January Program: Plant Hardiness and Heat Zones

We started the New Year off talking gardening, meeting old friends and some new ones! Jonel Ankrum's lovely home and million dollar view was indeed inspiring in spite of the gray day.


As always the co-hostesses Gwen Lee, Andrea Needham, Hostess  Jonel, Ernestine Barr and Betty Bynes put out quite a spread.

Our Speaker, Tricia Bradbury is a Certified Master Gardener, Certified Master Naturalist and according to her a Certifiable Nature Enthusiast--and her stories from raccoons to so many butterfly caterpillars "chewing" you could hear them kept us entertained along with being informed on cold hardiness and heat tolerance. Those two websites will give you information on cold and heat zones which are just a few of the variables that impact whether plants thrive and grow.

Fortunately we're in Zone 9 for both cold and heat, but individual plants may work in one, but not the other. So always check whether you're dealing with cold hardiness or heat tolerance.

As Tricia reminded us, learning from other gardeners and experimenting are really the best ways to keep your garden thriving. As always I learned how much I don't know . . . and really got some terrific ideas.

J Marc Cathey's book Heat Zone Gardening is another resource and has much information on specific plants.

+++++ Sharing our gardens+++++

Joyce Smith really had some lovely blossoms and flowers which many members shared to oohs and aahs! And did she find another gorgeous plant (Maracas, common name “Brazilian Fireworks”, botanical name Porphyrocoma pholiana.) for our hostess.

++++  Highlights of Club Business +++++

Quail Valley Beautification. Janet Calvin shared that the QV Fund will be moving to a professionally done master plan for all of Quail Valley's entrances, esplanades and common areas which will be executed in priority order.

As always our President Linda Emery is inspiring us to do more and the April 26th Backyard Garden Tour promises to be a lot of fun and showcase what a special neighborhood Quail Valley is. Using a variety of gardens, hobbies and gardening challenges this event promises to inspire the community. More will be coming out, but if you'd like to get involved contact Linda by email or phone.

What did you learn at the meeting you'd like to share? Press comments below and post or email Janice Scanlan with your aha's!

Don't forget that you can press the photos to enlarge them or right click on your mouse to copy them. I seem to be a little photo impaired today. (Discovered why, I forgot to reset from night photography for the Christmas lights winners. One of those blonde moments, I suppose.) Here's the album.

Comments

[Janice Scanlan]

I'm about to build a new fence. The idea for capping your fence with mesh that can be lifted off when it's time to rebuild the fence and not hurt the vine really gave me a great idea. Thanks, Tricia!

[Janice Scanlan]

Mary Abbott writes:

Thank you Janice for all the time that you've put into setting up all this info.

I am excited about our home tours to our very own members backyards.

[Janice Scanlan]

Mary Chan writes:

Happy New Year to you. I would like to comment on your email - it is so professional, very impresssive and lots of information and pictures to share and I am totally impressed. Even though I was not at the meeting last Thursday, it seemed like I was actually there!!! Thank you for all your hard works in putting this together.