Garden Dirt
MEMBER OF NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INCORPORATED
Vol. 57, No. 2
March-April-May 2014
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 20
March 22-April 27
March 23-April 6
April 11-12
April 12
April 12
April 20
April 20
April 22
April 26-27
April 28-Sept. 30
April 30-May 3
April 30-May 4
May 2-4
May 3-4
May 9-11
May 16
May 26
June 7
June 8
June 14-15
July 11-12
July 11-13
July 26
July 26
October 9-11
First Day of SPRING!
Spring Flower Show – Como Park Conservatory
Macy’s Spring Flower Show
African Violet Society Spring Show & Sale
FGCM Annual Meeting – Lowell Inn, Stillwater
North Star Lily Society Spring Bulb Sale
Easter
MN Dahlia Society Annual Tuber Sale
Earth Day
Twin Cities Gesneriad Soc. Spring Show & Sale
Summer Flower Show – Como Park Conserv.
NGC Convention – Norman, OK
Art in Bloom – Mpls Institute of Arts
American Orchid Society Show, Bloomington
Daffodil Society Spring Show – Bachman’s
Friends School Plant Sale
Endangered Species Day
Memorial Day
Iris Society Show – Bachman’s
Edina Garden Council Garden Tour
Peony Society Show – Bachman’s
Robbinsdale Diggers Flower Show
North American Lily Society Show & Convention
FGCM Garden Tour
Daylily Off Scape Show
NGC Central Region Meeting - Chaska
“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” – Unknown
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. provides education,
fosters communication and supports our membership in their endeavors to promote love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. will be recognized as
an expert resource in horticulture and floral design. Through relevant
and effective communication and active cooperation of our membership and the cultivation of partnerships with other organizations and
agencies, we will increase our involvement in civic and environmental
efforts.
FGCM Newsletter Change of Address,
Name or Add a New Member
In order to ensure continued receipt of the FGCM Newsletter please send
your Name, Mailing address, Email address Changes or Add a New Member promptly.
If your newsletter is returned and we do not receive your correct mailing
information before the next issue is mailed, your name will be dropped
from the mailing list until the correction is received.
If you would like to receive your newsletter via email or would rather
view the newsletter on the FGCM website contact Barb Halverson, 11017
Ewing Av S, Bloomington, MN 55431.
Home Phone: 952.884.4922 or email her at
bhalverson2000@gmail.com
Pertinent information would be:
• *New Name/New Member’s Name
• *New Address &Phone Number/New Member’s Address & Phone number
• *New Email Address/New Member’s Email Address
• *Club Name must be included with the pertinent information.
Please help us keep you up-to-date with any
new and exciting events.
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Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc.
President, Rene’ Lynch, 112109 Haering Circle, Chaska, MN 55318-1378
Home Phone: (952) 361-6393
Email: renelynch@aol.com
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
President, Linda Nelson, 543 Lakefair Place N.
Keizer, OR 97303-3590
Home Phone: (503) 393-4439
Email: LindaNelson4439@msn.com
National Garden Clubs Central Region
Gerry Ford, Director
Email: gkford1022@aol.com
Home Phone: (847) 234-7074
WEBMASTER:
Carolyn Beach 4046 Zenith Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55422-1595
Home Phone: (763) 208-2077
Email: cbeach3598@aol.com
CHANGE OF NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL:
Barb Halverson, 11017 Ewing Av S, Bloomington, MN 55431
952.884.4922
Email: bhalverson2000@gmail.com
NEWSLETTER
Pat Almsted, 2908 Sunnyside Circle, Burnsville, MN 55306-6951
Home Phone: (952) 892-3457 Email: palmsted@gmail.com
SEND NEWSLETTER MATERIAL TO:
Pat Almsted, 2908 Sunnyside Circle, Burnsville, MN 55306-6951
Home Phone: (952) 892-3457 Email: palmsted@gmail.com
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The distribution for the Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota newsletter is approximately
600 per issue. There are four issues per year. We encourage our members to support and use
the services of our advertisers. You may email your ‘print ready’ advertisement to
fgcm.newsletter@gmail.com or mail your copy with a check to Barbara Halverson, 11017
Ewing Ave. So., Bloomington, MN 55431
Make checks payable to: Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota.
Mail checks to: Barbara Halverson, 11017 Ewing Ave. So., Bloomington, MN 55431
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President’s Message
By Rene’ Lynch
“Cherish the Past and Cultivate the Future”
Hold on!
As we look forward to the year ahead, I feel we are on the fast track through
2014.
In evaluating the past year, FGCM has taken many positive steps forward. We
have opened our quarterly meetings to the public and increased attendance, offered interesting and varied speakers, moved the quarterly meetings physically
around the metro area to give access to those who can’t drive as far, held a Flower Show Symposium, hosted the State Fair Flower Show, prepared and sold garlands at the Renaissance Festival, planned a NGC, Central Region Convention for
this coming October, improved the website and added features, as well as some
wonderful photos, and published a marvelous informative newsletter.
We are about to hold an informational celebration with all the new FGCM Club
Presidents and award scholarships to deserving students at our Annual Meeting in
April. We appreciate the efforts of everyone who has helped to make the 2013
year successful. This fiscal year has been busy indeed.
The FGCM Executive Board will look at how we can continue to meet our goals
and objectives for 2014. In fact, now is a good time for all of our clubs to evaluate
2013 and see if you are headed in the right direction and moving ahead. Don’t just
spin your wheels or you may find your club stuck there for good.
Sustainability is one of the Executive Board’s biggest concerns. FGCM is working to
maintain and provide service for our existing membership, at the same time we
must take an active directed approach towards increasing membership. Frankly,
continuing down the path of asking friends and acquaintances if they would like to
join a garden club is not going to be enough to give us sustainability.
What truly positives steps can we take to increase membership?

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Talk about and do community projects. You say, “We already do that.”
It’s the talk about and publicity of what you are doing that provides
name recognition and interest from others. Please let others know. Let
us know what your club is accomplishing. We will put it on our web site
and will join forces to promote your clubs within your community. We
are currently producing a video to showcase who FGCM garden clubs are
and what we do. We do have value.


Plan a membership recruitment event, a community workshop, a project that might need physical participation of community volunteers or
incorporation other organizations. Networking in today’s world is essential to success. Again, how will we add new members if gardeners don’t
know we exist. How many garden clubs are already out there that know
nothing about Federated?
Friendliness! We are improving but can always do better at making the
public feel welcome to our programs and our meetings. One improvement would be to have efficient business meetings. Young (sic) people
are not interested in business meetings. In their working lives, they’ve
had enough. Unless they are interested in being leaders, they feel their
time can be better spent doing something else. Would you like FGCM to
offer leadership training for your officers and refreshers on parliamentary procedure and scripted agendas? Just let us know.
These are three things that will help us survive the 2014 fast track. Prepare your
way for success and get ready for the ride.
René
In Remembrance :
FGCM, Bloomington Affiliated and Hi-Lo Garden Club recently lost a longtime,
active garden club member. Phyllis Larsen, founding Hi-Lo Garden Club member,
passed away January 24th 2014.
Phyllis held numerous elected positions in Bloomington and was FGCM Ways and
Means chairman for many years and most recently FGCM Life Membership
Chairman. She herself was a FGCM Life Member.
Phyllis was an active promoter and participant for many years of the Tri City
Flower Show, Flowers for Vets, the Normandale Japanese Garden, Bloomington’s
“Operation Evergreen,” and having the Japanese Lilac Tree designated the Bloomington tree. She instigated the plan for a Blue Star Memorial Marker in Bloomington and often worked at Gideon Pond Garden as well as the Bloomington Plant
Sale.
Her warm personality extended friendship to all. We will miss her wonderful
sense of humor and willingness to participate.
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Our Feathered Friends
By Catherine Williams
There he was all fluffed out, glassy eyed, slow to respond, sitting on my feeding station. It's February 6th at 7:00 AM and I am seeing my first robin of the
year. What is a robin doing in Minnesota in sub-zero weather? I go to the
http://eBird.org website to see if anyone else has seen robins in the Northfield, MN area. Sure enough, Dan Tallman has sighted one on January 1,
2014. On the Great Backyard Bird Count website I find that robins sometimes
are seen in flocks during the winter months. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
website range map for robins includes the Twin Cities as a robin's possible
year round residence.
Water is the life blood of birds during the winter months. They will tend to
stay around a protected area with food and open water. Robins like fruit and
shelled sunflower seeds when their insects, earthworms, snails are not available. I make sure I include more of each on the feeders and have the heated
birdbath cleaned and filled.
(Photos: Google Images)
Robins are a part of the thrush family of birds. The Eastern Bluebird is also
part of this family. Bluebirds usually go south for the winter, but three (3)
were sighted January 19, 2014 just south of Northfield, MN; and one was
sighted December 28, 2013 and January 12, 2014 also. Others were seen
around Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis and two were taking a bath in Burnsville about the same time.
What does this all mean? We need to get our bird houses built or cleaned and
ready to put up as soon as possible. Nesting can start in March! Bluebirds
really do need our help. They like cavities in trees left by woodpeckers but
these are in short supply. So, we need to put out houses in open areas for
them.
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(Photos: Google Images)
They are not too fussy. A home safe from predators, such as the house sparrow or cow bird. A food source like meal worms is essential. If the baby birds
do not get food in the first two days they are too weak to lift their heads and
they don't make it. We have lost many of the bluebirds to the wet and cold
winters and late springs. A dry place to live helps.
More information about bluebirds can be found on the website:
www.bbrp.org. The Bluebird Recovery Program is a committee of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, MN. Their Annual Bluebird EXPO is April 12,
2014 - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Red Wing, MN High School, 2451 Eagle
Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN.
GREEN TIP:
Recycle those paper egg cartons and eggshells back into the garden. Use
them for starting plants from seeds. Simply fill the individual sections of the
egg cartons or the cleaned eggshells with a sterile well-drained potting or
seed starting mix. Place them in a warm sunny location or under artificial
lights. Separate the paper egg carton cups and slice through the sides and
bottom just before planting them into your outdoor garden. Crack the eggshells just prior to transplanting seedling outdoors. This will make it easier for
the roots to expand into the surrounding soil. Plant the seedlings, container
and all, in the garden when the weather is right and after the seedling have
been hardened off. Using bio-degradable containers reduces transplant
shock. The paper carton and eggshells will disintegrate adding organic
matter and nutrients to the soil.
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PLANT SALES …
Times are listed if available at time of printing. Contact organization for more info.
April 12
North Star Lily Society Spring Bulb Sale
Bachman’s on Lyndale (Heritage Room) – 10 a.m. to Noon
April 20
Minnesota Dahlia Society Annual Tuber Sale
Bachman’s on Lyndale (Heritage Room)
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – There will be thousands of Dahlia tubers available for
sale, ranging in size from the tiny 2 inch poms to the huge dinner plate varieties. Dahlia experts will be on hand to answer questions about growing
dahlias. For further information contact Chuck Krueger at 763-784-9571.
May 7-9
Bloomington Affiliated Plant Sale
8300 Sheridan Ave. S., Bloomington
Pre-orders processed & pick up on the 7th; open to shop 8th & 9th.
Annuals and perennials available for sale – Wagner’s is the new supplier.
May 9 – 10
Edina Garden Council Plant Sale
Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St., just east of Hwy 100
Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, combination hanging baskets and
containers, plus winter-hardened perennials from gardens of EGC members. Parking and drive thru pick up is available. Proceeds are donated to
horticultural scholarships and city projects. Info: quezical@gmail.com
May 9-11
Friends School Plant Sale
State Fair Grandstand, St. Paul
Friday 9 to 8; Saturday 10 to 6; Sunday 10 to 2
May 16-17
Lake Owasso Garden Club Plant Sale
868 Cannon Ave., Shoreview
Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to noon
Wide selection of perennials to choose from.
Contact: Patti 651 483-4624 or Kirsten 651-487-7552
May 17
Sweet Sioux Garden Club Plant Sale
130th & Nicollet Ave., Burnsville (across from city park)
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – A variety of annuals, perennials, houseplants and fairy
gardens will be available for sale.
May 17
Richfield Garden Club Council Plant Sale
Bartholomew House/History Center, 68th & Lyndale
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Perennials, annuals, herbs and vegetables for sale, featuring our plant of the year Annual-surprise and other garden related items.
May 17
Anoka Area Gardeners Plant Sale
St. Stephen’s Church parking lot, 2020 Fifth Ave. N., Anoka
8 to 10:30 a.m.
May 17
Hennepin County Horticulture Society Plant Sale
Hopkins Pavilion, 11000 Excelsior Blvd., Hopkins
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 17
Daylily Society Sale
Bachman’s on Lyndale
May 19
Washington County Horticulture Society Plant Sale
First Karen Baptist Church, 3000 Hadley Ave., Oakdale
6 to 7:30 p.m.
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May 20 & 21
Anoka County Master Gardener Plant Sale
Anoka Armory, 408 E. Main St., Anoka
Tuesday 4 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 31
Parkway Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale
1407 Arundel St., St. Paul
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Proven plants from members’ gardens.
For more info, call Nanette at 651-353-4284 or email
parkwaygardenclub@comcast.net
June 7
Robbinsdale Diggers Annual Plant Sale
4915 42nd Ave. N., Robbinsdale
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Jo Ann Hall – 763-588-3534
and FLOWER SHOWS –
April 11-12
African Violet Society of Minnesota Spring Show & Sale
Har Mar Mall, Roseville – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 26-27
Twin Cities Gesneriad Society Spring Show & Sale
Bachman’s on Lyndale (Heritage Room)
May 2-4
American Orchid Society Show
Doubletree Hilton Hotel, I-494 & Hwy 100, Bloomington – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 3-4
Daffodil Society Show
Bachman’s on Lyndale (Heritage Room)
Entries accepted Fri. 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sat. 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Open to the public Sat. 12 noon to 6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(See website for more info: daffodilmn.org)
COMING UP in the NEXT ISSUE –
Mark your calendars … details in the next issue of “Garden Dirt”.
June 7
June 8
Iris Society Show – Bachman’s
Edina Garden Council Garden Tour
Great Gardens of Southwest Edina – 1:00 to 5:00
June 14-15
July 11-12
July 11-13
Peony Society Show – Bachman’s
Robbinsdale Diggers Flower Show
North American Lily Society 2014 Show and Convention
Hilton Mpls/St. Paul Airport Hotel, Bloomington
Show is open to the public; floral designers are encouraged to participate.
July 26
July 26
Daylily Off Scape Show – Bachman’s
FGCM Garden Tour
“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” – Hanna Rion
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GARDEN CLUB MEETINGS
FGCM Winter Meeting
We honored our Past President, Barb Halverson,
with the Past President pin and a Life membership to the National Garden Clubs Inc.
Our speaker Fran Kiesling gave us an informative presentation on conservation from a different perceptive.
Thank You to the members who brought the
soups, salads and desserts.
Barb Halverson & Rene’ Lynch
FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL
Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota will not hold a Flower Show School this
year; Iowa is the closest location.
Course I - $80
May 14-16, 2014
Fort Dodge, IA (4 hr. drive)
Registrar: Sally Allard | (515) 576-8680
Registration deadline May 9th
Instructors:
FSP & Design: Penny Decker
Horticulture: Dale DeFeo – tulips and pansies
For other NGC schools and locations visit: www.gardenclub.org
NOTE: The Minnesota Horticulture Society is offering their Schools 1 and 2 on
Saturday, March 29th, for current MSHS members only (Schools 3 and 4 will be
held Saturday, September 27th). Completion of the four-part course will lead
to MSHS Judge Certification/Credential, which would make you eligible to
judge at local plant and flower shows, 4-H, county fairs and the Minnesota
State Fair. For more information, contact the Minnesota Horticulture Society.
Deadline for registration is March 24. There are no prerequisites.
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THE SCHOLARSHIP CORNER
By Roberta Turgeon
The Scholarship Fund has notified all the Colleges and
the University departments of our 2014 Scholarships.
Several students have e-mailed asking questions about
our standards and conditions of the applicants. It is nice to see students’ inquiries. Hopefully, we will see many applications soon. The earlier the applications arrive, the easier it is to peruse them for accuracy and qualifications.
The National Scholarship Fund committee has marked March 15 as the deadline for their applications. The deadline for these and our applications is
March 1.
The number of scholarships we will give this year has not been determined as
yet. The contributions are still arriving. The deadline was moved up to February 1, and the count continues as of this writing. We do have funds for several
awards. Many thanks to all who have donated to the Fund; you are an important partner in helping our applicants continue and complete their career
studies.
Please call me if there are any questions (952-884-3471)
Gratefully submitted by Roberta Turgeon, Federated Scholarship Chair
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS news –
Runners at the 2014 Boston Marathon will be greeted along the route by
100,000 daffodils planted by volunteers in partnership with local garden clubs,
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Garden Club
Federation of Massachusetts, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, nurserymen, master
gardeners and community volunteers. Private homeowners and businesses
were also encouraged to plant daffodils along the route. The project, called
Marathon Daffodils, was planned as a symbol of rebirth and hope in response
to the horror of the 2013 Boston Marathon and designed to strengthen the
community by bringing beauty to where there was loss, mayhem and sadness.
The final planting was at the hospitals that treated the wounded. Daffodils
were chosen because they are bright and cheerful and would be in bloom at
that time of year. The date of this year’s Boston Marathon is April 19 th.
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Spring Awakening
You are cordially invited to attend
The Federated Garden Clubs
of Minnesota, Inc.
Annual Meeting
Saturday, April12, 2014
Lowell Inn
102 N. Second St., Stillwater, MN
Registration 8:00 AM
FGCM Scholarships will be awarded.
Speakers
9:30 AM Ardith Beveridge,
AF,AIFD,PFCI,CAFA
Director of The Institute of Floristry
Koehler & Dramm
“Leaf Manipulation”
1:45 PM
Joan James, Backyardfarm
“Vertical Gardening”
This is a great opportunity to visit downtown Stillwater shops and gardens.
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Registration
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Lowell Inn
102 North Second St. Stillwater, MN 55082
MN 36 E. to downtown Stillwater (Hwy 95)
Left on Myrtle, Right on 2nd St.
Parking ramp next to Inn on the left
Registration
Breakfast
Luncheon
$5.00 8 AM
$12.00 Breakfast Buffet (8-9am)
$22.00 Lunch Buffet (12n)
with Tilapia & Chicken Ala King
Full package $ 39 (parking included)
Make checks payable to: FGCM
Please send your registration along with a check to:
Betty Beck, 17400 29th Ave N, Plymouth, MN. 55447
RSVP by April 4th
Name____________________________________________
Phone Number______________________________________
Name of your
Club_______________________________________


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Check box if you are a Life member
Check box if you are a Past State President.
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 2014
By Kathy Gamble Compo
We’ve had some really extreme, oldfashioned Minnesota winter weather
(you know—the kind with “Hey!
School’s cancelled again!”) and it
seems like a good time to stay indoors. Well, garland-making is a
great indoor activity when the wind
chill is -50 degrees!
We will need all the helpers we can get. My goal for this season is to have
2,000 garlands ready to go (we made almost 1700 last year). We really need
people to make the dried flower floral garlands—we ran out of them last year
with three weekends left to go! Remember, some women have been coming
to our booth since they were little girls, and it is a tradition to get a new floral
garland every year. Other women are allergic to the flowers or are buying
garlands for very young girls and need the durability of the Fairy garlands. So,
we need lots of both kinds.
Please consider helping FGCM and yourself at the same time. Remember that
you earn $2.00 for every garland that you make. That can add up if you get
several club members to work together. We have had a few really ambitious
women who have made several hundred dollars for themselves or their clubs.
Think about it. Ann Albrecht always brings supplies to the quarterly meetings
to make it easier for people to get started (or contact Ann and she will arrange to meet you).
If you do decide to make garlands, Ann and I will be happy to come to your
club to have a “how-to” workshop. Last year, we had some of the most beautiful garlands, and unfortunately, some of the worst. Please make sure your
garland-makers know the basics:
FLORAL: Stretch the floral tape. Use the same color floral tape for
the bundles, the wire, and the wrap. Make wrapped bundles of
flowers to apply to the wire—do not take bunches of flowers and
wrap them directly to the wire (they do not survive the Festival and
are very difficult to repair). Although you turn in the garlands straight
(not in a circle), make sure there are no gaps when the wire is
formed into a garland. Keep like colors together (a person who likes
blue will not like yellow added in). Think of color themes: jewel tones
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(amethyst, sapphire, emerald, ruby), autumn (orange, yellow, brown,
olive) and pinks and purples. We need about 90% jewel tones and
only 10% autumn colors.
RIBBON: Measure twice and cut once! The lengths are 45” for the
skinny satin ties, 48” for the streamers, and 6” for the strips. We received strips that were anywhere from 4-8” long. If the strips are
longer than 6”, you will run out of materials. If they are shorter, it will
be harder to tie them on the rope. Each garland should contain from
54-59 strips (one garland contained over 70 strips; another had only
31)! Many garlands had ties that were so loosely tied they fell off
during the Festival. Be sure to tie the strips onto the rope, slide them
into position, then pull the ties snugly so they will not move. And
remember, we do want the Fairy garlands to all look alike—the only
difference between them should be in color.
(See next page for a jig that makes cutting the ribbons easier.)
Here are contact numbers for you:



Kathy Compo – 763-535-1817 (for volunteering at the booth,
general questions)
Ann Albrecht – 651-699-8832 (ribbons and cord for fairy garland; some floral material)
Darcy Smith – 612-866-8055 (for dried flowers, wires, floral
tape, etc.)
The Festival opens Saturday, Aug. 17th and runs weekends through Sunday,
Sept. 29th. Please let me know if you or your club would be interested in signing up to work a day. Call me for details and available dates. As always, if you
can help in any way or are interested in having Ann and I attend one of your
club meetings, please contact me at kathycompo@yahoo.com, my home
phone 763-535-1817, or my cell phone at 612-308-8211.
Thanks—Kathy Gamble Compo
In every gardener there is a child who believes in the seed fairy.” – Robert
Brault
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Jig for cutting ribbons for ribbon garlands
Vera Klein, from Sweet Sioux Garden Club in Burnsville, has come up
with a quick way to cut ribbons for garlands. She volunteers to cut all
the ribbons for their garden club which makes the lengths consistent.
Thank you, Vera, for sharing this idea with us.
Supplies:
1 1X6 inch board
3/4 inch dowel
1/4 inch dowel
Glue
Directions:
Cut 1X6 inch board 13 inches long.
Drill 3/4 inch holes 3 inches in from each end nearly through the board.
In exact center of board drill a 1/4 inch hole.
Cut both dowels 4 1/2 inches long, cutting two from the 3/4 inch dowel
and one from the 1/4 inch dowel.
Glue dowels in holes. These will hold your ribbon spools.
Place 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch ribbon spools on center dowel. These can all
be cut at the same time using a rotary cutter & mat of the type used for
cutting quilt pieces or with a scissors. Repeat with the 3/4 inch spools.
You can cut up to 6 spools of ribbon at a time.
“I was just sittin’ here enjoyin’ the company. Plants got a lot to say if you take
the time to listen.” – Eeyore
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GARDENING SAFELY –
putting safety first:
By Pat Almsted
Gardening safely doesn’t apply only to humans. The following information is from an Organic Consumers Association article regarding pesticides and honey bees (organicconsumers.org).
A growing body of science has implicated neonicotinoids (neonics), the
world’s most widely used pesticide, as a key factor in recent global bee dieoffs. Unfortunately, many of the “bee-friendly” seedlings and plants sold to
unsuspecting consumers in stores such as Home Depot and Lowes have been
pre-treated with neonicotinoids at much higher doses than are used on farms,
where levels of neonicotinoid use are already raising concerns among beekeepers and scientists.
How do we know Home Depot and Lowe’s are selling bee-killing plants? A
recent study co-authored by the Friends of the Earth and Pesticide Research
Institute found that 7 out of 13 samples of garden plants purchased at top
retailers—including Home Depot and Lowe’s—in Washington D.C., the San
Francisco Bay Area and Minneapolis contain neonicotinoids.
Because there is no clear labeling to indicate the presence of neonics in
nursery plants, customers may unknowingly purchase pre-treated “beefriendly” plants with the intent of providing habitats for bees and other pollinators, but end up actually causing them harm. Obviously, this situation does
not benefit bees.
The EU has suspended popular neonics and a majority of the UK’s largest
home improvement retailers, including Homebase, B&Q and Wickes, have
made public commitments to no longer sell products containing pesticides
linked to declining bee populations.
What can you do as a consumer? Think twice before purchasing plants from
mass retailers like Home Depot and Lowes. Contact the companies and ask
that they commit to not sell neonicotinoid pesticides, as well as plants pretreated with these pesticides in order to protect honey bees and other pollinators essential to our food supply and the environment. Check with other
retailers about neonicotinoid pesticides in their products, and ask for their
commitment as well. This is another reason to buy organic whenever possible.
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Hardy Shade Perennials –
By Barb Halverson
It’s never too early to plan your garden. Here are some of the most admired
perennial shade plants for Minnesota.
Hakonechloa macra
(Japanese Forest Grass)
‘All Gold’
A graceful, colorful groundcover for shady areas.
Slender stems hold bright golden-yellow foliage
having the effect of a tiny bamboo. Great in containers or color accent in borders. Deciduous.
Galium odoratum
(Sweet Woodruff)
Attractive low spreading groundcover or pathway edging for shady
gardens and woodland settings that
spreads quickly with rich soil and
ample moisture. Leaves and stems
have a vanilla-like fragrance when
dried.
Polemonium caeruleum
(Jacob’s Ladder)
This North American native bears deep
blue or occasionally white, bell-shaped
blossoms in spring and possibly late
summer if deadheaded. It grows from 1
to 3 feet tall. Use Jacob's ladder in a
lightly shaded border, rock garden,
woodland, or cottage garden.
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Geranium macrorrhizum
(Bigroot Geranium)
‘Bevans Variety’
The bigroot geranium is so
named because it grows from
a ropelike rhizome that barely
needs to touch the ground to
thrive. Its attractive foliage
has an aromatic, spicy scent.
Heuchera (Coral Bells) are North
American Natives and are available in a
range of shapes and sizes. They are
most well-known for their vast rainbow
of foliage colors.
Many varieties actually prefer partial
shade to full sun. The biggest challenge
to growing Heuchera is planting the
crowns too deep, poor drainage and
overwatering. Use fertilizer sparingly.
Heuchera are absolutely fantastic in
mixed containers, along the border and
in rock gardens.
Astilbe brings a graceful, feathering
note to moist, shady landscapes. It will
spread slowly over time where wellsituated. Astilbe may look delicate but
they are tough. They are easy to grow
and will live a long time in your garden.
Prefers light to moderate shade; they
will burn in full sun.
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Athyrium niponicum
pictum (Japanese
painted fern)
One of the most elegant
ferns available for your garden, Japanese painted ferns
are washed with gorgeous
silver and burgundy markings. This fern will add interest and texture to your
shady spots. Unlike most
ferns, these toughies will
tolerate dry soil.
The silvery divided fronds look especially good with the glossy green leaves of
Astilbe. Both appreciate moist shade.
A BLAST from THE PAST
A May, 1967 U. S. Treasury Dept. letter stated that the Federated Garden Clubs of
Minnesota, Inc. was operated for charitable and educational purposes and, therefore, was exempt from Federal income tax. This took several years to accomplish
and they thanked Betty Fish of Tulip Chapter, Richfield for her untiring efforts on
behalf of the Federation.
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it
teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust.” – Gertrude Jekyll
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SPOTLIGHT ON
Diggers Garden Club, Robbinsdale, MN
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF THE DIGGERS
The Diggers Garden Club of Robbinsdale had a festive 70th Birthday/Christmas
Party (the night of the big snowstorm).
With harpist playing, we enjoyed appetizers, a full turkey meal and desserts.
Tables were set with linens and the centerpieces were poinsettia (which each
member got as a present). One highlight of the evening was the third annual
awarding of the Ione Strandberg Award for the member who does the most
volunteering for our club. This year it went to Tammy Chapman. She has been
a member for 10 years. She is a past president, works at most events, serves
on committees, and hosts many craft activities at her house.
A shared appreciation of our volunteers for gardening and Robbinsdale has
led to a more visible and civic role for the club.
The Diggers Garden Club was established in 1943 as a Victory Garden of World
War II.
Visit our web site www.robbinsdalediggers.com for more pictures and info.
Diggers 70th Birthday celebration
Ione Strandberg & Tammy Chapman
“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a
garden.” – Robert Brault
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WEBSITE INFORMATION
You are a member of these clubs also.
FGCM website:
www.mngardenclubs.org
New webmaster: Carolyn Beach
cbeach3598@ aol.com; 763-208-2077
4046 Zenith Ave. N., Robbinsdale, MN 55422
E-mail her event dates, schedules and pictures of your club events
National Garden Clubs web site:
www.gardenclub.org
Login as a member type: member, password: world
View the projects, programs, schools and items for sale
Central Region website:
www.ngccentralregion.org
Login as a member type: member, password: 7states
Click on selection bar at top of page
Find out about projects and awards, how to apply and when.
We are hosting the Central Region States meeting Oct. 9-11, 2014
National Garden Clubs Photo website:
www.flickr.com/nationalgardenclubs
Click on: Collections to view state pictures
Select: Minnesota
Minnesota needs more pictures
Share your garden club pictures with the world. Send pictures of your events,
club projects, flower shows, civic beautification and awards.
E-mail them to Robin Pokorski at RobinP@juno.com
Visit the site to find out what others are doing, get ideas for fun projects.
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OTHER WEBSITES WORTH NOTING:
MINNESOTA PLANT SOCIETIES
African Violet – avsminnesota.org (follow link from Google)
Bonsai Society – minnesotabonsaisociety.org
Carnivorous Plant Society – umcps.net
Daffodil Society – daffodilmn.org
Dahlia Society – minnesotadahliasociety.org
Daylily Society – northerndaylily.com
Gesneriad Society – twincitiesgesneriads.blogspot.com
Hosta Society – mnhosta.org
Iris Society – irismn.net
Mycological Society – minnesotamushrooms.org
Native Plant Society – mnnps.org
North Star Lily Society – northstarlilysociety.com
Orchid Society – mnorchid.wix.com
Peony Society – mnpeony.org
Rock Garden Society – mn-nargs.org
Rose Society – twincitiesrose.org
Water Garden Society – mwgs.org
Wildflowers – minnesotawildflowers.org
GARDENING RESOURCES
Minnesota State Horticulture Society – northerngardener.org
Master Garden Research Center – mggarden.umn.edu
U of M Horticulture – extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo
U of M Plant info line – plantinfo.umn.edu
OTHER SITES:
Como Park – comozooconservatory.org
Eloise Butler Park – friendsofthewildflowergarden.org
Friends School plant sale – friendsschoolplantsale.com
Green Gardening tips – planetgreen.discovery.com
Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Art in Bloom) – artsmia.org
MN Landscape Arboretum – arboretum.umn.org
Renaissance Festival – renaissancefest.com
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Printed on recycled paper.
Address Service Requested
Federated Garden Clubs of MN, Inc.
11017 Ewing Av S
Bloomington, MN 55431
DATED MATERIAL – PLEASE EXPEDITE
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Stillwater, MN
Permit #779