Quail Valley Garden Club

New Beginnings in the New Year

by Linda Emery

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,

A frost-mailed warrior

striding a shadowy steed of snow.

Edgar Fawcett

 

January is the quietest month in the garden. ...

But just because it looks quiet doesn't mean the nothing is happening.  The soil, open to the sky, absorbs the pure rainfall while microorganisms convert tilled-under fodder into usable nutrients for the next crop of plants.  The feasting earthworms tunnel along, aerating the soil and preparing it to welcome the seeds and bare roots to come.

 

Now is the time to start thinking about what we want our early garden blooms to look like.  Such a pleasing intro into spring and the exiting of winter.

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening

 

 

Grow with Garden Club

President's Corner

by Linda Emery

Each month, when appropriate, I plan to "borrow" something from NGC Quarterly Publication and other resources available to us. Joyce Smith mentioned this resource . . . and I feel this article provides some perspective  for our garden club.

From National Garden Club Quarterly Publication.

New members help us grow by energizing us with ideas and enthusiasm.  We also treasure our longtime members for giving us roots and wings.  Every club needs fresh AIR. 

Attracting, Involving, and Retaining members is the key to group survival. 

But if we want to do more than survive, we need to meet the changing needs of our membership. 

We need to evaluate programs and projects, initiate new activities, and create a feeling of welcome so that new members are integrated into our groups.  Remember that change can be challenging, stimulating and necessary.  Change can be a friend, not an enemy.

When I was in a small club of 10, if six people came to a meeting, I considered it a success.  All of us were on the program committee, so everyone's needs were addressed.  By setting realistic goals, we survived and grew. 

What helped us grow most?  Stimulating programs, members bringing friends to join, meeting at night so that those with young children could attend and yummy desserts.  And each of us know that "Membership begins with ME."  Together, we helped our club grow. 

National Garden Clubs, Inc. offers a plethora of program ideas and resources.  Our community outreach is amazing.   Working together, we can all grow our clubs and our gardens.

Do you have an idea or suggestion of "how we might grow our garden?" Please comment below.