking with Froberg's Farms to bring their produce and those are the dates they are available (and they don't conflict with Thanksgiving or Christmas as well). Attending twice, QVGC sold 675 caladium bulbs! This is a wonderful venue for building community in Missouri City, supporting the future Recreation Center as well as supporting local talent!
For a flier, press here.
