Quail Valley Garden Club

March Meeting

Don Johnson (center pictured with Rose Ann Acosta and Barbara Thompson), is Master Naturalist and part of the Entomology group with Fort Bend Master Gardeners. He spoke on butterflies and hummingbirds. Don gave some great anecdotes as well as showed terrific pictures he has taken in his garden and elsewhere of hummers, butterflies, chrysalis and caterpillars. And some pretty flowers too.

He and Penny are quite involved in conservation and particularly in saving the Monarch Butterfly, which is quite distressed from weather changes, droughts, floods, pesticides, etc. He encouraged all of us to plant Butterfly and Milkweed as both food for the caterpillars and nectar sources for the butterflies. They cannot survive without it. Please avoid pesticides on these plants as they kill the caterpillars and butterflies. If you have aphids, wash them off with water.

Using a Saint Patrick's Day theme, Barbara Thompson, Pat Jones, Linda Miller, Diana Leggett, and Lynn Ellis had great food. Judy Pasadyn also contributed, but could not attend the meeting.

We had two guests: Rhonda Beavers (left below) and Judy Johnston (right).

Jane Thompson became our newest member . . . you can see her and our latest community service at the rest of the story . . .

Arbor Day, 2014!
press the link to enjoy


 

 

 

 

February 2014 Meeting

Happy Valentine's Day from the Quail Valley Garden Club
February 13, 2014 Meeting

Hostesses: Joan Fox, Pat Jones, Penny Johnson, Inge-Lise Braswell
Not pictured is Judy Pasadyn

Upcoming President Rose Ann Acosta is pictured with speaker and Master Gardner Elizabeth Barrow who spoke on perrienials. Elizabeth demonstrated why she is a popular speaker.

Welcome New Members:

Monika Burau

Member Sandy Smith with new member Joanne Fox

New member Julie Evett was also a door prize winner.

New member Linda Holder is pictured with member Diana Leggett

Business:

We regret to accept Judy Pasadyn's resignation as 2014-15 Secretary. Penny Johnson brought the nomination of Marsha Strain, which was approved unanimously.

Horticulture segment . . .

Guests:

 

 

 

Bernie Sander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Watson pictured with member Anne McBride

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theresa Cole and Lori Sumrall

January 2014 Meeting

The hostesses kicked off the new year right with great food and everything set up.

Hostesses: left to right . . . Nancy Lindsay, Karen Meier, Virginia Moore,
Betty Vickroy Vanway, Mary Chan, Pat Jones, and Mary Francis Ashmore.

Master Gardener Marilyn Almon with
Rose Ann Acosta holding a propagation tray of night blooming cereus.

Marilyn covered common progation methods . . . the meeting really got interesting when the demonstrations started.

Guests attending the meeting . . .

Guest Jane Thompson with member Virginia Moore

Guest Joanne Fox with her mother-in-law Joan Fox

Substituting for Jo Ann Mayhall, Janice Scanlan (below) did her best to strike a "Jo Ann pose" at the welcome table.

January Business Meeting:

Penny Johnson presented the 2014-15 Officer's Slate, which was accepted by the members present.

President: Rose Ann Acosta                                Secretary: Judy Pasadyn
First VP/Programs: Mary Chan                            Treasurer: Linda Walker
Second VP/Membership: Jo Ann Mayhall              Parliamentarian: Barbara Thompson

The new By-laws that were supplied to the members prior to the meeting were accepted unopposed.

Janice Scanlan also reported that the Treasurer's records conformed with an internal audit again Bank Statements, the budget was within expected amounts and with no areas of variance as of December 31, 2013.

Dec 2013 Holiday Party and Luncheon

Our December 12, 2013, Holiday Party and Luncheon at City Centre was festive and fun. We had intended to take a picture with new landscaping planted in the parking lot. Unfortunately it was cold, but more importantly irrigation was being installed.

We welcomed new member Susan Joesph . . . now . . . See how many people you can name in the following pictures . . .

Lots of friends having fun . . .

The Meeting begins . . . officially . . . keep supplying names . . .

Master Florist Marilyn Ellis showed us how . . . taking a Poinsettia she spotted at a hobby shop . . . then going "dumpster diving" she found the remainder of her ingredients . . . voila . . . ready for the holidays.

Program Chair Rose Ann Acosta led us in a fun pass the gift . . . right to left . . . and people had fun!

Besides the fun prizes from the passing game . . . guess who with our drawing . . .

Our members made centerpieces, donated items, and Ted Lopez of Alamo Landscape provided a beautiful tall poinsettia!

Now . . . who's the author and the people in the picture below? Our Holiday Party and committee work is a great way to get to know others through participation!

Have fun!

November 2013 Meeting Field Trip

Our Field Trip to Enchanted Forest really got you in the mood for the Holidays . . .

Marilyn Ellis, Nancy Lindsay and Marsha Strain enjoy the beauty of Enchanted Forest.

Program Chair Rose Ann Acosta introduces the Enchanted Forest talented staff. Wow, did we get some great tips, new ideas, learned many container plants . . .and what a great program in the potting shed!

Please click image to enlarge it for detail.

We learned great "how tos" such as pleasing design arrangement and various containers tips to create beauty.

  Using an anchor plant and making seasonal color changes saves money and time.  A new plant Selaginella is a plant for cool moist weather. Works in containers, but needs to go inside if there are dipping temps. It looks great with Cyclamen, add some pine cones or a holiday ornament . . . make small changes in January.

Buidling a seasonal iron basket "fairy garden" using grow cloth lining plus new seasonal holiday ornaments . . . again, change for the next season  or add supplies you already own.  The Mirror Plant was shaped to make a tree in the church village.

Use pebbles for a finished look. Or use broken pottery instead of pebbles. Think about all kinds of things you already have. Some old costume jewerly might work?

Ask about Pro Max Potting Mix to lighten hanging baskets. It's easy to work with as well.

 

 

Or just build a Fairy Garden in the garden

or a moss basket.

 

 

 

 

Another broken pot idea.

What about a Living Wall on a fence or side of something?

Again, another place for seasonal change!

 

 

Burlap basket cloth is also becoming popular.

More ideas!

 

 

 

 

And lots of fun shopping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With many members and likely a record number of guests . . . if your guest enjoyed themselves, a $30.00 membership comes with a 10% discount card to Enchanted Forest or Enchanted Garden for everything but landscape services. If your guest's had fun, remind them a few visits could pay for a membership . . .

Enchanted Forest and Enchanted Gardens are two Fort Bend nurseries that are knowledgeable and provide specialty plants and ideas nearby. Details such as dividing kales between edible and ornamental aren't missed. They know which annuals do well in Houston and feature those varieties. With a knowledgeable staff, newsletter, weekly classes, blog, check out their website and sign up for the newsletter. It lets you know what's new . . . what's in and what's happening. Visit myenchanted.com.

The group enjoyed a terrific lunch and fellowship at Sandy McGee's.

Don't miss QVGC Holiday Luncheon on Dec 12 at City Centre at Quail Valley.
Social starts at 10:30, with program at 11 and lunch at 11:30.

You'll also get to see our beautification committee's gift to Missouri City with the completed landscaping of the City Centre parking lot!

You have 3 great entree choices for $21.00. Send your check to Rose Ann Acosta at 2803 Glenn Lakes, 77459 and indicate whether you want pork, chicken or filet by Dec 6. Cancelation for refund by Dec 8. Menu below.

#1 - French Onion Soup

       Pork Tenderloin with Demi Sauce* (or substitute Chicken Picata)

       Wild Rice

       Green Beans

        Rolls

        Pecan Pie a la Mode

 

*Subsitute for Pork Tenderloin - Chicken Piccata

 

#2 - Wedge Salad

       Filet

       Twice Baked Potato & Garlic Toast

       Sautéed Peppers, Squash, and Onions

       Cherry Cobbler

 

Price:  $21.00 Send your check to Rose Ann Acosta at 2803 Glenn Lakes, 77459 and indicate whether you want pork, chicken or filet.

Don't forget unwrapped toys for Missouri City kids and white linens (twin-bed sheets) for the Fort Bend Women's Center.  For a fun swap among members, a Christmas ornament!

Happy Gardening!