Rainbow Springs Garden Club
Whether March comes in like a lion or a lamb, it will be welcomed by the many gardeners who view its arrival as the official start of Spring. At last, the chances of getting out in our yards in decent weather are greatly improved, and we are anxious to clean up the freeze damaged landscapes and begin planting our favorite spring flowers. Just remember that the last official freeze date is March 15th, so don't prune much, if any, before that date.
February provided a few opportunities for outdoor clean-up, specifically Friday morning, the 5th, when a group of volunteers led by Walt McLellan and Bill Vibbert literally blazed the trail through the Woodlands Nature Park on SW 215th Court Rd. A crew with chain saws, loppers, and clippers preceded two volunteers on riding lawn mowers who mowed the trail as the logs and other debris were removed. More workers with rakes helped level the rough areas and line the trail with the logs and limbs that were cleared from the walking paths. Others pruned branches that hung too low or otherwise impeded safe walking through the trail. Orange tape spaced along the trail guided the crew as they cleared the mile long outer loop. Trail marker signs are being ordered and will be installed early this month if possible. Plans for a kiosk at the trailhead and benches along the trail are also in the works.
This month's garden club meeting will be on Thursday, March 25th, at 1:30 p.m., at 7620 SW US Hwy. 41, across from the Catholic Church. To further inspire you to get outside again, Scott and Cheryl Steffer, owners of Anson Nursery, will present their program on Spring Clean-up and Summer Readiness – Insecticides, Fungicides, and Maintenance Strategies. They are sustainable landscaping specialists, using practices that preserve limited and costly natural resources, reduce waste generation, and help prevent air, water, and soil pollution. Their goal is to minimize environmental impacts and maximize value received from dollars expended. Our climate can be challenging for those wishing to establish thriving gardens and landscapes, so be sure to attend this meeting and learn what you can do to create your ideal landscape.
Orders are still being accepted for logo aprons, polo shirts, tote bags, and baseball caps. Payment must accompany each order. If you are thinking about ordering, try to place your order this month so that the total order can be placed at one time, otherwise each order will have shipping added to it.
Remember to sign in at the meeting to insure that you have a chance to win a plant of the month as a door prize. Bring your extra plants for the Grow and Share sale, join in the 50-50 drawing, and enjoy light refreshments during the break. Check out the bulletin board for the minutes and pictures of the previous meeting. For additional information, please call President Brenda Noah at 465-0541.
